The Van Buren press., 1869-08-31

50.
The Democratic convention will declare
itself unequivocally against these trans
actions, and demand an honest and eco
nomical administration Of the affairs OF
the Commonwealth in the interests Of the
whole people"
Can you tell me, Mr.. Adams, in what
estimation General Grant 10 held by the
Republicans OF New England?'
ABULL IN A CHINA SHOP.
Mr.. Adams smiled and replied: "They
are in terrible fix. They are mortified,
chagrined, ,disgustcd with their President,
and don't know how to help themselves.
They can't control him; nobody can
control him; and he has no political
ability 10 control himself lie is out OF
his element in the Executive office, and
feels it, State matters are Il bore to
him Statesmen and politicians are not
congenial companions to him. lie dis
| likes their conversation and shuns 1t,
thus slutting himself out from the advice
and information President always
needs lie prefers the companionshp
of horse Jockeys and retired merchants
who have plenty Of money to spend. bat
who know nothing OF public affairs and
care less. The Republican party in New
England is an aristocratie party, and dis
likes the course General Grant is pursu-
ing But they can't help themselves,
and they feel the modification all the
more keenly on that account"
How do you account for the singu.
lar foreign policy Of his Administration ?
] asked.
MR.. FIsns FOREIGN POLICY.
"Thc foreign policy, so far as it is
developed" he replied, &C. attribute ex-
clusively to the influence and direction
of Mr. Fish. 1t is pepularly known, l
suppose, that the PrssidcE. and all the
Cabinet, with the possible exception OF
the Attorney General, were disposed to
adopt, in our relations both with Spain
and England, q very dangerous and
threatening policy. Mr.. Fish was firm
in his opposition to such course, and
| think the result will prove the wisdom
of the policy he has stamped upon the
Administration. There was time, i'm
mediately after their utterance, when the
whole country seemed carried away with
Mr. Summers views rs expressed in his
famous speech; but calm and deliberate
reflection has convinced the most Of us
Of tho falacy Of these views. Mr.. Fish
| had the sagacity to detect the error OF
them at the time and the courage TO face
public opinion in opposing them. ! con
fess that do not clearly understand the
policy in detail and especially his sngu-
lar attitude toward Cuba. But / have
confidence in his eminent abilities as a
statesman, and feel assured that he will
manage these delicate affairs SO rs to
evolve wise solution"
ado you not think" | suggested,
'that the country sympathizes with tho
Cubans in their struggle for freedem,and
that the influence of our Government
should be exerted in their behalfy'
TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS
81 hardly think" he replied, "that
the mass Of the people in this country
care anything about that struggle. The
people of New England are not concern
ed about it. The West cares nothing
about it. In New York there is consid-
cradle feeling on the subject, which is
carefully nurscd and kept alive by inter
ested parties. There are many Cubans
residing in New York, and that city has
large and profitable trade with Cuba.
Hence their interest in this struggle.
But that interest is by no means general
throughout the country. 1t is true, !
suppose, tha, the country would like to
acquire Cuba. That acquisitivcness is
one Of the bsnes Of our people. We not
only would like Cuba, but we would like
the greater portion Of Mexico, all OF
Canada, and perhaps other contiguous
territory. 1t may be, too, that we are
destined topossess all this continent, and
more tco for all know. But / very
much question whether so great terrific.
rial extension will benefit us much"
THE SOUTH pEMoCRATIc--now TAr NE.
GRogs WILL VOTE.
"You took a run through the south
last year, Mr.. Adams,' / remarked.
"What was the result of your obssrva-
tions in that drcction? Can the Repub-
lican party retain the control OF that sec
ton of the country p
"By no MEANS" he replied. GAS fast
as the States have restored TO them their
political privileges and rights, they will
rcassert their independence OF this rul.
ing power 1t is all nonsense TO suppose
that the labor Of that section will forever
subject itself to the control Of a few ad-
yeuturers, At present the negroes are
kept in state Of political excitement,
and semi.antagonism to the Southern
people, for partisan purposes. But real.
ly the negroes care nothing about poll.
tics. III left 10 themselves they would
scarcely ever assert their political rights
Fot that would have them denied those
rights, or restrained from exercising
them but it is not in their nature or dis
position to care for them. In the cities
they may, and probably will always take
an active part in party contests; but the
mass Of the negroes, as is we'll known,a are
scattered in small colonies on distant
plantations, and after this unnatural ex-
citeInent passes away, and they are left
TO themselves, politics will be the least
Of their concerns, except once year,
when their employers will ask them to
| thn ,,ollS n vnto Than Of rNurSo TIM