Finally, Kelly proposed that the regulars select several satisfactory
persons from whom he would choose. Among those submitted was the name
of William Russell Grace, a respected merchant, a native of Ireland, a
Roman Catholic in religion, and a man of large wealth, but without
official experience of any kind. This was better, it was said, than
official experience of the wrong kind. Irving Hall included his name
with considerable reluctance. It distrusted his loyalty, since a
rumour, too well founded not to cause alarm, revealed Kelly's interest
in him. But Kelly's cunning equalled his audacity. He had secured the
nomination of Rapallo by voting for William C. Ruger of Onondaga, and
he now caused it to be understood that under no circumstances would
Grace be acceptable. The merchant's name once upon the list, however,
the Boss snapped it up with avidity, while the Germans muttered
because three of the five city candidates were Irishmen. Thus the
campaign opened badly for the Democrats.

Nor did it open more auspiciously for the Republicans. Garfield's part
in the Credit Mobilier scandal was reviewed without regard to the
vindicatory evidence, while Nast's incriminating cartoon of 1873[1727]
emphasised the failure of the great artist to introduce the Republican
candidate into his campaign pictures of 1880. It advertised the fact
that Nast retained his early opinion of the nominee's conduct. Further
to alienate the independent vote it was charged that Garfield, during
the visit of Grant and Conkling at Mentor (September 28), had
surrendered to the Stalwarts. Appearances did not discourage such a
belief. Conkling's hostility disclosed at Chicago was emphasised by
his withdrawal from New York City on the day that Garfield entered it
(August 5). Subsequently, in his initial speech of the campaign
(September 17), Conkling's first important words were a sneer at Hayes
and an implied threat at Garfield.[1728] Yet two weeks later the
Senator, while on a speaking tour through Ohio and Indiana, went out
of his way, riding three-fourths of a mile through a heavy rain, to
call upon Garfield. This looked as if somebody had surrendered. As a
matter of fact Conkling did not meet Garfield in private, nor did they
discuss any political topic,[1729] but the apparent sudden collapse of
Conkling's dislike supplied Garfield's opponents with abundance of
powder. Meantime the loss of the September election in Maine crushed
Republican hope. A