Onmylayingthematterbeforehim，hesaid，``Acceptbyallmeans’’;butasIshowedhimthereasonsonbothsides，heatlastreluctantlyagreedwithmethatprobablyitwasbesttosendadeclination。
TheotherpersonconsultedwasMr。JamesBeldenofSyracuse，afterwardamemberofCongressfromtheOnondagadistrict，apoliticianwhohadamostintimateknowledgeofmenandaffairsinourState。Wehadbeenduringalongperiod，politicaladversaries，butIhadcometorespectsundryqualitieshehadmorelatelyexhibited，andthereforewenttohimasapracticalmanandlaidthecasebeforehim。HeexpressedhisgreatsurprisethatIshouldadvisewithhim，myoldpoliticaladversary，buthesaid，``Sinceyoudocome，IwillgiveyoutheverybestadviceIcan。’’
Wethenwentoverthecasetogether，andIfeelsurethatheadvisedmeaswellastheoldestofmyfriendscouldhavedone，andwithashrewdnessandforesightallhisown。
Oneofhisargumentsransomewhatasfollows:``Tobesuccessfulinpoliticsamanmustreallythinkofnothingelse;itmustbehisfirstthoughtinthemorningandhislastatnight;everythingelsemustyieldtoit。Heretoforeyouhavequietlygoneonyourway，soughtnothing，andtakenwhathasbeenfreelytenderedyouintheinterestofthepartyandofthepublic。IknowtheElmiradistrict，andyoucanhavethenominationandtheelectionwithouttrouble;butthequestioniswhetheryoucouldeverbehappyinthesortofworkwhichyoumustdoinordertotakeaproperplaceintheHouseofRepresentatives。
Firstofall，youmustgiveupeverythingelseanddevoteyourselftothatalone;andeventhen，whenyouhavesucceeded，youhaveonlytolookaboutyouandseethemenwhohaveachievedsuccessinthatway，andwho，afterall，havefoundinitnothingbutdisappointment。’’
InsayingthisheexpressedtheconclusionatwhichIhadalreadyarrived。
Icabledmyabsolutedeclinationofthenomination，andwasreprovedbymyfriendsfornotavailingmyselfofthisopportunitytotakepartinpoliticalaffairs，buthaveneverthelessalwaysfeltthatmydecisionwaswise。
Totellthetruth，Ineverhad，andneverdesiredtohave，anycapacityfortherough—and—tumbleofpolitics。
Igreatlyrespectmanyofthemenwhohavegiftsofthatsort，buthaverecognizedthefactthatmyinfluenceinandonpoliticsmustbeofadifferentkind。Ihaveindeedtakenpartinsomestormyscenesinconventions，meetings，andlegislatures，butalwayswithregret。Mytruerlehasbeenamorequietone。Myambition，whetherIhavesucceededinitornot，hasbeentosetyoungmenintrainsoffruitfulthought，tobringmaturemenintothelineofrightreason，andtoaidindevisingandurgingneededreforms，indevelopingandsupportingwisepolicies，andinbuildingupinstitutionswhichshallstrengthenwhatisbestinAmericanlife。
Earlyin1891IwasaskedbyMr。ShermanRogersofBuffalo，oneofthebestandtruestmeninpoliticallifethatIhaveeverknown，toaccompanyhimandcertainothergentlementoWashington，inordertopresenttoMr。Harrison，whohadnowbecomePresidentoftheUnitedStates，anargumentfortheextensionofthecivil—servicerules。AccompaniedbyMr。TheodoreRooseveltandSenatorCabotLodge，ourdelegationreachedtheExecutiveMansionatthetimefixedbythePresident，andwerereceivedinawaywhichsurprisedme。Mr。
Harrisonseemed，tosaytheleast，notingoodhumor。Hestoodleaningonthecornerofhisdesk，andheaskednoneofustosit。Allofushadvotedforhim，andhadcometohiminhisowninterestaswellasintheinterestofthecountry;butheseemedtolikeusnonethebetterforallthat。ThefirstspeechwasmadebyMr。Rogers。DwellingonthedisappointmentofthoughtfulRepublicansthroughoutthecountryatthedelayinredeemingpledgesmadebytheRepublicanNationalConventionastotheextensionofthecivilservice，andreiteratedinthePresident’sownspeechesintheUnitedStatesSenate，heinaplayfulwayreferredtotheconductofcertainofficialsinBuffalo，whenthePresidentinterruptedhim，asitseemedtomeatthetimeverybrusquelyandevenrudelysaying:``Mr。Rogers，youhavenorighttoimputeevilmotivestoanyman。Themotivesofthesegentlementowhomyoureferarepresumablyasgoodasyourown。Anargumentbaseduponsuchimputationscannotadvancethecauseyousupportintheslightestdegree。’’Mr。Rogerswassomewhatdisconcertedforamoment，but，havingresumedhisspeech，hepresented，inaverydignifiedandconvincingway，theremainderofhisargument。HewasfollowedbytheothermembersfromvariousStates，givingdifferentsidesofthecase，eachshowingtheimportancewhichRepublicansinhisownpartofthecountryattributedtoanextensionofthecivil—servicerules。
