measure be averted. I had a conversation with Greeley before I left, and I think—in fact I am confident—I can make Greeley commit himself to certain specific reform-measures, publicly and in a manner so binding, that, if elected, he will not be able to escape from his pledges or even to quibble about them without breaking down his Administration at once. He is not sanguine enough to think that the Baltimore Convention will, by endorsing him, absolutely insure his election or that he can depend on the “politicians” alone for his success. The matter will come out when I make my first speech, in a fortnight or three weeks, and I should be glad if you would suspend final judgment for a little while. The influence of the Nation is so great and valuable that it ought not to redound to Grant's benefit as long as on the other side the possibilities are not all exhausted. I tell you the above in confidence, not to be used in public until it is fully developed. I regret the course taken by the Evening Post. Its article of yesterday, intended to prove that Greeley's election would be the restoration of the Democratic party of 1860 to power, is certainly wrong in its conclusions, and I think we shall soon practically prove it to be so.
I shall be at St. Louis to-morrow night and should be very glad to hear from you.
TO HORACE GREELEY
In your letter of acceptance, you promise a thorough reform of the civil service in general terms. The question, how the problem of civil service reform presents itself to your mind is one of great interest; and I would suggest, if it be consistent with your views of propriety, that you
