ination. But a majority of the New York
delegation regretfully accepted it as final. Nevertheless, many ardent
Tilden men, believing the letter had strengthened him, insisted upon
his nomination. The meeting of the delegation proved a stormy one.
Bold charges of infidelity to Tilden reacted against Payne, and to
escape controversy Manning indiscreetly asked if he might yield to the
pressure which his letter had stimulated. To this Tilden could make
but one reply: "My action is irrevocable. No friend must cast a doubt
on my sincerity."[1720]

[Footnote 1720: John Bigelow, _Life of Tilden_, Vol. 2, p. 272.]

There is something pathetic in this passing of Tilden, but there seems
no reason for surprise. Tilden was essentially an opportunist. He
attacked the Tweed ring after its exposure; he made war upon the Canal
ring after its record had become notorious; and he reduced the State
taxes after the war debt had been paid. Upon these reforms he rode
into power, and upon the cry of fraud he hoped to ride again to
success. He was much too acute not to know that the cipher disclosures
had robbed him of the role of reformer, but he seems to have been
blind to the obvious fact that every one else was also aware of it.
Besides, he lacked boldness and was at times the victim of indecision.
He was singularly unfortunate, moreover, in failing to attract a
circle of admirers such as usually surround public men of great
prominence. Nevertheless, the opinion then obtained, and a quarter of
a century perhaps has not changed it, that had Manning, when he
reached the convention city, boldly and promptly demanded Tilden's
nomination it could have been secured. Whether, if tendered him, he
would have accepted it, "no one," says Bigelow, "is competent to
affirm or deny. He probably did not know himself."[1721]

[Footnote 1721: _Ibid._]

Meanwhile, New York lost whatever prestige it had inherited through
him. Payne had the support of barely a majority of the delegation,[1722]
Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania, who had relied upon it, was angry,
and the first roll-call showed that Winfield S. Hancock and Thomas F.
Bayard held the leading places.[1723] This contrasted sharply with its
early success. George Hoadley of Ohio, Tilden's devoted friend, had
been made temporary chairman; Kelly, rising to address the convention,
had felt most keenly the absence of a friend in the chair; and a
two-thirds majority excluded the Shakespeare Hall delegati