If the States of Louisiana and South Carolina could save their local autonomy out of the general wreck there seemed no good reason to forbid.
On the other hand, the Republican leaders were glad of an opportunity to make an end of the corrupt and tragic farce of Reconstruction; to unload their party of a dead weight which had been burdensome and was growing dangerous; mayhap to punish their Southern agents, who had demanded so much for doctoring the returns and making an exhibit in favor of Hayes.
X Mr.Tilden accepted the result with equanimity.
"I was at his house," says John Bigelow, "when his exclusion was announced to him, and also on the fourth of March when Mr.Hayes was inaugurated, and it was impossible to remark any change in his manner, except perhaps that he was less absorbed than usual and more interested in current affairs." His was an intensely serious mind; and he had come to regard the presidency as rather a burden to be borne--an opportunity for public usefulness--involving a life of constant toil and care, than as an occasion for personal exploitation and rejoicing.
How much of captivation the idea of the presidency may have had for him when he was first named for the office I cannot say, for he was as unexultant in the moment of victory as he was unsubdued in the hour of defeat; but it is certainly true that he gave no sign of disappointment to any of his friends.
He lived nearly ten years longer, at Greystone, in a noble homestead he had purchased for himself overlooking the Hudson River, the same ideal life of the scholar and gentleman that he had passed in Gramercy Park.
Looking back over these untoward and sometimes mystifying events, I have often asked myself: Was it possible, with the elements what they were, and he himself what he was, to seat Mr.Tilden in the office to which he had been elected?
The missing ingredient in a character intellectually and morally great and a personality far from unimpressive, was the touch of the dramatic discoverable in most of the leaders of men; even in such leaders as William of Orange and Louis XI; as Cromwell and Washington.
There was nothing spectacular about Mr.Tilden.Not wanting the sense of humor, he seldom indulged it.

In spite of his positiveness of opinion and amplitude of knowledge he was always courteous and deferential in debate.

He had none of the audacious daring, let us say, of Mr.Elaine, the energetic self-assertion of Mr.Roosevelt.Either in his place would have carried all before him.
I repeat that he was never a subtle schemer--sitting behind the screen and pulling his wires--which his political and party enemies discovered him to be as soon as he began to get in the way of the machine and obstruct the march of the self-elect.

His confidences were not effusive, nor their subjects numerous.

His deliberation was unfailing and sometimes it carried the idea of indecision, not to say actual love of procrastination.