Hornblower  called  at  the  White  House  to  pay  his  respects
to  the  defeated  President.  "I  was  asked  into  his  private
reception  room,"  writes  Mr.  Hornblower,  "and  found
him  sitting  at  his  desk  alone.  After  a  few  words  of
greeting,  he  spoke  of  his  tariff  message,  which  seemed  to
be  on  his  mind.  He  said:  'My  friends  all  advised  me  not
to  send  it  in.  They  told  me  that  it  would  hurt  the  party;
that  without  it,  I  was  sure  to  be  re-elected,  but  that  if  I
sent  in  that  message  to  Congress,  it  would  in  all  probabil-
ity defeat  me;  that  I  could  wait  till  after  election  and
then  raise  the  tariff  question.  I  felt,  however,  that  this
would  not  be  fair  to  the  country;  the  situation  as  it  ex-
isted was  to  my  mind  intolerable  and  immediate  action
was  necessary.  Besides,  I  did  not  wish  to  be  re-elected
without  having  the  people  understand  just  where  I  stood
on  the  tariff  question  and  then  spring  the  question  on  them
after  my  re-election.  He  paused  a  moment  and  then
added,  as  if  speaking  to  himself:  'Perhaps  I  made  a  mis-
take from  the  party  standpoint;  but  damn  it,  it  was  right,'


THROWING  AWAY  THE  PRESIDENCY  301

and  he  brought  his  fist  down  on  his  desk,  'I  have  at  least
that  satisfaction.'

"  Tes,'  said  I,  'Mr.  President,  it  was  right,  and  I  want
to  say  to  you,  that  not  only  was  it  right,  but  that  the
young  men  of  the  country  are  with  you  and  four  years
from  now,  we  mean  to  put  you  back  in  the  White
House.'  "


CHAPTER  XII

RETIRES  TO  NEW  YORK

"I  have  just  entered  the  real  worldj.  and  see  in  a  small  child
more  of  value  than  I  have  ever  called  my  own."

— Grover  Cleveland.