Myownturncamelast。Isaid:``Mr。President:Iwillmakenospeech，butwillsimplystatetwofacts。
``First:Downtoacomparativelyrecentperiodeveryhighschool，college，anduniversityintheNorthernStateshasbeenacenterofRepublicanideas:noonewillgainsaythisforamoment。Butrecentlytherehascomeachange。
DuringnearlytwentyyearsithasbeenmydutytonominatetothetrusteesofCornellUniversitycandidatesforvariouspositionsinitsfaculty;thefundamentalcharteroftheinstitutionabsolutelyforbidsanyconsideration，insuchcases，ofthepartyorsecttowhichanycandidatebelongs，andIhavealwaysfaithfullycarriedoutthatinjunction，never，inanyoneofthemultitudeofnominationsthatIhavemade，allowingthequestionofpoliticstoenterintheslightestdegree。Butstillithashappenedthat，almostwithoutexception，thecandidateshaveprovedtobeRepublicans，andthistosuchanextentthatattimesIhaveregrettedit;fortheuniversityhasbeenobligedfrequentlytoaskforlegislationfromaDemocraticlegislature，andIhavealwaysfearedthatthislargepreponderanceofRepublicanprofessorswouldbebroughtupagainstusasanevidencethatwewerenottruetotheprinciplesofourcharter。Asamatteroffact，downtotwoorthreeyearssince，therewere，asIcasuallylearned，outofafacultyofaboutfiftymembers，notovereightortenDemocrats。Butduringtheserecentyearsallthishasbeenchanged，andattheStateelection，whenJudgeFolgerwasdefeatedforthegovernorship，Ifoundtomysurprisethat，almostwithoutexception，mycolleaguesinthefacultyhadvotedtheDemocraticticket;sofarasI
couldlearn，butthreebesidesmyselfhadvotedfortheRepublicancandidate。’’PresidentHarrisonimmediatelysaid:``Mr。White，wasthatnotchieflyduetothefree—
tradetendenciesofcollege—men？’’Ianswered:``No，Mr。
President;thegreatmajorityofthesemenwhovotedwiththeDemocratswereprotectionists，andyouwillyourselfseethattheymusthavebeensoiftheyhadcontinuedtovotefortheRepublicanticketdowntothatelection。AllthatIhearleadsmetotheconvictionthattherealcauseisdisappointmentatthedelayoftheRepublicanpartyinmakinggooditspromisestoimprovethepublicservice。Inthisquestionthefacultiesofourcollegesanduniversities，especiallyintheEastern，Middle，andNorthernStates，takeadeepinterest。Infact，itiswiththemthequestionofallquestions;andIthinkthisisoneofthethingswhich，atthatelectioninNewYork，causedthemostoverwhelmingdefeatthatacandidateforgovernorhadeverexperienced。’’TothisthePresidentlistenedattentively，andIthensaid:``Mr。
President，mysecondpointisthis:TheStateofNewYorkis，ofcourse，ofimmenseimportancetotheRepublicanparty，andithasbeencarriedinrecentyearsbyamajorityofafewhundredvotes。TherearemorethanfourteenthousandschooldistrictsintheState，andinnearlyeveryoneoftheseschooldistrictsthereareacertainnumberofearnestmen——anywherefromahandfultoahouseful——whobelievethatsincetheslaveryquestionisremovedfromnationalpolitics，theonlyburningquestionwhichremainsisthe`spoilssystem’andthereformofthecivilservice。Now，youhaveonlytomultiplythefourteenthousandschooldistrictsbyaverysmallfigure，andyouwillseetheimportanceofthisquestionasregardsthevoteoftheStateofNewYork。IknowwhereofIspeak，forIhavemyselfaddressedmeetingsinmanyofthesedistrictsinfavorofareformofthecivilservice，havehadcorrespondencewithotherdistrictsinallpartsoftheState，andamsurethatthereisadeep—
seatedfeelingonthesubjectingreatnumbersofthem，——
