The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

14 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

I would go to New York and hang about Democratic Headquarters which, I remember, were at the Everett House in
Union Square. I used to see Mr. Tilden go in and out, and
wondered then how so frail a looking man could make a
campaign for President.
'Bayard, Blaine, and others I heard speak whenever the
opportunity occurred, and I believe that I was as nearly
engrossed in politics as I have ever been since.
'Before the nominations were made, I was, of course, hoping to see young Morton's father nominated for President,
and it was a bitter disappointment to us both when the telegraph operator handed us out the first slip giving news that
the Republicans had compromised upon Rutherford B.
Hayes. The operator knew us, for we were continually hanging about the office instead of attending to our studies.
Morton's father was such a power at that time that there
was no difficulty in his having access to any information that
was to be had.
'Ardent Democrat that I was, and ardent Republican that
he was, young Morton and I had no unpleasant discussions.
After the election and during the contest that followed, it
was utterly impossible for me to bring myself to think of desk
or books. I was constantly going to Washington with
Morton, in order to be near the centre of things. I was usually the guest of the Mortons, who lived at that time at the
Ebbitt House. I knew much of everything that was going
on. Republican leaders would come in day and night to consult the distinguished invalid who was directing the fight for
Hayes. In this way, directly and indirectly, I saw and met
many well-known Republicans in public life at that time.'
No clearer proof is necessary that the child is father to the
man, for, as his papers will show, the mature Colonel House
displayed an invincible obstinacy in making personal friends
of his political opponents. The characteristic proceeded, per