ThemostimportantofthereformmeasuresourcommitteerecommendedwasthebilltakingawayfromtheAldermentheirpowerofconfirmationovertheMayor’sappointments。Wefoundthatitwaspossibletogetcitizensinterestedinthecharacterandcapacityoftheheadofthecity，sothattheywouldexercisesomeintelligentinterestinhisconductandqualifications。ButwefoundthatasamatteroffactitwasimpossibletogettheminterestedintheAldermenandothersubordinateofficers。InactualpracticetheAldermenweremerelythecreaturesofthelocalwardbossesorofthebigmunicipalbosses，andwheretheycontrolledtheappointmentsthecitizensatlargehadnochancewhatevertomaketheirwillfelt。Accordinglywefoughtfortheprinciple，whichIbelievetobeofuniversalapplication，thatwhatisneededinourpopulargovernmentistogiveplentyofpowertoafewofficials，andtomakethesefewofficialsgenuinelyandreadilyresponsibletothepeoplefortheexerciseofthatpower。TakingawaytheconfirmingpoweroftheBoardofAldermendidnotgivethecitizensofNewYorkgoodgovernment。WeknewthatiftheychosetoelectthewrongkindofMayortheywouldhavebadgovernment，nomatterwhattheformofthelawwas。Butwedidsecuretothemthechancetogetgoodgovernmentiftheydesired，andthiswasimpossibleaslongastheoldsystemremained。Thechangewasfoughtinthewayinwhichallsimilarchangesalwaysarefought。Thecorruptandinterestedpoliticianswereagainstit，andthebattle-criestheyused，whichralliedtothemmostoftheunthinkingconservatives，werethatwewerechangingtheoldconstitutionalsystem，thatweweredefacingthemonumentsofthewisdomofthefoundersofthegovernment，thatweweredestroyingthatdistinctionbetweenlegislativeandexecutivepowerwhichwasthebulwarkofourliberties，andthatwewereviolentandunscrupulousradicalswithnoreverenceforthepast。
Ofcoursetheinvestigations，disclosures，andproceedingsoftheinvestigatingcommitteeofwhichIwaschairmanbroughtmeintobitterpersonalconflictwithverypowerfulfinanciers，verypowerfulpoliticians，andwithcertainnewspaperswhichthesefinanciersandpoliticianscontrolled。Anumberofableandunscrupulousmenwerefighting，somefortheirfinanciallives，andotherstokeepoutofunpleasantlycloseneighborhoodtoState’sprison。Thismeantthattherewereblowstobetakenaswellasgiven。Insuchpoliticalstruggles，thosewhowentinforthekindofthingthatIdidspeedilyexcitedanimositiesamongstrongandcunningmenwhowouldstopatlittletogratifytheiranimosity。Anymanengagedinthisparticulartypeofmilitantandpracticalreformmovementwassoonmadetofeelthathehadbetternotundertaketopushmattershomeunlesshisowncharacterwasunassailable。OnoneoftheinvestigatingcommitteesonwhichIservedtherewasacountryman，averyableman，who，whenhereachedNewYorkCity，feltascertainAmericansdowhentheygotoParis——thatthemoralrestraintsofhisnativeplacenolongerapplied。Withallhisability，hewasnotshrewdenoughtorealizethatthePoliceDepartmentwashavinghimaswellastherestofuscarefullyshadowed。Hewascaughtred-handedbyaplain-clothesmandoingwhathehadnobusinesstodo；andfromthattimeonhedarednotactsaveasthosewhoheldhissecretpermittedhimtoact。
ThenceforththoseofficialswhostoodbehindthePoliceDepartmenthadonemanonthecommitteeonwhomtheycouldcount。Ineversawterrormoreghastlyonastrongman’sfacethanonthefaceofthismanononeortwooccasionswhenhefearedthateventsinthecommitteemighttakesuchacourseastoforcehimintoapositionwherehiscolleagueswouldexposehimevenifthecityofficialsdidnot。
