We retired for the night, and next day the whole party was paraded by the city authorities in their robes up the main street to the palace grounds which were finely decorated with flags.  Speeches of welcome were made and replied to.  Mr. Blaine was called upon by the people, and responded in a short address.  Just then a cablegram was handed to him:  “Harrison and Morton nominated.”  Phelps had declined.  So passed forever Mr. Blaine’s chance of holding the highest of all political offices—­the elected of the majority of the English-speaking race.  But he was once fairly elected to the presidency and done out of New York State, as was at last clearly proven, the perpetrators having been punished for an attempted repetition of the same fraud at a subsequent election.

Mr. Blaine, as Secretary of State in Harrison’s Cabinet, was a decided success and the Pan-American Congress his most brilliant triumph.  My only political appointment came at this time and was that of a United States delegate to the Congress.  It gave me a most interesting view of the South American Republics and their various problems.  We sat down together, representatives of all the republics but Brazil.  One morning the announcement was made that a new constitution had been ratified.  Brazil had become a member of the sisterhood, making seventeen republics in all—­now twenty-one.  There was great applause and cordial greeting of the representatives of Brazil thus suddenly elevated.  I found the South American representatives rather suspicious of their big brother’s intentions.  A sensitive spirit of independence was manifest, which it became our duty to recognize.  In this I think we succeeded, but it will behoove subsequent governments to scrupulously respect the national feeling of our Southern neighbors.  It is not control, but friendly cooeperation upon terms of perfect equality we should seek.

I sat next to Manuel Quintana who afterwards became President of Argentina.  He took a deep interest in the proceedings, and one day became rather critical upon a trifling issue, which led to an excited colloquy between him and Chairman Blaine.  I believe it had its origin in a false translation from one language to another.  I rose, slipped behind the chairman on the platform, whispering to him as I passed that if an adjournment was moved I was certain the differences could be adjusted.  He nodded assent.  I returned to my seat and moved adjournment, and during the interval all was satisfactorily arranged.  Passing the delegates, as we were about to leave the hall, an incident occurred which comes back to me as I write.  A delegate threw one arm around me and with the other hand patting me on the breast, exclaimed:  “Mr. Carnegie, you have more here than here”—­pointing to his pocket.  Our Southern brethren are so lovingly demonstrative.  Warm climes and warm hearts.