CHAPTER the Eighteenth.
The Grover Cleveland Period--President Arthur and Mr.Blaine--John Chamberlin--The Decrees of Destiny I What may be called the Grover Cleveland period of American politics began with the election of that extraordinary person--another man of destiny--to the governorship of New York.

Nominated, as it were, by chance, he carried the State by an unprecedented majority.

That was not because of his popularity, but that an incredible number of Republican voters refused to support their party ticket and stayed away from the polls.

The Blaine-Conkling feud, inflamed by the murder of Garfield, had rent the party of Lincoln and Grant asunder.

Arthur, a Conkling leader, had succeeded to the presidency.
If any human agency could have sealed the breach he might have done it.
No man, however, can achieve the impossible.