As so often, I found that the titular position was of no consequence; what counted was the combination of the opportunity with the ability to accomplish results.

The achievement was the all-important thing; the position, whether titularly high or low, was of consequence only in so far as it widened the chance for achievement.

After the session closed four of us who looked at politics from the same standpoint and were known as Independent or Anti-Machine Republicans were sent by the State Convention as delegates-at-large to the Republican National Convention of 1884, where I advocated, as vigorously as I knew how, the nomination of Senator George F.Edmunds.
Mr.Edmunds was defeated and Mr.Blaine nominated.

Mr.Blaine was clearly the choice of the rank and file of the party; his nomination was won in fair and aboveboard fashion, because the rank and file of the party stood back of him; and I supported him to the best of my ability in the ensuing campaign.
The Speakership contest enlightened me as regards more things than the attitude of the bosses.

I had already had some exasperating experiences with the "silk stocking" reformer type, as Abraham Lincoln called it, the gentlemen who were very nice, very refined, who shook their heads over political corruption and discussed it in drawing-rooms and parlors, but who were wholly unable to grapple with real men in real life.