Peter had challenged his opponents to a joint debate, and when that was declined by them, he hired halls for evenings and spoke on the subject.  He argued well, with much more feeling than he had shown since his speech in “the case.”  After the first attempt of this kind, he had no difficulty in filling his halls.  The rumor came back to his own district that he was “talkin’ foin,” and many of his friends there turned out to hear him.  The same news went through other wards of the city and drew men from them.  People were actually excluded, for want of room, and therefore every one became anxious to hear his speeches.  Finally, by subscription of a number of people who had become interested, headed by Mr. Pell, the Cooper Union was hired, and Peter made a really great speech to nearly three thousand people.

The papers came to his help too, and stood by him manfully.  By their aid, it was made very clear that this was a fight against a selfish lobby.  By their aid, it became one of the real questions of the local campaign, and was carried beyond the borders of the city, so as to play a part in the county elections.  Peter met many of the editors, and between his expert knowledge, acquired on the Commissions, and his practical knowledge, learned at Albany, proved a valuable man to them.  They repaid his help by kind words and praise in their columns, and brought him forward as the chief man in the movement.  Mrs. Stirling concluded that the conspiracy to keep Peter in the background had been abandoned.

“Those York papers couldn’t help my Peter’s getting on,” was the way she put it.

The results of this fight were even better than he had hoped.  One Assemblyman gave in and agreed no longer to oppose the bills.  Another was defeated.  The Senator had his majority so cut down that he retired from the opposition.  The questions too had become so much more discussed and watched, and the blame so fastened upon the lobby that many members from the country no longer dared to oppose legislation on the subject.  Hence it was that the bills, newly drawn by Peter, to reduce opposition as far as possible, when introduced by Schlurger soon after the opening of the legislature, went through with a rush, not even ayes and nays being taken.  Aided by Mr. Costell, Peter secured their prompt signing by Catlin, his long fight had ended in victory.

The “sixt” was wild with joy over the triumph.  Whether it was because it was a tenement ward, or because Peter had talked there so much about it, or because his success was felt to redound to their credit, the voters got up a display of fireworks on the night when the news of the signing of the bills reached New York.  When Peter returned to the city, he was called down to a hall one evening, to witness a torchlight procession and receive resolutions “engrossed and framed” from his admiring friends.  Blunkers was chairman and made a plain speech which set the boys cheering by its combination of strong feeling and lack of grammar.  Then Justice Gallagher made a fine-sounding, big-worded presentation.  In the enthusiasm of the moment, Dennis broke the programme by rising and giving vent to a wild burst of feeling, telling his audience all that they owed to Peter, and though they knew already what he told them, they cheered and cheered the strong, natural eloquence.