afeelingakintowhatusedtobecalledintheanti—slaverydays`fanaticism，’——thatis，adeep—seatedconvictionthatthisisnowthemostimportantquestionbeforetheAmericanpeople，andthatitmustbesettledinprecedencetoallothers。’’
ThePresidentreceivedwhatIhadtosaycourteously，andthenbeganareplytousall。Hetookatfirstratherabittertone，sayingthathehadarighttofindfaultwithallofus;thattheCivilServiceLeaguehaddenouncedhisadministrationmostunjustlyforitsrelationtothespoilssystem;thathewasmovingasrapidlyinthematterascircumstancespermitted;thathewasanxioustoredeemthepromisesmadebythepartyandbyhimself;
thathehadalreadydonesomethingandpurposedtodomore;andthattheglorificationsoftheprogressmadebythepreviousadministrationinthisrespect，attheexpenseofhisown，hadbeengrosslyunjust。
Tothiswemadeashortrejoinderononepoint，statingthathiscomplaintagainstuswaswithoutfoundation;
thatnotoneofuswasamemberoftheCivilServiceLeague;thatnotoneofushadtakenanypartinitsdeliberations;andthatwecouldnot，therefore，bemaderesponsibleinanywayforitsutterances。ThePresidentnowbecamesomewhatmoregenial，thoughhedidnotaskustobeseated，alludinginapungentbutgood—naturedwaytothezealforreformshownbyMr。Roosevelt，whowasstandingby，andclosinginconsiderablybetterhumorthanhehadbegun。AlthoughIcannotsaythatI
wasgreatlypleasedwithhistreatmentofthecommittee，Irememberedthat，althoughcourtesywasnotgenerallyconsideredhisstrongpoint，hewasknowntopossessmanysterlingqualities，andIfeltboundtoallowthathisspeechrevealedamanofstrengthandhonestpurpose。
Allofus，evenMr。RooseveltandSenatorLodge，cameawaybelievingthatgoodhadbeendone，andthatthePresident，beforehistermofofficehadexpired，woulddowhathecouldintherightdirection;andIamgladtosaythatthisexpectationwasfulfilled。
CHAPTERXIV
McKINLEYANDROOSEVELT——1891—1904
Duringthesummerof1891cameacuriousepisodeinmylife，towhich，asitwasconsiderablydiscussedinthenewspapersatthetime，andasvarioussensationalnews—makershavedweltuponitsince，Imaybepermittedtorefer。Duringseveralyearsbefore，——infact，eversincemytwotermsintheStateSenate，——variouspeople，andespeciallymyoldCornellstudentsthroughouttheState，hadwrittentomeandpublishedarticlesinmybehalfasacandidateforgovernor。Ihadneverencouragedthese，andwheneverIreferredtothemdeprecatedthem，sinceIpreferredaverydifferentlineoflife，andfeltthatthegrapplewithspoilsmenwhicheverygovernormustmakewouldwearmeoutveryrapidly。
Buttheelectionwhichwasthatyearapproachingwasfelttobeveryimportant，andoldfriendsfromvariouspartsoftheStatethoughtthat，intheseverecontestwhichwasexpected，Istoodabetterchanceofelectionthananyotherwhocouldbenamedatthatparticulartime，theirtheorybeingthattheGermanvoteoftheStatewouldcometome，andthatitwouldprobablycometonootherRepublican。
ThereasonforthistheorywasthatIhadreceivedpartofmyeducationinGermany;hadshownespecialinterestinGermanhistoryandliterature，lecturinguponthemattheUniversityofMichiganandatCornell;hadresidedinBerlinasminister;had，onmyreturn，deliveredinNewYorkandelsewhereanaddressonthe``NewGermany，’’
whereinwereshownsomepointsinGermanlifewhichAmericansmightstudytoadvantage;hadalsodeliveredanaddressonthe``ContributionsofGermanytoAmericanCivilization’’;andhad，atvarioustimes，formedpleasantrelationswithleadingGermansofbothparties。Thefactwasperfectlywellknown，also，thatIwasopposedtothesumptuarylawswhichhadsolargelydrivenGermansoutoftheRepublicanparty，andhaddeclaredthatthesewerenotonlyunjusttothoseimmediatelyaffectedbythem，butinjurioustotheveryinterestsoftemperance，whichtheyweredesignedtopromote。
IwaspassingthesummeratMagnolia，ontheeastcoastofMassachusetts，whenanoldfriend，thesonofaneminentGerman—American，camefromNewYorkandaskedmetobecomeacandidateforthegovernorship。
