ft the convention, and the most important business
before it failed by five majority. "Thus by sheer negligence," said
George William Curtis, "the convention has left a formidable nucleus
for the reconstruction of the machine which had been overthrown."[1776]
The platform deplored the death of Garfield, expressed confidence in
President Arthur, praised Cornell's wisdom, prudence, and economy, and
insisted upon equal taxation of corporations and individuals.

[Footnote 1774: "It was a common saying of that time among those who
knew him best, '"Chet" Arthur, President of the United States! Good
God!'"--White, _Autobiography_, Vol. 1, p. 193.]

[Footnote 1775: The ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, Joseph
B. Carr, Rensselaer; Comptroller, Ira Davenport, Steuben;
Attorney-General, Leslie W. Russell, St. Lawrence; Treasurer, James W.
Husted, Westchester; Engineer and Surveyor, Silas Seymour, Saratoga;
Judge of the Court of Appeals, Francis M. Finch, Tompkins.]

[Footnote 1776: _Harper's Weekly_, October 15.]

Although the deep silence that characterised the October contest in
Ohio pervaded the campaign in New York, Republicans believed that
President Arthur, by the moderation and dignity of his course, had
favourably impressed the public.[1777] His nomination of Postmaster
General James and the tender of the Treasury to Edwin D. Morgan
commanded universal approval. When Morgan declined, the nomination of
Charles J. Folger, suggested by Morgan, added to his prestige. In
fact, the most ardent champions of Garfield had taken little exception
to the acts of the new Administration, and although Arthur's
supporters had suffered defeat in convention, it was inferred that the
President and his friends sincerely desired the triumph of their
party. Moreover, the action of Tammany and the County Democracy in
nominating separate local tickets had stimulated Republican
confidence. It meant that Kelly, in his inevitable desire to defeat
his enemy, would trade, combine, and descend to other underhand
jobbery, which usually benefited the opposite party.

[Footnote 1777: "I dined at the President's on Wednesday. The dinner
was extremely elegant, hardly a trace of the old White House taint
being perceptible anywhere, the flowers, the silver, the attendants,
all showing the latest style and an abandon in expense and
taste."--Mrs. James G. Blaine, _Letters_ (March 13, 1882), Vol. 2, pp.
4, 5.]

However, the harmony blandly predic