Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White, vol 1 | Page 6

time and at a later period. The assassination of
General Garfield. Difficulties which thickened about him toward the
end of his career. Characteristics of President Arthur. Ground taken in
my public address at Ithaca at the service in commemoration of
Garfield.
CHAPTER XII
. ARTHUR, CLEVELAND, AND BLAINE--1881-1884

President Arthur; course before his Presidency; qualities revealed
afterward; curious circumstances of his nomination. Reform of the
Civil Service. My article in the ``North American Review.'' Renewal of
my acquaintance with Mr. Evarts; his witty stories. My efforts to
interest Senator Platt in civil-service reform; his slow progress in this
respect. Wayne MacVeagh; Judge Biddle's remark at his table on
American feeling regarding capital punishment. Great defeat of the
Republican party in 1882. Judge Folger's unfortunate campaign.
Election of Mr. Cleveland. My address on ``The New Germany'' at
New York. Meeting with General McDowell, the injustice of popular
judgment upon him. Revelation of Tammany frauds. Grover Cleveland,
his early life; his visit to the University; impression made upon me by
him. Senator Morrill's visit; tribute paid him by the University
authorities. My address at Yale on ``The Message of the Nineteenth
Century to the Twentieth.'' Addresses by Carl Schurz and myself at the
funeral of Edward Lasker. Election as a delegate at large to the
National Republican Convention at Chicago, 1884. Difficulties
regarding Mr. Blaine; vain efforts to nominate another candidate;
George William Curtis and his characteristics; tyranny over the
Convention by the gallery mob; nomination of Blaine and Logan.
Nomination of Mr. Cleveland by the Democrats. Tyranny by the
Chicago mob at that convention also. Open letter to Theodore
Roosevelt in favor of Mr. Blaine. Private letter to Mr. Blaine in favor of
a reform of the Civil Service. His acceptance of its suggestions.
Wretched character of the campaign. Presidency of the Republican
mass meeting at Syracuse; experience with a Kentucky orator. Election
of Mr. Cleveland.
CHAPTER XIII
. HENDRICKS, JOHN SHERMAN, BANCROFT, AND
OTHERS--1884-1891
Renewal of my acquaintance with Mr. Cleveland at Washington.
Meeting with Mr. Blaine; his fascinating qualities; his self-control.
William Walter Phelps; his arguments regarding the treatment of
Congressional speakers by the press. Senator Randall Gibson; meeting
at his house with Vice-President Hendricks; evident disappointment of
the Vice-President; his view of civil-service reform; defense of it by

Senator Butler of South Carolina; reminiscences of odd senators by
Senator Jones of Florida; Gibson's opinion of John Sherman. President
Cleveland's mode of treating office-beggars and the like; Senator
Sawyer's story; Secretary Fairchild's remark; Senators Sherman and
Vance. Secretary Bayard's criticism of applicants for office. Senator
Butler's remark on secession. Renewal of my acquaintance with George
Bancroft. Goldwin Smith in Washington; his favorable opinion of
American crowds. Chief Justice Waite. General Sheridan; his account
of the battle of Gravelotte; discussion between Sheridan and Goldwin
Smith regarding sundry points in military history. General Schenck; his
reminiscences of Corwin Everett, and others. Resignation of my
presidency at Cornell, 1885. President Cleveland's tender of an
Interstate Railway commissionership, my declination. Departure for
Europe. Am tendered nomination for Congress; my discussion of the
matter in London with President Porter of Yale and others; declination.
Visit to Washington under the administration of General Harrison,
January, 1891; presentation of proposals to him regarding civil-service
reform; his speech in reply.
CHAPTER XIV
. MCKINLEY AND ROOSEVELT--1891-1904
Candidacy for the governorship of New York; Mr. Platt's relation to it;
my reluctance and opposition; decision of the Rochester Convention in
favor of Mr. Fassett; natural reasons for this. Lectures at Stanford
University. Visit to Mexico and California with Mr. Andrew Carnegie
and his party. President Harrison tenders me the position of minister to
Russia; my retention in office by Mr. Cleveland. My stay in Italy
1894-1895. President Cleveland appoints me upon the Venezuelan
Boundary Commission, December, 1895. Presidential campaign of
1896. My unexpected part in it; nomination of Mr. Bryan by Democrats;
publication of my open letter to sundry Democrats, republication of my
``Paper Money Inflation in France,'' and its circulation as a campaign
document; election of Mr. McKinley. My address before the State
Universities of Wisconsin and Minnesota; strongly favorable
impression made upon me by them; meeting with Mr. Ignatius
Donnelly, his public address to me in the State House of Minnesota.
My addresses at Harvard, Yale, and elsewhere. Am appointed by

President McKinley ambassador to Germany; question of my asking
sanction of Mr. Platt; how settled. Renomination of McKinley with Mr.
Roosevelt as Vice-President. I revisit America; day with Mr. Roosevelt,
visits to Washington; my impressions of President McKinley; his
conversation; his coolness; tributes from his Cabinet; Secretary Hay's
testimony, Mr. McKinley's refusal to make speeches during his second
campaign; his reasons; his relection; how received in Europe. His
assassination; receipt of the news in Germany and Great Britain. My
second visit to America; sadness, mournful reflections at White House;