Iwasveryreluctant，forspecialaswellasgeneralreasons。Myfirstwishwastodevotemyselfwhollytocertainlong—deferredhistoricalwork;myhealthwasnotstrong;Ifeltutterlyunfittedforthedutiesofthecampaign，andthepositionofgovernor，highlyhonorableasitis，presentednoespecialattractionstome，myambitionnotbeinginthatline。ThereforeitwasthatatfirstI
urgedmyfriendstocombineuponsomeotherperson;
butastheycamebackandinsistedthattheycouldagreeonnooneelse，andthatIcouldbringtothesupportofthepartymenwhowouldotherwiseopposeit，IreluctantlyagreedtodiscussthesubjectwithsomeoftheleadingRepublicansinNewYork，andamongthemMr。ThomasC。Platt，whowasattheheadoftheorganizedmanagementoftheparty。
InourtwoorthreeconversationsMr。Plattimpressedmecuriously。Ihadknownhimslightlyformanyyears;
indeed，wehadbelongedtothesameclassatYale，butashehadleftitandIhadentereditatthebeginningofthesophomoreyearwedidnotknoweachotheratthatperiod。
WehadmetoccasionallywhenwewerebothsupportingMr。Conkling，buthadbrokenfromeachotheratthetimewhenhewassupportingMr。Blaine，andI，Mr。Edmunds，forthenominationatChicago。Ourdiscussionnowtookaformwhichsomewhatsurprisedme。ThegeneralbeliefthroughouttheStatewas，Ithink，thatMr。Platt’sfirstquestion，or，atanyrate，hismainquestion，inanysuchdiscussion，wouldbe，necessarily，astotheattitudeofthecandidatetowardMr。Platt’sowninterestsandaspirations。
ButIfeelboundtosaythatinthediscussionsbetweenusnosuchquestionswereeverasked，approached，orevenhintedat。Mr。Plattneveraskedmeaquestionregardingmyattitudetowardhimortowardhisfriends;
heneverevenhintedatmymakinganypledgeorpromisetodoanythingornottodoanythingwithreferencetohisowninterestsortothoseofanyotherperson;hiswholeeffortwasdirectedtofindingwhatstrengthmynominationwouldattracttothepartyandwhatitwouldrepel。HehadbeeninformedregardingoneortwounpopularvotesofminewhenIwasintheStateSenate——asforexample，thatIhadopposedtheeffortsofapowerfulsectarianorganizationtosecurethegiftofcertainvaluablelandedpropertyfromthecityofNewYork;hehadalsobeeninformedregardingcertainreviewandmagazinearticlesinwhichIhadspokenmymindsomewhatfreelyagainstcertaininfluencesintheStatewhichwerestillpowerful，andithadbeenhintedtohimthatmy``WarfareofScience’’chaptersmighthavealienatedaconsiderablenumberofthemorenarrow—mindedclergymenandtheirflocks。
ItoldMr。Plattfranklythatthesefearsseemedquitelikelytobewellfounded，andthatthereweresomeotherdifficultieswhichIcouldmyselfsuggesttohim:thatIhadinthecourseofmylife，mademanyopponentsinsupportingCornellUniversity，andinexpressingmymindonvariousquestions，politicalandreligious，andthattheseseemedtomelikelytocostthepartyverymanyvotes。IthereforesuggestedthatheconsultcertainpersonsinvariouspartsoftheStatewhowereentitledtohaveanopinion，andespeciallytwomenofthehighestjudgmentinsuchmatters——ChiefJusticeAndrewsofSyracuse，andCarrollEarlSmith，editoroftheleadingRepublicanjournalincentralNewYork。Theresultwasthattelegramsandletterswereexchanged，thesegentlemendeclaringtheirdecidedopinionthatthemattersreferredtowerebygones，andcouldnotberesuscitatedinthecomingcontest;thattheywouldbelostsightofintherealquestionssuretoarise;andthatevenintheelectionimmediatelyfollowingthevotewhichIhadcastagainstgivingalargetractofWard’sIslandtoaRomanCatholicinstitution，Ihadlostnovotes，buthadheldmyownwiththeothercandidates，andevengaineduponsomeofthem。
Mr。PlattalsodiscussedmyrelationstotheGermansandtothegraduatesofCornellUniversitywhowerescatteredallovertheState;andasthese，withoutexception，sofarascouldbelearned，weremywarmpersonalfriends，itwasfeltbythosewhohadpresentedmyname，andfinally，Ithink，byMr。Platt，thatthesetwoelementsinmysupportmightprovevaluable。
Still，inspiteofthis，Iadvisedsteadilyagainstmyownnomination，andaskedMr。Platt:``Whydon’tyousupportyourfriendSenatorFassettofElmira？Heisayoungman;hehasverydecidedabilities;heispopular;
