Evening journal., 1912-12-12
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
"
How Seward Went Back to
the Senate After Defeat
By Holland.

William n. Seward was, with two
exceptions, successful ia campaigns
which were made by him or for him
for political office. He lost the Gov
crnorship Of New York state in the
campaign in 1888 which followed his
first nomination for Governor, but he
was twice elected after that lie also
triumphed against somewhat formid-
able opposition twice when candi-
date for election and afterward for
reelection as United States Senator
lie was defeated for the nomination
for President early in May. 1860, and
the defeat was all the more difficult to
bear because Governor Seward had
been assured by his friends that his
nomination could not be prevented.
Stewards demeanor Immediately
after word came to him. at his home
at Auburn, ~ Y, that Abraham Lin
coin had been nominated for Presi-
dent upon the third ballot at the Chi
cago contention was a wonderful eX-
hibition of perfect mastery of him
self said the late General John A.
Knapp, who was warm personal
friend OF Seward for many years, to
me.
Seward received few friends in
his library at his Auburn home an
hour or two after word had come OF
his defeat at Chicago. These friends
found him quietly occupied IN writ
/ ing, and from his manner no one
would have suspected that he was
] mastering the crushing disappoint-
ment which this news must have
brought TO him.
"A few hours later he walked the
public streets in Auburn perfectly
composed He gave all his friends
earnest counsel that they give their
heartiest support to the nominations
made in Chicago.
Seward however, knew that he
/ had one trial before him which he
/ afterward confessed was a fiery one.
/ He did not know when he left Au-
/ burn for Washington whether he
would be able thoroughly to COM
mand himself i'm the face of this trial.
Congress was i'm session at the
time When Governor Seward went
TO his home in Auburn shortly be-
fore the Republican convention met
I there was not one member of the
Senate who doubted that he would
return TO the Senate the nominee of
/ his party for President The man
ner OF the Senators toward him con-
tanned an implied recognition of his
] designated nre-eminence as the lead
/ er of the Republican party Seward
went back 10 Washington "a few days
after the convention and he was al
most overwhelmed by the thought
/ that he would have TO appear in his
customary place in the Senate He
knew that the Senators would look
furtiyely al him, conveying their
sense to himl OF the fact that ne had
been deposed as a leader.
However. on the day following his
arrival in Washington, he summoned
all his resources and will and went
TO the Senate He noticed instantly
the change in the manner Of many Of
the Senators on the Republican side.
They tried to be courteous they were
courteous but their looks and their
manner told him fully they realized
that he had been set aside for an OBJ
scure Illinois LAWYER There were.
however. two Republican Senators
who treated him with all their former
courtesy, manifesting every feeling OF
respect and admiration for him. He
said afterward that on one could have
told from their manner that they had
the slightest knowledge OF what hap
pened at the Chicago Republican
Convention. These two were Charles
Sumner and Henry Wilson, who we're
Senators from Massachusetts
Seward never forgot their kind
ness, and the great delicacy which
they displayed upon that first meet
ing after his return to the Senate.
But If he were disappointed or in any
way humiliated by the attitude of
other Republican Senators toward
him. he found sufficient ameuds or
alienation for that feeling IN the con
duct of every Democratic member OF
the Senate. There was not one OF
the Democratic Senators who were In
the Senate chamber when Seward en-
tered who did not greet him with the
utmost cordiality, although not one
of them referred In these greetings
TO what had happened at Chicago. II
is no Wonder therefore that when
Seward was Secretary of State. as he
became year later. his own Demo
cratic colleagues i'm the Senate found
him always willing and anxious 10
go out OF his way to do anythiue
within reason which these Senators
asked. and none of them ever asked
him anything which was unreason-
able"
(Copyrieht 1912 by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.
/ rron,orro,r AIR Id,Vorde will .iva