However，heescaped，forwewereneverabletogetthekindofproofwhichwouldwarrantouraskingfortheactioninwhichthismancouldnothavejoined。
Trapsweresetformorethanoneofus，andifwehadwalkedintothesetrapsourpubliccareerswouldhaveended，atleastsofarasfollowingthemundertheconditionswhichalonemakeitworthwhiletobeinpubliclifeatall。Amancanofcourseholdpublicoffice，andmanyamandoesholdpublicoffice，andleadapubliccareerofasort，evenifthereareothermenwhopossesssecretsabouthimwhichhecannotaffordtohavedivulged。Butnomancanleadapubliccareerreallyworthleading，nomancanactwithruggedindependenceinseriouscrises，norstrikeatgreatabuses，noraffordtomakepowerfulandunscrupulousfoes，ifheishimselfvulnerableinhisprivatecharacter。Norwillcleanconductbyitselfenableamantorendergoodservice。IhavealwaysbeenfondofJoshBillings’sremarkthat“itismucheasiertobeaharmlessdovethanawiseserpent。”
Thereareplentyofdecentlegislators，andplentyofablelegislators；buttheblamelessnessandthefightingedgearenotalwayscombined。Bothqualitiesarenecessaryforthemanwhoistowageactivebattleagainstthepowersthatprey。Hemustbecleanoflife，sothathecanlaughwhenhispublicorhisprivaterecordissearched；andyetbeingcleanoflifewillnotavailhimifheiseitherfoolishortimid。Hemustwalkwarilyandfearlessly，andwhileheshouldneverbrawlifhecanavoidit，hemustbereadytohithardiftheneedarises。Lethimremember，bytheway，thattheunforgivablecrimeissofthitting。Donothitatallifitcanbeavoided；butneverhitsoftly。
Likemostyoungmeninpolitics，IwentthroughvariousoscillationsoffeelingbeforeI“foundmyself。”AtoneperiodIbecamesoimpressedwiththevirtueofcompleteindependencethatIproceededtoactoneachcasepurelyasIpersonallyviewedit，withoutpayinganyheedtotheprinciplesandprejudicesofothers。TheresultwasthatI
speedilyanddeservedlylostallpowerofaccomplishinganythingatall；andItherebylearnedtheinvaluablelessonthatinthepracticalactivitiesoflifenomancanrenderthehighestserviceunlesshecanactincombinationwithhisfellows，whichmeansacertainamountofgive-and-takebetweenhimandthem。Again，IatoneperiodbegantobelievethatIhadafuturebeforeme，andthatitbehoovedmetobeveryfar-sightedandscaneachactioncarefullywithaviewtoitspossibleeffectonthatfuture。Thisspeedilymademeuselesstothepublicandanobjectofaversiontomyself；andIthenmadeupmymindthatIwouldtrynottothinkofthefutureatall，butwouldproceedontheassumptionthateachofficeIheldwouldbethelastIevershouldhold，andthatIwouldconfinemyselftotryingtodomyworkaswellaspossiblewhileIheldthatoffice。IfoundthatformepersonallythiswastheonlywayinwhichIcouldeitherenjoymyselforrendergoodservicetothecountry，andIneverafterwardsdeviatedfromthisplan。
Asregardspoliticaladvancementthebossescouldofcoursedoagooddeal。AtthattimethewarringStalwartandHalf-BreedfactionsoftheRepublicanpartyweresupportingrespectivelyPresidentArthurandSenatorMiller。Neithersidecaredforme。ThefirstyearintheLegislatureIrosetoapositionofleadership，sothatinthesecondyear，whentheRepublicanswereinaminority，IreceivedtheminoritynominationforSpeaker，althoughIwasstilltheyoungestmanintheHouse，beingtwenty-fouryearsold。ThethirdyeartheRepublicanscarriedtheLegislature，andthebossesatoncetookahandintheSpeakershipcontest。Imadeastoutfightforthenomination，butthebossesofthetwofactions，theStalwartsandtheHalf-Breeds，combinedandIwasbeaten。Iwasmuchchagrinedforthemoment。ButthefactthatIhadfoughthardandefficiently，eventhoughdefeated，andthatIhadmadethefightsingle-handed，withnomachinebackofme，assuredmystandingasfloorleader。Mydefeatintheendmateriallystrengthenedmyposition，andenabledmetoaccomplishfarmorethanIcouldhaveaccomplishedasSpeaker。Assooften，Ifoundthatthetitularpositionwasofnoconsequence；whatcountedwasthecombinationoftheopportunitywiththeabilitytoaccomplishresults。
