The Springfield _Republican_ saw and seized its opportunity.
It attacked the River and Harbor Bill savagely. It said:
"Mr. Hoar is a candidate for reelection and has dealt himself
a very severe blow. The Commonwealth was prepared to honor
Messrs. Crapo and Hoar anew. To-day it pauses, frowns and
reflects." So it kept up the attack. It had previously advocated
the selection of Mr. Crapo as candidate for Governor. It
bitterly denounced me. Mr. Crapo had himself voted for the
River and Harbor Bill. It could not consistently maintain
its bitter opposition to me, because of my vote, while supporting
Mr. Crapo. So it declared it could no longer support him.
When the State Convention came the feeling was still strong,
though somewhat abated. I had been asked by the Committee,
a good while before, to preside at the Convention. This I
did. I was received rather coldly when I went forward. But
I made no apologies. I began my speech by saying: "It gives
me great pleasure to meet this assembly of the representatives
of the Republicans of Massachusetts. I have seen these faces
before.
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