But I became interested
in the bill known as the National Education Bill, and accepted
another election with a view to doing what I could to carry
that through. At the end of the next term I announced my
purpose to withdraw. But there was a very earnest letter
to me signed by the principal men in the district, including
several gentlemen, any one of whom might very naturally have
expected to be my successor, saying it was not for the interest
of the people of the district to make a change.
Two years after I made a formal and peremptory refusal to
be a candidate again, which was encountered by a like appeal.
It was the year of what was called the Tidal Wave which swept
the Republicans from power in the House of Representatives.
It was very doubtful whether they could carry the Worcester
District. The Democrats elected a majority of the Massachusetts
delegation in the National House of Representatives. I was
elected by a few hundred only, although I was elected by several
thousand on former occasions. I could not very well refuse
to accept the nomination at a time of great political peril.
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