t nominations went to the
Senate, Garfield was immediately burdened with letters and despatches
in protest, coupled with the suggestion that everything had been
surrendered to Conkling, and that without delay or consultation he
sent in Robertson's name. "It was only an instance," says Boutwell,
"of General Garfield's impulsive and unreasoning submission to an
expression of public opinion, without waiting for evidence of the
nature and value of that opinion."[1747]

[Footnote 1743: Boutwell, _Reminiscences of Sixty Years_, Vol. 2, p.
274.]

[Footnote 1744: New York _Tribune_, January 7, 1882.]

[Footnote 1745: Hoar, _Autobiography_, Vol. 2, p. 57.]

[Footnote 1746: Boutwell, _Reminiscences_, Vol. 2, p. 273.]

[Footnote 1747: _Ibid._, p. 274.]

On the other hand, the country at large accepted it as a Blaine
triumph. Senators, especially those who had served in the House with
the President and his Secretary of State, had no doubt of it. Such a
tremendously bold act was entirely foreign to Garfield's character.
Nor could it have but one meaning. The man who had split the New York
delegation for Blaine was to have his reward and to occupy the place
of patronage and of power. More than that it was Blaine's long look
ahead. Such action required the highest order of political courage. It
opened an old quarrel, it invited opposition, it challenged to battle.
Men like Senator Frye of Maine, who had many times witnessed the
resolution and dominating fearlessness of Blaine, knew that it was his
act. "For sixteen years," said Frye, "the sting of Blaine's attack
kept Conkling unfriendly. Besides, he had no confidence in him.
Whenever reconciliation seemed imminent, it vanished like a
cloud-shadow. I could never unite them. Blaine was ready, but Conkling
would accept no advances. When Robertson's appointment came he knew as
well as I that it was the act of Blaine."[1748] Depew, with whom Blaine
had conferred, took the same view. On the day after the nomination was
sent in, Mrs. Blaine, rather exultingly and without any expression of
surprise, wrote her daughter of the incident. "Your father has just
gone to the Department. Did you notice the nominations sent in
yesterday? They mean business and strength."[1749]

[Footnote 1748: Conversation with the author, December 7, 1908.]

[Footnote 1749: Mrs. James G. Blaine, _Letters_ (March 24, 1881), Vol.
1, p. 197.]

Boutwell illustrates Conkling's lack of confidence in Blaine. Aft