Theachievementwastheall-importantthing；theposition，whethertitularlyhighorlow，wasofconsequenceonlyinsofarasitwidenedthechanceforachievement。AfterthesessionclosedfourofuswholookedatpoliticsfromthesamestandpointandwereknownasIndependentorAnti-MachineRepublicansweresentbytheStateConventionasdelegates-at-largetotheRepublicanNationalConventionof1884，whereIadvocated，asvigorouslyasIknewhow，thenominationofSenatorGeorgeF。Edmunds。Mr。EdmundswasdefeatedandMr。Blainenominated。Mr。Blainewasclearlythechoiceoftherankandfileoftheparty；hisnominationwaswoninfairandaboveboardfashion，becausetherankandfileofthepartystoodbackofhim；andIsupportedhimtothebestofmyabilityintheensuingcampaign。
TheSpeakershipcontestenlightenedmeasregardsmorethingsthantheattitudeofthebosses。Ihadalreadyhadsomeexasperatingexperienceswiththe“silkstocking“reformertype，asAbrahamLincolncalledit，thegentlemenwhowereverynice，veryrefined，whoshooktheirheadsoverpoliticalcorruptionanddiscusseditindrawing-
roomsandparlors，butwhowerewhollyunabletograpplewithrealmeninreallife。Theywereaptvociferouslytodemand“reform“asifitweresomeconcretesubstance，likecake，whichcouldbehandedoutatwill，intangiblemasses，ifonlythedemandwereurgentenough。Theseparlorreformersmadeupforinefficiencyinactionbyzealincriticising；andtheydelightedincriticisingthemenwhoreallyweredoingthethingswhichtheysaidoughttobedone，butwhichtheylackedthesinewypowertodo。Theyoftenupheldidealswhichwerenotmerelyimpossiblebuthighlyundesirable，andtherebyplayedintothehandsoftheverypoliticianstowhomtheyprofessedtobemosthostile。Moreover，iftheybelievedthattheirowninterests，individuallyorasaclass，werejeoparded，theywereapttoshownohigherstandardsthandidthementheyusuallydenounced。
Oneoftheirshibbolethswasthattheofficeshouldseekthemanandnotthemantheoffice。Thisisentirelytrueofcertainofficesatcertaintimes。Itisentirelyuntruewhenthecircumstancesaredifferent。ItwouldhavebeenunnecessaryandundesirableforWashingtontohavesoughtthePresidency。ButifAbrahamLincolnhadnotsoughtthePresidencyheneverwouldhavebeennominated。Theobjectioninsuchacaseasthisliesnottoseekingtheoffice，buttoseekingitinanybutanhonorableandpropermanner。Theeffectoftheshibbolethinquestionisusuallymerelytoputapremiumonhypocrisy，andthereforetofavorthecreaturewhoiswillingtorisebyhypocrisy。WhenIranforSpeaker，thewholebodyofmachinepoliticianswasagainstme，andmyonlychancelayinarousingthepeopleinthedifferentdistricts。TodothisIhadtovisitthedistricts，putthecasefairlybeforethemenwhomIsaw，andmakethemunderstandthatIwasreallymakingafightandwouldstayinthefighttotheend。Yettherewerereformerswhoshooktheirheadsanddeploredmy“activity“inthecanvass。Ofcoursetheonethingwhichcorruptmachinepoliticiansmostdesireistohavedecentmenfrownontheactivity，thatis，ontheefficiency，ofthehonestmanwhogenuinelywishestoreformpolitics。
