"The Solid South has gone for Tilden and Hendricks, and by the God of Battles they shall be inaugurated!" was the expression of one fiery editor-a sentiment widely echoed by men whose knowledge of the facts was as nothing in comparison with their desire for results. Henry Watterson, in the Courier Journal, announced that 100,000 unarmed citizens should march to Washington to maintain the rights of Mr. Tilden. Foreign delegations that had lingered after the close of the Centennial were likely to witness something in American politics really worth while.

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The situation did not improve. Conspiracy" and "and" Fraud " were shouted at Zach. Chandler, and "Despot" was hurled at General Grant, who had quietly strengthened the military forces at the danger points.

A proposition was finally made and accepted that each party should send emissaries to the disputed States to recount the ballots. The President issued orders to General Sherman to preserve peace and good order, and to see that the proper and legal boards of canvassers were unmolested in the performance of their duties.

"Should there be any suspicion of a fraudulent count on either side," the order ran, "it should be reported and denounced at once. No man worthy of the office of President should be willing to hold it, if counted in or placed there by fraud. Either party can afford to be disappointed in the result. The country cannot afford to have the result tainted by suspicion of illegal or false returns."

In each state the "Returning Boards " gave the electoral votes to the Republican candidates, and a very large portion of the Democratic party refused to believe in the fairness of the count. Certain inflammatory journals declared that this fraud would not be permitted, and that an army of Democrats, armed with rifles, and with the war cry of "Tilden or Blood!" would march to Washington to take possession of the Government.

It was just here that the President's military training and quiet temperament came into play. Without demonstration he strengthened the forces about the capital; whereupon the editorial desire for war vanished. Whatever may have been the estimate of his capacity as President, there was no man with common sense who did not respect General Grant's honest desire for peace and order, as well as his peculiar genius for preserving these conditions.

Nast continued to caricature the situation from various points of view. The Ass in the Lion's Skin frightening the foreigners about to leave us, and the Ballot Box being kicked hither and thither, with little regard as to its uprightness, were the most telling of these pictures. On

December 14 he received a suggestion from the Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

My Dear Mr. Nast:

That Elephant " is safe. Would it not be well to put him on his feet, with one foot on the Democratic Tiger, with Tilden upon one tusk and Hendricks upon the other?

Truly yours,

Z. Chandler.

But Nast did not follow the suggestion. He was opposed on principle to using any idea from the outside. Also this especial picture, under the conditions, may have seemed premature.

Congressional debates were now in order. Propositions and counter propositions, with a good deal of acrimony and noisy demonstration, ended at last in a bill for an Electoral Commission, which passed the Senate by a vote of forty-seven to seventeen, and the House by a vote of one hundred and ninety-one to eighty-six.

This bill provided for the selection of five members from the Senate, five from the House and five from the Supreme Bench. The bill was a Democratic measure, and passed by Democratic majorities-there having been in the two houses one hundred and eighty-six Democratic and fifty-two Republican votes in its favor, while eighty-five Republicans and eighteen Democrats voted against the bill.

In the selection of the commission thus provided for, three Republicans and two Democrats were chosen from the Senate; and three Democrats and two Republicans were selected from the House. From the Supreme Bench, it was ordered that the "Justices assigned to the First, Third, Eighth and Ninth circuits shall select, in such manner as the majority of them shall deem fit, another Associate Justice of said Court." Joseph P. Bradley was the fifth Justice finally chosen, all his associates agreeing.

A remarkable contest ensued between men skilled in the game and craft of politics. In New York City, Abram S. Hewitt, Chairman of the Democratic Committee, was most conspicuous of the Tilden contingent, and his face appears numerously in the caricatures of Nast.

Henry Watterson likewise continued "red hot " in his desire to win in this "Great American Game," and on Feb. 3 Murat Halstead of the Cincinnati Commercial is shown as pouring ice water on the head of the Courier Journal editor, from whose sleeves are dropping the cards still unplayed. The cards were, of course, purely figurative, but somewhat later, when Nast and Watterson met, the latter said:

"What in the world did you put those cards in my sleeve for, Nast? The boys all thought they were real, and I haven't been able to get into a game since."

It may be said here that though Watterson was often and severely caricatured by Nast, and while Nast was frequently and

a

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firmly castigated by Watterson, the two were always the warmest of friends. 'Baby Watterson " (March 10), a cartoon on the advent of a new member in the Watterson household, the only one of the 100,000 to arrive, was highly appreciated and duly framed by the Kentucky editor.

The play for the great stake of the Presidency continued through the entire month of February, and the day of inauguration was near at hand. The Democratic leaders fought with startling boldness and amazing tactics. Putting aside the idea of obtaining an elector from any one of the three disputed Southern States, they sought out what appeared to be a weak spot in the North, and attempted to disqualify and displace a Republican elector from Oregon. The Electoral Commission, however, regarded with disfavor this somewhat doubtful proceeding, and on March 2 brought in a verdict for Hayes and Wheeler. Mr. Tilden had lost the Presidency by one electoral