While the convention of 1884 did not nominate the candidate
favored by the Republicans of Massachusetts, the action of
the State, in my opinion, was decisive in defeating the nomination
of President Arthur. But for that there would have been no
movement for Edmunds, and his support would have gone to the
President. Mr. Blaine, who was nominated, was defeated at
the election. The event proved him a much stronger candidate
than I had supposed, and his subsequent career in the Department
of State, I believe, satisfied a majority of his countrymen
that he would have made an able and discreet President. I
suppose it would hardly be denied now by persons acquainted
with the details of the management of the Democratic campaign,
at any rate I have heard the fact admitted by several very
distinguished Democrats, members of the Senate of the United
States, that the plurality of the vote of New York was really
cast for Mr. Blaine, and that he was unjustly deprived of
election by the fraud at Long Island City by which votes cast
for the Butler Electoral Ticket were counted for Cleveland.
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