vative Tilden men, and although upon reaching the platform he
faced a man of greater force, he betrayed no docile character, ready
to receive passively whatever the Boss might allot. His speech was
cleverly framed. He expressed no desire that Tilden Democrats be
forgiven for the political sins which their opponents had committed;
neither did he mar the good feeling of the occasion. But when, at the
conclusion of his remarks, John Kelly stepped forward, seized his
hand, and began working it up and down like a handle, Fellows stood
stiffly and passionlessly as a pump, neither rejecting nor accepting
the olive branches thrust upon him. Thus ended the great scene of the
reconciliation of the New York Democracy.

When plucked the fruit of this reunion was found not to be very
toothsome. Returning to New York, Tammany held a ratification meeting
(July 1) in which the regulars would not unite. Subsequently the
regulars held a meeting (July 28) at which Tilden presided, and which
Tammany did not attend. Similar discord manifested itself respecting
the choice of a chief judge for the Court of Appeals. The Republican
State Committee had chosen Charles J. Folger, but when the regulars
advocated the same method of selection Kelly defiantly issued a call
(August 14) for a State convention. Such bossism, the product of a
strange, fitful career, was only less dramatic than that of Tweed. At
a subsequent conference Kelly submitted a letter stating that if a
convention were regularly summoned and Tammany given its full share of
delegates and committeemen, his call would be withdrawn.[1726] To this
the regulars finally yielded, and a State convention, held at Saratoga
on September 28, made Kelly its head and front. His advent evoked the
loudest cheers, his demand for five members of the State committee met
little resistance, and Dorsheimer, besides serving as chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions, presented the name of Charles J. Rapallo,
who became the nominee for chief judge of Appeals. Thus within a few
months Kelly had defeated Robinson for governor, prevented Tilden's
nomination for President, and imposed his will upon the regular
organisation.

[Footnote 1726: For a copy of this letter, see New York _Tribune_,
August 28.]

In the selection of municipal candidates he was not less successful.
Irving Hall insisted upon naming the mayor, and for many weeks the
bickering and bargaining of conference committees resulted in nothing.