Political reverses of 1874--The contest in Michigan a complicated one--Republican success by a narrow margin--A close Legislature--Resistance to Mr. Chandler's re-election--His pronounced success in his party caucus--A combination of a few Republicans with the Democrats elects Judge Christiancy--Like results elsewhere--Mr. Chandler's confidence--"A candidate for that seat"--Letter to the Republican members of the Legislature--A seeming calamity proves to be a benefit--Appointment as Secretary of the Interior--Changes in the _personnel_ of the Department--How Alonzo Bell became Chief Clerk--The first blow falls--An entire room closed as a measure of "practical reform"--Purification of the Bureau of Indian Affairs--"The most valuable men" suddenly dismissed--Order against the "Indian attorneys"--President Grant's support--Changes in the Bureau of Pensions and the General Land Office--Mr. Chandler's admirable executive qualities recognized--Anecdotes of his Cabinet service--Fighting the patronage-seekers--A cowardly informer--A head to the Department--An investigation that failed--"Pumping a dry well"--Close of Mr. Chandler's term--Tributes of Secretary Schurz to the practical efficiency of his predecessor. 337 CHAPTER XX. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1876--AT HOME--THE MARSH FARM NEAR LANSING. Mr. Chandler made Chairman of the National Republican Committee--His original confidence in the result--Apathy in the West--Aid to Ohio--The closeness of the contest apparent--Measures to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat--Mr. Chandler's firm attitude during the remainder of the contest--Its great value--Dissent from the "policy" of the new Administration--A Cabinet anecdote--Mr. Chandler retires to private life--A visit to the Pacific coast--Other extended trips--The marsh farm near Lansing, Michigan--An important experiment in the reclamation of wet lands--Mr. Chandler's "expensive theory"--The method of drainage explained and illustrated in detail--Successful results of the earlier experiments in cultivation--General farm equipment--Houses, barns and stock--Relaxation at the farm--Mr. Chandler's correspondence--The answering of every letter his rule--The power of his oratory--Terse sentences, Saxon words, and brief speeches his aim--The sincerity and honesty of the man--The strength of his friendships--His hearty social qualities--His Washington and Detroit residences described--Narrow escape from a serious accident in 1858--Mr. Chandler's family--His domestic happiness--His wife and daughter his sole heirs. 356 CHAPTER XXI. THE MICHIGAN ELECTION OF 1878--MR. CHANDLER'S RETURN TO THE SENATE--"THE JEFF. DAVIS SPEECH."