hiscourseinthelegislaturehasbeenadmirable;youhavemadehimcollectoroftheportofNewYork，andheisknowntobeworthyoftheplace。Whydon’tyouaskhim？’’Mr。Platt’sfranknessinreplyincreasedmyrespectforhim。Hesaid:``Ineednotconfesstoyouthat，personally，IwouldpreferMr。Fassetttoyourself;butifhewereacandidatehewouldhavetocarrytheentireweightofmyunpopularity。’’
Mr。Plattwasfromfirsttolastperfectlystraightforward。
Heowedmenothing，forIhadsteadilyvotedagainsthimandhiscandidateintheNationalConventionatChicago。Hehadmadenopledgestome，forIhadallowedhimtomakenone——evenifhehadbeendisposedtodoso;moreover，manyofmyideaswereopposedtohisown。IthinktheheaviestpieceofworkIeverundertookwaswhen，somemonthsbefore，Ihadendeavoredtoconverthimtothecivil—service—reformforces;butwhileIhadsucceededinconvertingagoodmanyothers，heremainedintractable，andonthatsubjectwewereatoppositepoles。
Itthereforeseemstomealtogethertohiscreditthat，inspiteofthispersonalandtheoreticalantagonismbetweenus，andinspiteofthefactthatIhadmade，andheknewthatIwouldmake，nopledgesorpromiseswhatevertohiminviewofanelection，hehadfavoredmynominationsolelyasthebestchanceofobtainingaRepublicanvictoryintheState;andIwillagainsaythatI
donotbelievethathisownpersonaladvantageenteredintohisthoughtsonthisoccasion。HisprideandhisreallysinceredevotiontotheinterestsoftheRepublicanparty，asheunderstoodthem，ledhimtodesire，aboveallthings，atriumphovertheDemocraticforces，andtheonlyquestioninhismindwas，Whocouldbestsecurethevictory？
Atthecloseoftheseconferenceshewasevidentlyinmyfavor，butonleavingthecityIsaidtohim:``Donotconsideryourselfasinanywaypledgedtomysupport。GototheconventionatRochester，anddecidewhatisbestafteryougetthere。Ihavenodesireforthenomination——
infact，wouldpreferthatsomeoneelsebeartheburdenandheatoftheday。IhavebeenlongoutoftouchwiththepartymanagersintheState。Idon’tfeelthattheywouldsupportmeastheywouldsupportsomemanlikeMr。Fassett，whomtheyknowandlikepersonally，andI
shallnotconsideryouaspledgedtomeintheslightestdegree。Idon’taskit;Idon’twishit;infact，Ipreferthecontrary。GotoRochester，beguidedbycircumstances，anddecideasyouseefit。’’
Inthemeantimevariousthingsseemedtostrengthenmycandidacy。LeadingGermanswhohadbeenforsometimevotingwiththeDemocraticpartypledgedthemselvestomysupportifIwerenominated，andoneofthemcouldbringovertomysideoneofthemostpowerfulDemocraticjournalsintheState;infact，therewerepledgedtomysupporttwoleadingjournalswhich，asmattersturnedoutafterward，opposedtheRepublicannomination。
AttheconventionwhichmetshortlyafterwardatRochester（September，1891），thingswentasIhadanticipated，andindeedasIhadpreferred。Mr。PlattfoundtheelementssupportingMr。Fassettevenstrongerthanhehadexpected。Theundercurrentwastoopowerfulforhim，andhewasobligedtoyieldtoit。
Ofcoursesundrynewspapersscreamedthathehaddeceivedanddefeatedme。Iagaindohimthejusticetosaythatthiswasutterlyuntrue。IamconvincedthathewenttoRochesterbelievingmycandidacybestfortheparty;
thathereallydidwhathecouldinmyfavor，butthathefound，whatIhadforetold，thatMr。Fassett，young，energetic，known，andlikedbytheactivepoliticalmeninvariouspartsoftheState，naturallywishedtoleadtheforcesandwasnaturallythechoiceoftheconvention——achoicewhichitwasnotwithinMr。Platt’spowertochange。
Mr。Fassettwasnominated，andIdonotknowthatI
haveeverreceivedamessagewhichgavemeagreatersenseofreliefthanthetelegramwhichannouncedthisfacttome。
Asregardstheinsidehistoryoftheconvention，ProfessorJenksofCornellUniversity，averythoughtfulstudentofpracticalpolitics，whohadgonetoRochestertoseetheworkingofaNewYorkStateconvention，toldmesometimeafterwardthathehadcirculatedveryfreelyamongthedelegatesfromvariousruraldistricts;thattheyhadnoacquaintancewithhim，andthereforetalkedfreelyinhispresenceregardingthebestpolicyoftheconvention。
