. But
Smith's admirable temper, his sweet disposition, and his rare faculty
for saying things without offence, kept him, like Raymond, on friendly
terms with all. His part was not always an easy one. Leaders changed
and new issues appeared, yet his pen, though sometimes crafty, was
never dipped in gall. While acting as secretary for Governor Fenton he
enjoyed the esteem of Edwin D. Morgan, and if his change from the
Albany _Express_ to the Albany _Journal_ in 1870, and from the
_Journal_ to the Philadelphia _Press_ in 1880, carried him from
Fenton's confidence into Conkling's embrace and converted him from an
ardent third-termer to a champion of Blaine, the bad impression of
this prestidigitation was relieved, if not excused or forgotten,
because of his journalistic promotion.

In State conventions, too, Smith played the part formerly assigned to
Raymond, becoming by common consent chairman of the Committee on
Resolutions. His ear went instinctively to the ground, and, aided by
Carroll E. Smith of the Syracuse _Journal_, he wrote civil service
reform into the platform of 1877, the principle of sound money into
that of 1878, and carefully shaded important parts of other platforms
in that eventful decade.[1669] In like manner, although a pronounced
champion of Conkling and the politics he represented, Smith encouraged
moderate policies, urged frank recognition of the just claims of the
minority, and sought to prevent the stalwart managers from too widely
breaching the proprieties that should govern political organisations.
If his efforts proved unavailing, it seemed that he had at least
mastered the art of being regular without being bigoted, and of living
on good terms with a machine whose methods he could not wholly
approve. Nevertheless, there came a time when his associations, as in
the career of Raymond, seriously injured him, since his toleration and
ardent defence of John F. Smyth, besides grieving sincere friends and
temporarily clouding his young life,[1670] dissolved his relations with
a journal that he loved, and which, under his direction, had reminded
its readers of the forceful days of Thurlow Weed. Fortunately, the
offer of the editorship of the Philadelphia _Press_, coming
contemporaneously with his separation from the Albany _Journal_, gave
him an honourable exit from New York, and opened not only a larger
sphere of action but a more distinguished career.[1671]

[Footnote 1669: "Mr. Smith is one of the