That Howells remained true to Blaine was a grief to Clemens.  He had gone to the farm with Howells on his political conscience and had written fervent and imploring letters on the subject.  As late as September 17th, he said: 

    Somehow I can’t seem to rest quiet under the idea of your voting for
    Blaine.  I believe you said something about the country and the
    party.  Certainly allegiance to these is well, but certainly a man’s
    first duty is to his own conscience and honor; the party and country
    come second to that, and never first.  I don’t ask you to vote at
    all.  I only urge you not to soil yourself by voting for Blaine.... 
    Don’t be offended; I mean no offense.  I am not concerned about the
    rest of the nation, but well, good-by. 
                                   Yours ever, mark.

Beyond his prayerful letters to Howells, Clemens did not greatly concern himself with politics on the farm, but, returning to Hartford, he went vigorously into the campaign, presided, as usual, at mass-meetings, and made political speeches which invited the laughter of both parties, and were universally quoted and printed without regard to the paper’s convictions.

It was during one such speech as this that, in the course of his remarks, a band outside came marching by playing patriotic music so loudly as to drown his voice.  He waited till the band got by, but by the time he was well under way again another band passed, and once more he was obliged to wait till the music died away in the distance.  Then he said, quite serenely: 

“You will find my speech, without the music, in the morning paper.”

In introducing Carl Schurz at a great mugwump mass-meeting at Hartford, October 20, 1884., he remarked that he [Clemens] was the only legitimately elected officer, and was expected to read a long list of vice-presidents; but he had forgotten all about it, and he would ask all the gentlemen there, of whatever political complexion, to do him a great favor by acting as vice-presidents.  Then he said: 

As far as my own political change of heart is concerned, I have not been convinced by any Democratic means.  The opinion I hold of Mr. Blaine is due to the comments of the Republican press before the nomination.  Not that they have said bitter or scandalous things, because Republican papers are above that, but the things they said did not seem to be complimentary, and seemed to me to imply editorial disapproval of Mr. Blame and the belief that he was not qualified to be President of the United States.

It is just a little indelicate for me to be here on this occasion before an assemblage of voters, for the reason that the ablest newspaper in Colorado—­the ablest newspaper in the world—­has recently nominated me for President.  It is hardly fit for me to preside at a discussion of the brother candidate, but the best