Asarule，theprevailingfeelingamongthemwasexpressedasfollows:``Whitedon’tknowtheboys;hedon’tknowthemenwhodotheworkoftheparty;hesupportscivil—servicereform，andthatmeansthatafterdoingtheworkofthecampaignweshallhavenobetterchancefortheofficesthanmenwhohavedonenothing——infact，notsogood，perhaps，asthosewhohaveopposedus。’’Nodoubtthisfeelingenteredintothemindsofalargenumberofdelegatesandconducedtotheresult。
AfewweeksafterwardMr。FassettcametoIthaca。I
hadthepleasureofpresidingandspeakingatthepublicmeetingwhichheaddressed，andofentertaininghimatmyhouse。Hewasineverywayworthyofthepositiontowhichhehadbeennominated，but，unfortunately，wasnotelected。
Havingmadeoneortwospeechesinthiscampaign，I
turnedtomorecongenialwork，andintheearlyspringofthefollowingyear（February12toMay16，1892）
acceptedanelectionasnon—residentprofessoratStanfordUniversityinCalifornia，mydutybeingtodeliveracourseoftwentylecturesupon``TheCausesoftheFrenchRevolution。’’JustasIwasabouttostart，Mr。AndrewCarnegieverykindlyinvitedmetogoashisguestinhisowncarandwithadelightfulparty。Therewereeightofus——fourladiesandfourgentlemen。WewentbywayofWashington，Chattanooga，andNewOrleans，stoppingateachplace，andmeetingmanyleadingmen;thentothecityofMexico，wherewewerepresentedtoPorfirioDiaz，thepresidentofthatrepublic，whoseemedtobeamanofgreatshrewdnessandstrength。Irecallherethefactthattheroominwhichhereceiveduswashungroundwithsatincoverings，onwhich，astheonlyornament，werethecrownandcipherofDiaz’unfortunatepredecessor，theEmperorMaximilian。ThencewewenttoCalifornia，andzigzagalongthePacificcoasttoTacomaandSeattle;
thenthroughtheRockyMountainstoSaltLakeCitymeetingeverywhereinterestingmenandthings，untilatDenverIleftthepartyandwentbacktogivemylecturesatStanford。
ReturningtoCornellUniversityintheearlysummerIfoundmyselfinthemidstofmybooksandhappyinresumingmywork。Butnow，July21，1892，camemynominationbyPresidentHarrisontothepositionofenvoyextraordinaryandministerplenipotentiaryatSt。
Petersburg。Onthinkingthematterover，itseemedtomethatitwouldbeinstructiveandagreeabletohaveaseconddiplomaticexperienceinRussiaaftermyabsenceofnearlyfortyyears。Ithereforeaccepted，andintheautumnof1892leftAmericaforSt。Petersburg。
WhileinWashingtontoreceivemyinstructionsbeforeleaving，IagainmetMr。Harrison，andmustsaythatheshowedamuchmorekindlyandgenialsidethanthatwhichhadformerlybeenrevealedtome，whenIhaddiscussedshortcomingsofhisadministrationasregardedthecivilservice。
Myoccupancyofthisnewpositionlasteduntiltheautumnof1894，andtherewasonethinginitwhichIhavealwaysregardedasagreathonor。Mr。Harrisonhadappointedmeataboutthecloseofthethirdyearofhistermofoffice;IthereforenaturallylookedforwardtoastayofbutoneyearinRussia，and，whenIleftAmerica，certainlydesirednomore。AlittleofRussianlifegoesveryfar。Itisbrilliantandattractiveinmanyways;butforamanwhofeelsthathehasdutiesandinterestsinAmericaitsoonbecomesasortofexile。AtthecloseofMr。Harrison’sadministration，therefore，Itenderedmyresignation，asiscustomarywithministersabroadatsuchtimes，sothatitwouldarriveinWashingtononthefourthdayofMarch，andthencomeunderthehandofthenewPresident，Mr。
Cleveland。Ihadtakenitsacceptanceasamatterofcourse，andhadmadeallmyarrangementstoleaveRussiaonthearrivalofmysuccessor。ButsoonIheardthatPresidentClevelandpreferredthatIshouldremain，andthatsolongasIwouldconsenttoremainnonewappointmentwouldbemade。InviewofthefactthatIhadsteadilyvotedagainsthim，andthatheknewthis，IfelthisconducttobeamarkofconfidenceforwhichIoughttobegrateful，andtheresultwasthatIcontinuedatthepostanotheryear，towardthecloseofwhichIwroteaprivatelettertohim，statingthatundernocircumstancescouldI
