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ich was not pledged to Grant to repudiate Blaine and to choose Garfield as a compromise。 Then followed four years of factional bitterness in the party； and when 1884 came round； Blaine's admirers pushed him to the front。
Blaine himself was not a person of delicate instinct。 The repudiation which he had twice suffered by the better element of the Republican Party； seemed only to redouble his determination to be its candidate。 He had much personal magnetism。 Both in his methods and ideals； he represented perfectly the politicians who during the dozen years after Lincoln's death flourished at Washington； and at every State capitol in the Union。 By the luck of a catching phrase applied to him by Robert G。 Ingersoll； he stood before the imagination of the country 〃as the plumed knight；〃 although on looking back we search in vain for any trait of knightliness or chivalry in him。 For a score of years he filled the National Congress； House and Senate； with the bustle of his egotism。 His knightly valor consisted in shaking his fist at the 〃Rebel Brigadiers 〃 and in waving the 〃bloody shirt；〃 feats which seemed to him heroic； no doubt； but which were safe enough； the Brigadiers being few and Blaine's supporters many。 But where on the Nation's statute book do you find now a single important law fathered by him？ What book contains one of his maxims for men to live by？ Many persons still live who knew him； and remember him； but can any of them repeat a saying of his which passes current on the lips of Americans？ So much sound and fury； so much intrigue and sophistry； and self…seeking； and now the silence of an empty sepulchre！
The better element of the Republican Party went to the Chicago Convention sworn to save the party from the disgrace of nominating Blaine。 Roosevelt believed the charges against him； and by all that he had written and spoken； and by his political career； he was bound to oppose the politician； who； as Speaker of the National House； had； by the showing of his own letters； taken bribes from unscrupulous interests。 In the convention； and in the committee meetings； and in the incessant parleys which prepare the work of a convention； Roosevelt fought unwaveringly against Blaine。 The better element made Senator George F。 Edmunds their candidate； and Roosevelt urged his nomination on all comers。 When the convention met； Mr。 Lodge； of Massachusetts； nominated J。 R。 Lynch； a negro from Mississippi； to be temporary chairman； thereby heading off Powell Clayton； a veteran Republican 〃war…horse〃 and office…holder。 Roosevelt had the honorand it was an honor for so young a manto make a speech； which proved to be effective； in Lynch's behalf； and when the vote was taken； Lynch was chosen by 424 to 384。 This first victory over the Blaine Machine； the Edmunds men hailed as a good omen。
Roosevelt was chairman of the New York State delegation。 The whirling days and nights at Chicago confirmed his position as a national figure； but he strove in vain in behalf of honesty。 The majority of the delegates would not be gainsaid。 They had come to Chicago resolved to elect James G。 Blaine； and no other； and they would not quit until they had accomplished this。 Pleas for morality and for party concord fell on deaf ears； as did warnings of the comfort which Blaine's nomination would give to their enemies。 His supporters packed the great convention hall； and when his name was put in nomination； there followed a riot of cheers； which lasted the better part of an hour； and foreboded his success。
As had been predicted； Blaine's nomination split the Republican Party。 Many of the better element came out for Grover Cleveland； the Democratic candidate； who； as Governor of New York； had displayed unfailing courage； integrity； and intelligence。 Others again； disgusted with many of the principles and leaders of both parties； formed themselves into a special group or party of Independents。 They were hateful alike to the Bosses who controlled the Republican or Democratic organization； and Charles A。 Dana； of the New York Sun； who took care never to be 〃on the side of the angels；〃 derisively dubbed them 〃mugwumps〃a title which may carry an honorable meaning to posterity。
I was one of these Independents； and if I cite my own case； it is not because it was of any importance to the public； but because it was typical。 During the days of suspense before the Chicago Convention met； the proposed nomination of Blaine weighed upon me like a nightmare。 I would not admit to myself that so great a crime against American ideals could be committed by delegates who represented the standard of any political party； and were drawn from all over the country。 I cherished； what seems to me now the sadly foolish dream； that with Roosevelt in the convention the abomination could not be done。 I thought of him as of a paladin against whom the forces of evil would dash themselves to pieces。 I thought of him as the young and dauntless spokesman of righteousness whose words would silence the special pleaders of iniquity。 I wrote him and besought him to stand firm。
There followed the days of suspense when the newspapers brought news of the wild proceedings at the convention； and for me the shadow deepened。 Then the telegraph reported Blaine's triumphant nomination。 I waited； we all waited； to learn what the delegates who opposed him intended to do。 One morning a dispatch in the New York Tribune announced that Roosevelt would not bolt。 That very day I had a little note from him saying that he had done his best in Chicago； that the result sickened him； that he should； however； support the Republican ticket； but he intended to spend most of the summer and autumn hunting in the West。
I was dumfounded。 I felt as Abolitionists felt after Webster's Seventh of March speech。 My old acquaintance； our trusted leader； whose career in the New York Assembly we had watched with an almost holy satisfaction； seemed to have strangely abandoned the fundamental principles which we and he had believed in； and he had so nobly upheld。 Whittier's poem 〃Ichabod〃 seemed to have been aimed at him； especially in its third stanza：
〃Oh； dumb be passion's stormy rage； When he who might Have lighted up and led his age； Falls back in night。〃
Amid the lurid gleams and heat of such a disappointment； men cannot see clearly。 They impute wrong motives； base motives； to the backslider。 In their wrath； they assume that only guilt can account for his defection。
We see plainly enough now that we misjudged Roosevelt。 We assumed that because he was with us in the crusade for pure politics； he agreed with us in the estimate we put on party loyalty。 Independents and mugwumps felt little reverence and set even less value on political parties； which we regarded simply as instruments to be used in carrying out policies。 If a party pursued a policy contrary to our own； we left it as we should leave a train which we found going in the wrong direction。 There was nothing sacred in a political party。
In assuming that Roosevelt must have coincided with us in these views； we did him wrong。 For he held then； and had held since he first entered politics； that party transcended persons； and that only in the gravest case