The day after the election I wired Mr. Tilden suggesting that, as
Governor of New York, he propose to Mr. Hayes, the Governor of Ohio,
that they unite upon a committee of eminent citizens, composed in
equal numbers of the friends of each, who should proceed at once
to Louisiana, which appeared to be the objective point of greatest
moment to the already contested result. Pursuant to a telegraphic
correspondence which followed, I left Louisville that night for New
Orleans. I was joined en route by Mr. Lamar of Mississippi, and
together we arrived in the Crescent City Friday morning.
[Illustration: “ONE TOUCH OF NATURE MAKES”--EVEN HENRY WATTERSON GIVE IN
“Let us have peace. I don’t care who is the next President,” cries our
bold Patriarch at the ~FIRST~ arrival.
“The Hon. Henry Watterson has just been presented with a son--weight,
11 pounds.”--_Washington Correspondence._
This cartoon by Thomas Nast, with the above titles and explanation,
appeared in “Harper’s Weekly” of March 10, 1877, as an apology for
the lampoon on the opposite page. (See page 17.)]
It has since transpired that the Republicans were promptly advised by
the Western Union Telegraph Company of all that passed over its wires,
my despatches to Mr. Tilden being read in Republican Headquarters at
least as soon they reached Gramercy Park.
[Illustration: From a photograph owned by F. H. Meserve