ieties. Love and admiration and sympathy, conditions absolutely necessary to the manifestation of his highest powers, stimulated and pricked him on to effort and helpfulness. His health was robust and his ambitions keen. He had a genius for popularity, a nature for public service. The abiding value of the idea of community effort, of collectivism in a democracy, came to him instinctively, as they did to Jefferson, despite the individualistic theories of government held by both. He was such a figure of humanitarian enthusiasm as New England had produced too luxuriantly, almost rankly, but which the South, since Jefferson's time, had produced rarely. He beheld society as an organism trying to grow under law. His passion was to aid in finding the law and in welcoming and leading the growth. He beheld Southern society, with unconquerable courage, seeking new standards and new ways of life, new economic conditions, amid a devastation unequalled in modern times. Proud, sensitive democracies must be pleaded with and shown how to do things needful to their growth, with infinite tact and patience. This was Curry's function. He was a pleader and a teacher and an ambassador to a proud, capable, stricken, but indomitable democracy. The bare record as set forth in this chapter seems scrappy and fragmentary. We see an intensely busy man teaching youth anything, from law to literature, preaching everywhere from the Pacific to the Atlantic, foremost in all great educational or religious organizations, writing for the press, rushing hither and thither and very happy and jubilant, not only over the tasks at hand but over the calls that everywhere came to him to come and help everybody.

Looked at closely, however, these virile seven years of Curry's in the Old Dominion are not desultory years. They form a complete unit and constitute a perfect preparation for the supreme work which society needed to exact of him. The significance of moral character, the training of all the people, the spread of social sympathy-this trinity of public virtues was the creed this tireless public preacher was crying out to the South and to the Nation from the vantage ground of the great Commonwealth which had given the Nation birth, and had so suffered for duty's sake as to evoke the tenderness and regard of generous minds in all lands.

CHAPTER XIV

POLITICS AND PRINCIPLES

THE Presidential election, the result of which was finally determined by the extra-constitutional Electoral Commission, took place in 1876; and Curry, in common with the mass of the American people, experienced a deep interest in its conduct and results. His journal of the period makes usually but scant record of contemporaneous politics. The eager politician of the 'fifties, absorbed in religious and educational work, seemed to have forgotten the existence of the machinery of government, but this startling event, whose issue threatened at one time grave and portentous results, is frequently mentioned by him. He notes his exercise of the franchise on election day, as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1876.-Voted before breakfast for Tilden and Hendricks, and for amendments to the (State) Constitution.

The following day shows this entry:

Wednesday, 8.-News from the election of yesterday assures the success of Tilden & Hendricks. Result rather unexpected. People gathered in the streets in front of the Dispatch office, reading and hearing telegrams from various States and shouting vociferously. We feel as if the days of Federal tyranny were numbered. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

His patriotic exultation was short-lived. On Thursday, the 9th, he writes:

Negroes very noisy and jubilant over Hayes' election, which is not a "fixed fact."

Other memoranda bearing upon the controverted result appear from time to time.

Nov. 20. Still much uneasiness about the Presidential election. Universal distrust of President Grant and his party. Fraud or usurpation not considered beyond their purpose or capability. I am tired of this turmoil and distrust. I want a country I can love.

Dec. 2.-The country is much excited about the Presidential election. In South Carolina. Florida and Louisiana serious charges of fraud and intimidation on both sides. Gen. Grant has sent troops to each of the States. The votes of those States, if counted for Hayes, elect him. One electoral vote will elect Tilden. Business seriously affected by the possibility of an outbreak.

Dec. 6, 1876.-The Legislature of Virginia and the Electoral College meet in Richmond to-day. Heard that Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina, the doubtful States, had been so manipulated as to secure their votes for Hayes and Wheeler.

The early part of 1877 found the issue still undetermined; and in order to reach a settlement the contending parties agreed upon the creation and organizing of the famous Electoral Commission, which, after listening to the arguments of counsel and gravely considering many momentous questions of law and fact, decided the contest at last according to the law of human nature. The Republicans upon the Commission were in a numerical majority of one; and the Electoral Commission, by a majority of one,

declared the Republican nominees elected. Curry, keeping tally in his journal of the situation, writes, under date of February 10, 1877: "News this morning rather gloomy. Seems as if the Commission by a party vote will decide in favor of Hayes for President."

Later in the month he and his son, Manly, went to Washington; and the diary, under the date of February 24, contains the following:

After going to the President's house, we went to the Capitol and spent most of the day in the House of Representatives, to the floor of which both of us were admitted.

We witnessed the assembling of the two Houses twice to count the electoral votes. Oregon, having passed the Commission, was after debate passed on. Pennsylvania was objected to.

Much dissatisfaction with the Commission. Democrats complain of having been deceived. Some bitterness on the part of Northwestern Democrats towards Eastern. Southern Democrats opposed to mere dilatory and factious opposition.

Not impressed by the ability of the House. Very few of the members with whom I served.

He again visited Washington on March 2.

Reached Washington at 1:30 and stopped at Willard's Hotel. Went in the afternoon and at night to the Capitol. The Congress having this morning, at 5 A. M., after a night's session, elected Hayes President, the business was of a routine character. I met in the Senate and House a number of old associates. The House did not impress me favorably. Many of the members of very ordinary ability. At night I remained until 10 o'clock. The feeling of Democrats quite bitter, regarding themselves as having been cheated out of the Presidency.