d Mr. Harrison for reasons personal
to myself, and not because I was particularly fond of Mr. Harrison.

James G. Blaine retired to private life and died soon afterwards,
a broken, disappointed man. He was one of the greatest men of his
day, and was the most brilliant and probably the most popular man
with the masses in the history of the Republican party.

Rutherford B. Hayes was the nineteenth President of the United
States, and preceded General Garfield in that office. He was
neither as great a man nor as great an orator as General Garfield,
although he was a much better executive officer, and in my opinion
gave a better administration than General Garfield would have given
had he served the term for which he was elected. Rutherford B.
Hayes was an inconspicuous member of the House, as I recollect him
now. He was what I would term a very good, conscientious man, who
never made any enemies; but I do not think that any one would say
that he was a great man. He did not talk very much in the House,
nor accomplish very much. I became quite friendly with him there.
Subsequently he was nominated for Governor of Ohio, and he invited
me to come to the State and campaign for him, which I did.

Thurman was his opponent, a very strong and able man, who subsequently
became a Senator from Ohio, and was a nominee of the Democratic
party for Vice-President. But Hayes defeated him for the Governorship,
and was once re-elected. He was nominated for President at the
Cincinnati Convention of 1876, when Blaine really should have been
the nominee, and would have been had the permanent chairman of the
convention, Edward McPherson, grasped the situation and held it
with a firm hand.

McPherson, while a man of good intentions, earnest and sincere,
was Clerk of the House for many years and had occupied what might
be termed a subordinate position. The fact of the matter is that
he permitted the convention to get away from him; an adjournment
was secured, and the same night it was framed up to beat Blaine by
nominating Hayes.

Hayes was just the kind of man for a compromise candidate. He was
seriously handicapped all through his administration owing to the
manner in which he secured the office. The Electoral Commission,
an unheard-of thing, created by act of Congress, by eight to seven
declared that Hayes was elected over Tilden. Very many people were
of the opinion that Tilden was entitled to the office. The Electoral
Commi