remainlongerthanthe1stofOctober，1894。ThefactwasthatthebookwhichIconsideredthemainworkofmylifewasverynearlyfinished。Iwasanxioustohaveleisuretogiveitthoroughrevision，andthisleisureIcouldnothaveinadiplomaticposition。ThereforeitwasthatIinsistedonterminatingmycareeratSt。Petersburg，andthatthePresidentfinallyacceptedmydeclinationinaletterwhichIshallalwaysprize。
Duringthefollowingwinter（1894—1895），atFlorenceSorrento，andPalermo，mytimewassteadilygiventomyhistoricalwork;andhavingreturnedhomeandseenitthroughthepress，Iturnedtoanotherhistoricaltreatisewhichhadbeenlongdeferred，andneverdidamanmorethoroughlyenjoyhisleisure。Iwasatlastapparentlymyownmaster，andcouldworkinthemidstofmybooksandinthelibraryoftheuniversitytomyheart’scontent。
Butthisfairdreamwassoonbroughttonaught。InDecember，1895，IwasappointedbyPresidentClevelandamemberofthecommissiontodecideupontheboundarylinebetweentheBritishpossessionsinSouthAmericaandVenezuela。Thecircumstancesofthecase，withthemannerinwhichhetenderedmetheposition，forbademetodeclineit，andIsawnomoreliteraryleisureduringthefollowingyear。
Asthepresidentialcampaignof1896approachedIhadgivenupallthoughtsofpolitics，andhadagainresumedthehistoricalworktowhichIproposedtodevote，mainly，therestofmylife——thepreparationofabiographicalhistoryofmodernGermany，forwhichIhadbroughttogetheralargeamountofmaterialandhadpreparedmuchmanuscript。
Ialsohopedtolivelongenoughtoputintoshapeforpublicationaseriesoflectures，onwhichIhadobtainedamassoforiginalmaterialinFrance，upon``TheCausesoftheFrenchRevolution’’;andhadthenewcampaignbeenlikeanyofthoseduringtheprevioustwentyyears，itwouldnothaveinterestedme。ButsuddenlynewscameofthenominationbytheDemocratsofMr。Bryan。
Thecircumstancesattendingthisshowedclearlythatthecomingcontestinvolved，distinctly，thequestionbetweentheforcesofvirtualrepudiation，supportingapolicywhichmeantnotmerelynationaldisasterbutgenerationsofdishonorontheoneside，and，ontheother，Mr。McKinley，supportingapolicyoffinancialhonesty。HavingthenbeencalledupontopresideoveraRepublicanmeetingatIthaca，Imadeaspeechwhichwaspublishedandwidelycirculated，givingthereasonswhyallthinkingmenofbothpartiesoughttorallyinsupportoftheRepublicancandidate，andthisIfollowedwithanopenlettertomanyleadingDemocratsintheState。ItwasbegunasaprivatelettertoavaluedDemocraticfriend，Mr。OscarS。Straus，whohastwiceprovedhimselfamostusefulandpatrioticministeroftheUnitedStatesatConstantinople。But，asmypenwasmoving，anotherDemocraticfriendcameintomymind，thenanother，andagainanother，untilfinallymyviewsweregiveninanopenlettertothemall;
andthishavingbeensubmittedtoafriendinNewYork，withpermissiontouseitashethoughtbest，hepublishedit。Theresultseemedfortunate。Itwasatoncecaughtupbythepressandrepublishedinallpartsofthecountry。
IcannotclaimthatthegentlementowhomIwrotewereinfluencedbyit，butcertainitisthatinspiteoftheirearnestdifferencesfromPresidentMcKinleyonveryimportantquestions，theirfeelingthatthiscampaigninvolvedissuessuperiortoanyofthosewhichhadhithertoexisted，ledallofthem，eitherdirectlyorindirectly，tosupporthim。
Atthesuggestionofvariousfriends，Ialsorepublishedinamoreextendedformmypamphleton``PaperMoneyInflationinFrance:HowitCame，WhatitBrought，andHowitEnded，’’whichhadfirstbeenpublishedatthesuggestionofGeneralGarfieldandothers，asthrowinglightontheresultsofadebasedcurrency，anditwasnowwidelycirculatedinallpartsofthecountry。
Mr。McKinleywaselected，andthus，inmyjudgment，wasavertedthegreatestperilwhichourRepublichasencounteredsincethebeginningoftheCivilWar。Havingnowsometimeformyself，IacceptedsundryinvitationstoaddressthestudentsoftwoofthegreaterStateuniversitiesoftheWest。Itgavemepleasuretovisitthem，onmanyaccounts，andaboveallforthepurposeofrealizingthemagnificentadvancethathasbeenmadebytheminbecominguniversitiesworthyofourcountry。
