New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-23
=" Honest Ben Wade''-EIe is Com
fident that General Grant
Will be RenOminted.
[Rrom the New York Herald. November hon


Learning last evening that Mr.. Benjamin F.
Wade, ex-senator from Ohio and ex-Vice
President of the United States, was stopping
at the Astor House, and knowing, from his
long and successful political career, that he
could give certain views and opinions upon
the present situation aud future prospects of
the country which could be obtained from but
few of our statesmen, a reporter Of the Herald
was Immediately dispatched to that point for
the purpose of an interview He found the
Senator quietly seated in the hall, near the
stove, reading the papers, with his chair bal
anced on two legs, and looking, for all the
world, the personifcation of Shakespeare
hero, who says: Can L not take mime ease
in mine ion ?"
The following conversation ensued between
the honorable gentleman and the Herald rep-
resentative:
Reporter. You are aware, Senator, that Mr..
Calfax has declined to be candidate for the
Vice Presidency again, and as at the last Con
vention there were many in the party who
were anxious for your nomination to that posi-
ton, may ask would you accept it if it were
rendered by the next Republican Presidential
Convention?
Senator. On that point l would prefer not to
talk much. | have always served the country
as faithfully as l could in every capacity to
which was called. / do not think there is
any large party clamoring for my nomination,
and therefore do not wish to decline or accept
in advance what has not been rendered to me,
and which do not believe will be rendered to
me. Although have retired from public life
l read the papers fully and keep myself posted
on current political events. NV health is
good, and while aspire to nothing in the way
of Office, would not decline to serve my coun.
try whenever it needed my services, whether
the position were agreeable to me or not.
Reporter. As you are just from Washington
Senator, presume you can foreshadow some
thing with reference to the formation of Con
gressional committees. Will they be likely to
favor high tariff?
Senator Undoubtedly they will There is
popular impression with you in the East that
tariffs are unpopular in the West They are
not. When we placed ourselves there sauareIy
in favor of tariff, at just those times we have
received our greatest majorities although the
Chicago Tribune and few leaders have on
posed us in it. l am in favor of such an
arrangement of the tariff as will enable us to
pay off at least fifty millions per annum, and
as much more as we can without being too
burdensome. The Republican party is stronger
to-day in the West than it ever was, and this is
because it is in favor of tariff and preserving
the national integrity.
Reporter. Will President Grant be renomin-
ated!
Senator. Certainly he will. lie never was
as strong as he is to day, and, l think, he will
be elected to second term by as large a pro-
portionate majority as President Monroe after
the war of 1872. Then the country approved
his course and sought quietude, and was not
willing to risk a change, and so it is now with
1rant. The country wishes to be quiet, is not
willing to risk a change. will move along in its
present beaten channels, pay its debts, and
emerge from all our troubles with its power
undiminished and its credit abroad the best of
any nation in the world
Reporter. Do you believe there will be any
Dental election?
Senator. | do not know positively anything
about it. l believe Mr.. Fish would be glad to
retire; but think the Presidents anxiety for
him to remain will be paramount. / saw the
President but short time, and did not con-
verse with him on this subject. There were
but few congressman in Washington. and as
all of the hotels were being repaired, could
hardly find place to sleep, and was glad to
get away when my business was finished.