victory had been confidently expected, and the
failure to secure it, although the adverse majority was less than two
hundred, sent a chill to every Republican heart.

[Footnote 1727: _Harper's Weekly_, May 15, 1873.]

[Footnote 1728: Conkling's speech is printed in full in the New York
_Tribune_ of September 18, 1880.]

[Footnote 1729: Alfred R. Conkling, _Life of Roscoe Conkling_, pp.
623-625.

"I was informed by Mr. Conkling that he had not been alone one minute
with General Garfield, intending by that care-taking to avoid the
suggestion that his visit was designed to afford an opportunity for
any personal or party arrangement."--Boutwell, _Reminiscences_, Vol.
2, p. 272.]

Spurred to greater effort by this blighting disappointment, the
Republicans regained courage by a spirited presentation of the
industrial question, which was strongly reinforced by returning
activity in trade and commerce. To offset its effect and to win the
industrial masses to Democratic support, lithographic copies of the
so-called "Morey letter," approving Chinese immigration, which
purported to be written by Garfield, were spread broadcast (October
20) over the country. Garfield promptly branded it a forgery. Though
the handwriting and especially the signature resembled his,
accumulating evidence and the failure to produce the man to whom the
letter purported to be addressed, rapidly made clear its fictitious
character. Nevertheless, many Democratic journals and orators, notably
Abraham S. Hewitt, assuming its genuineness, used it with tremendous
force as favouring Chinese competition with home labour.

To add to the slanderous character of the closing days of the campaign
John Kelly, through the New York _Express_, rained fierce personal
assaults upon the distinguished editor of the New York _Herald_, who
opposed Grace. In bitterness the mayoralty fight surpassed the
presidential contest. Hints of a division of public money for
sectarian purposes had deeply stirred the city and given prominence to
William Dowd, the Republican candidate, whose interest in the common
schools characterised his public activities. Dowd had the support of
many members of Irving Hall, who, as they gnashed their teeth in
resentment of Kelly's cunning, became unweariedly active in combining
the strange and various elements of opposition. Not Daniel himself
was more uncomfortably encompassed than Grace.

The October elections in Ohio and Indiana plainly indica