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500,000 volunteers in 1861, instead of 75,000. He be-
came a great corporation lawyer, and had charge of
many western railroads, thus accumulating a fortune of
$7,000,000.

Tilden and Tweed. -Tweed led the worst faction of Democrats in New York, and Tilden the best. Tilden organized his party and began a systematic attack on the infamous Tweed Ring (1869). As an assemblyman he conducted the legislative investigation and exposed the clique (1871). This gave him the people's confidence and made him governor. Tilden's term of office began with a bold attack on the canal ring, which, under a system of repairs by contract, had plundered the state of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The legislature had appointed a committee to investigate the frauds (1867). Popular indignation led to a canal convention which demanded the dismissal of the canal board and the swift punishment of all persons guilty of frauds. The committee reported that the contractors combined to control prices and then divided profits. One canal commissioner was tried, but acquitted. A few inadequate laws had been passed under Governor Dix to protect the state.

Tilden's Reforms.-Governor Tilden demanded a new investigation, and caused the arrest of many officials and of a few private individuals. Although they were not convicted, reformation followed, and no doubt the state was saved millions of dollars. Tilden's reform spirit left its mark on the public conscience. It spread from city to city, then to the state government, and finally As a result the responsibility of to national affairs. public officials was viewed differently, and there was a more rigid accountability of public expenditure to the

people. It was proved that when the people were once aroused to their duties of citizenship they would act decisively and on the right side.

New York's Presidential Aspirants.-Looked upon as the champion of honest government, and trusted as the leader of his party, Tilden was early mentioned as a candidate for President. The Democratic state convention proposed his nomination for "national regeneration and reform." Tammany Hall bitterly opposed him, but he was nominated in the national convention at St. Louis on the first ballot (June 28, 1876). The Republicans of New York also had a candidate for the highest office, Roscoe Conkling, a United States senator and a popular orator and statesman who had supported Grant. Their state convention suggested his candidacy, and promised the state's electoral votes for him. A strong faction in the state opposed him, however. He received only 99 votes in the national convention at Cincinnati, and was beaten by Rutherford B. Hayes (June 14). To appease New York William A. Wheeler was nominated for Vice-President.

Tilden's Defeat.-The presidential election was one of the most exciting in our history. New York gave Tilden a majority of 32,700. The general result was in dispute. An electoral commission finally decided that Hayes had received 185 votes and Tilden 184. Tilden's friends insisted that he was elected, and he did receive a majority of the popular vote, but he made no open protest and retired from active politics. In 1880 and again in 1884 his admirers would have made him a candidate for President, but he declined to accept the nomination. Two years later he died. He deserves to

rank with De Witt Clinton as a statesman, and with Van Buren as a politician. Well had he won the title of "the sage." He left $5,000,000 for a free public. library, but his heirs broke his will and reduced the amount to $1,000,000. This sum has been used as the basis of the consolidation of the Astor and Lenox libraries into one great central library for New York City. It is now in course of erection in Bryant Park, and will be the largest in America.

State Factions.-The election of Hayes led to party divisions in New York. He chose William M. Evarts as his Secretary of State. The political leaders in the state opposed the policy of the administration. The Republican state convention criticised the national government, and voted down resolutions commending it by 295 to 109. This division let the Democrats carry all the minor state elections (1877), though the Republicans were victorious the following year. The Greenback party, born in 1876, which had nominated Peter Cooper of New York for President, polled 20,282 votes the next year, and in 1878, 75,133 votes for state officers.

Governor Robinson.-The Democrats nominated Horatio Seymour for governor in 1876, but he declined to run for the office, so Lucius Robinson was named and elected over Edwin D. Morgan, Republican, by 30,000 majority. The new executive was born in New York (1810), taught school, and became a famous lawyer. In 1861 he was elected comptroller by 108,200 votes, a majority larger than ever before given in the state, and was twice re-elected. In 1879 he was renominated for governor, but was defeated by Alonzo B. Cornell.

Governor Robinson was the first to serve again the three-year term. His administration was notable for its strict economy and the rapid decrease of the state debt. He died in 1890, an honored citizen.

The New Capitol.-Since 1797 the legislature has met at Albany. First it assembled in the Stadt Huis, then in the old capitol, built at a cost of $110,000 (1806) and used till 1879, when the state government moved into the present splendid structure. Agitation for a new capitol had begun before the Civil War, and a committee was appointed to report on the project (1863). New York City offered to build the capitol, and also a fine governor's mansion, free of cost to the state, if located there. Syracuse, the central city of the state, also

wanted it. The legislature, however, authorized the construction of a new capitol near the old site. Three commissioners were appointed. The building was not to exceed $4,000,000 in cost. Work began in 1867, and in two years the first stone was laid. The masonic order laid the corner-stone in the presence of 20,000 persons (June 24, 1871).

Opening. The work progressed from year to year, as money was appropriated, under a changing board of commissioners. In 1883 the whole work was placed in the hands of Isaac G. Perry as capitol commissioner. The work has gone on with long delays for lack of funds. Many a scandal has been connected with it, and used by both parties for political purposes. Up to 1900 the capitol had cost about $24,000,000. On January 7, 1879, the capitol was formally opened by the legislature. The building is one of the finest in the world, a pride to the Empire State, and a source of instruction and admiration to thousands of visitors from all parts of the world.

Centennial.—The hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the state capitol at Albany was celebrated January 6, 1897. One hundred citizens, headed by the governor, arranged a fine program. Chauncey M. Depew delivered the historical address, and William H. McElroy read the commemorative poem.