Ifefficiencyisleftsolelytobadmen，andifvirtueisconfinedsolelytoinefficientmen，theresultcannotbehappy。WhenIenteredpoliticstherewere，astherealwayshadbeen——andastherealwayswillbe——anynumberofbadmeninpoliticswhowerethoroughlyefficient，andanynumberofgoodmenwhowouldliketohavedoneloftythingsinpoliticsbutwhowerethoroughlyinefficient。IfI
wishedtoaccomplishanythingforthecountry，mybusinesswastocombinedecencyandefficiency；tobeathoroughlypracticalmanofhighidealswhodidhisbesttoreducethoseidealstoactualpractice。Thiswasmyideal，andtothebestofmyabilityIstrovetoliveuptoit。
Toayoungman，lifeintheNewYorkLegislaturewasalwaysinterestingandoftenentertaining。Therewasalwaysastruggleofsomekindonhand。Sometimesitwasonanakedquestionofrightandwrong。Sometimesitwasonaquestionofrealconstructivestatesmanship。Moreover，therewereallkindsofhumorousincidents，thehumorbeingusuallyoftheunconsciouskind。InonesessionoftheLegislaturetheNewYorkCityDemocraticrepresentativesweresplitintotwocamps，andthereweretworivalsforleadership。Oneofthesewasathoroughlygood-hearted，happy-go-luckypersonwhowasafterwardsforseveralyearsinCongress。HehadbeenalocalmagistrateandwascalledJudge。GenerallyheandIwerefriendly，butoccasionallyIdidsomethingthatirritatedhim。Hewasalwayswillingtovoteforanyothermember’sbillhimself，andheregardeditasnarrow-mindedforanyonetoopposeoneofhisbills，especiallyiftheoppositionwasuponthegroundthatitwasunconstitutional——forhisviewsoftheConstitutionweresoexcessivelyliberalastomakeevenmefeelasifIbelongedtothestraitestsectofstrictconstructionists。Ononeoccasionhehadabilltoappropriatemoney，withobviousimpropriety，forthereliefofsomemiscreantwhomhestyled“oneofthehonestyeomanryoftheState。”WhenIexplainedtohimthatitwasclearlyunconstitutional，heanswered，“Mefriend，theConstitutiondon’ttouchlittlethingslikethat。”andthenadded，withaningratiatingsmile，“Anyhow，I’dneverallowtheConstitutiontocomebetweenfriends。”AtthetimeIwaslookingovertheproofsofMr。Bryce’s“AmericanCommonwealth。”andItoldhimtheincident。Heputitintothefirsteditionofthe“Commonwealth“；whetheritisinthelasteditionornot，Icannotsay。
Onanotheroccasionthesamegentlemancametoanissuewithmeinadebate，andwounduphisspeechbyexplainingthatIoccupiedwhat“lawyerswouldcallaquasipositiononthebill。”Hisrivalwasamanoftotallydifferenttype，amanofgreatnaturaldignity，alsoborninIreland。HehadservedwithgallantryintheCivilWar。AfterthecloseofthewarheorganizedanexpeditiontoconquerCanada。Theexpedition，however，gotsodrunkbeforereachingAlbanythatitwasthereincarceratedinjail，whereuponitsleaderabandoneditandwentintoNewYorkpoliticsinstead。Hewasamanofinfluence，andlateroccupiedinthePoliceDepartmentthesamepositionasCommissionerwhichImyselfatonetimeoccupied。Hefeltthathisrivalhadgainedtoomuchgloryatmyexpense，and，walkingoverwithceremonioussolemnitytowherethesaidrivalwassittingclosebesideme，hesaidtohim：“Iwouldlikeyoutoknow，Mr。Cameron[Cameron，ofcourse，wasnottherealname]，thatMr。Rooseveltknowsmorelawinawakethanyoudoinamonth；and，morethanthat，MichaelCameron，whatdoyoumanebyquotingLatinonthefloorofthisHousewhenyoudon’tknowthealphaandomaygaofthelanguage？”
TherewasintheLegislature，duringthedeadlockabovementioned，amanwhomIwillcallBrogan。Helookedlikeaseriouselderlyfrog。I
neverheardhimspeakmorethanonce。ItwasbeforetheLegislaturewasorganized，orhadadoptedanyrules；andeachdaytheonlybusinesswasfortheclerktocalltheroll。OnedayBrogansuddenlyrose，andthefollowingdialogueoccurred：