Myanticipationswerefarmorethanmet。MyoldstudentandsuccessorattheUniversityofMichiganasprofessorandatCornellUniversityaspresident，Dr。CharlesKendallAdams，welcomedmetotheinstitutionoverwhichhesoworthilypresided——theStateUniversityofWisconsin;
andhavingvisiteditaquarterofacenturybefore，Iwasnowamazedatitsprogress。Thesubjectofmyaddress，inthepresenceofthewholebodyofstudentswas``EvolutionversusRevolutioninPolitics，’’andneverhaveIspokenwithmorefaithandhope。Lookingintothefacesofthatimmenseassemblyofstudents，intrainingforthebestworkoftheirtime，liftedmeabovealldoubtsasthefutureofthatcommonwealth。
FromMadisonIwenttoMinneapolisunderaninvitationtoaddressthestudentsattheStateUniversityofMinnesota，andagainmyfaithandhopewererenewedasIlookedintothefacesofthosegreataudiencesofyoungmenandyoungwomen。Theyfilledmewithconfidenceinthefutureofthecountry。AtMinneapolisIalsometvariousnotablemen，amongthemArchbishopIreland，whohadinterestedmemuchataformermeetinginPhiladelphia。IbecamesurethatwhateverecclesiasticsofhischurchgenerallymightfeeltowardtheUnitedStates，hewastrulypatriotic。AlasforbothchurchandstatethatsuchprelatesasGibbons，Ireland，Keane，Spalding，andthelike，shouldbeinaminority！
ButmymostcuriousexperiencewasduetoanothercitizenofMinnesota。HavingbeentakentotheStateHouse，Iwasintroduced，inthelowerbranchofthelegislature，tonolessapersonagethanMr。IgnatiusDonnelly，sowidelyknownbyhispublicationsregardingtheauthorshipofShakspere’swritings;andonmyaskinghimwhetherhewasnowengagedonanyliterarywork，heinformedmethathewasabouttopublishabookwhichwouldleavenoparticleofdoubt，inthemindofanythinkingman，thatthewritingsattributedtoShaksperewerereallyduetoFrancisBacon。Duringthisconversationthehousewasdroningonincommitteeofthewhole，andtheproceedingsfelluponmyearmuchlikethesteadyrumbleofamill;butsuddenlythemillseemedtostop，myownnamewascalled，andimmediatelyafterwardcamethewords:``Mr。————
of————andMr。————of————willescortMr。Whitetothechair。’’ItwasaverysuddenawakeningfrommytalkwithMr。Donnellyonliterature，buttherewasnohelpforit。``AccoutredasIwas，Iplungedin，’’and，inalongfur—
linedcoatmuchtheworseforwearandbespatteredwithmud，wasconductedtothespeaker，who，afterformalgreetings，turnedmelooseontheaudience。Naturallymyspeechrevealedwhatwasuppermostinmymind——wonderattheprogressmadebytheState，admirationforitsinstitutions，confidenceinitsfuture，prideinitsrelationtotheUnion。AtthecloseofthisbrieftalkafewmemberssetupacallforMr。Donnellytorespond，whereuponhepromptlyarose，andofallthespeechesIhaveeverheardhiswascertainlythemostsurprising。IthadseemedtomethatmyownremarkshadglorifiedMinnesotauptothehighestpoint;buttheyweretameindeedcomparedtohis。
Havingfirstdosedmewithblarney，heproceededtodelugethelegislaturewithbalderdash。Onepartofhisspeechransubstantiallyonthiswise:
``Mr。Speaker，Iaskthegentleman，whenhereturnstohishome，totellhisfellow—citizensoftheEastwhathehasseenduringhisvisittothisgreatState;and，sir，wealsowishhimtotellthemthatMinnesotaandthegreatNorthwestwillnolongerconsenttobetroddenunderthefeetoftheEast。ThestrengthoftheUnitedStatesandthefuturecenterofAmericangreatnessishereinMinnesota。
Mr。Speaker，notfarfromthisplaceIownafarm。’’（HereIbegantowonderwhatwascomingnext。）``Fromthatfarm，ononeside，thewaterstrickledownuntiltheyreachtherivulets，andthenthestreams，andfinallythegreatriverswhichemptyintoHudsonBay。Andfromtheothersideofthatfarm，sir，thewaterstrickledownintotherivulets，thencepassintothestreams，andfinallyintothegreatFatherofWaters，untiltheyreachtheGulfofMexico。Mr。Speaker，onthisplateauarenowraisedthegreatmenoftheRepublic。FormerlyVirginiawasthemotherofstatesmen;thatissonolonger。Themotherofstatesmeninthesedays，andofthemenwhoaretocontrolthedestiniesofthisRepublic，isMinnesota。’’