The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-15
The Alleged Wilkes Coalition.

A noted New York Republican,
GEORGE WILKES, publishes history
of the alleged coalition between the
anti-GRANT Republicans and the
Democrats, In which he intimates, as
his programme, that the opposition to
GRANT is TO be based Oh the one term
plank. He says he saw many promi-
nent Republicans, especially editors,
and that they are In favor OF IT, lie
then adds, the question being settled
| by the Republican leaders, as if any
limited number of leaders can direct
the general action of party, it be-
came proper that the chiefs of the
Democratic party whose Just hostility
TO GRANT would necessarily cooperate
! i'm any measure united to depose him,
should be frankly informed of the
course which the Reform Republicans
intended to take. 1t was TO meet this
e1igency that he went TO Washington
on Monday last, and put himself in
communication with some of the
principal Democratic members of
both houses, with the following result,
as recited in his publication:
This visit resulted in a meeting at
my rooms at the Arlington, on Tues
day evening, of large number of the
most prominent Democratic members
Of the House and Senate. / was the
sole Republican present, and l opened
the business OF the occasion by stating
that my purpose in desiring 10 see
them was TO communicate some in
tentions entertained by prominent
members of the Republican party on
the subject of the next Presidential
election. 1t was not my object to seek
All expression OF their views upon that
theme or to project a coalition, but
simply to lay before them in frank,
good faith the course which the gen
tlemen with whom | was associated
intended to pursue in the coming
campaign, believing that the spOnta-
ne0us action which would follow on
their part would be better than any
compsct which could be formed. That, !
in fact, anything in the shape Of a
compact or coalition would, in my
opinion, he very iRiudicious and not
10y any means promote The offset tn
be gained.
| then recited what had been de-
tailed before along with some eXpla-
nations and conclusions which would
be premature if given now. | next
submitted the pream bic and resolution
which have been given above. Some
discussion and consultation ensued in
which my views seemed to be APP
proved
Ny opinions were then asked upon
several points of interest to which
le2lled, that ! felt great delicacy in Of
fering an opinion of any sort a. to the
policy of the Democratic party TO gen
tiemen 50 experienced as those pres
eIT. but now that they had given RE
the privilege to express myself in that
way, ! would ask them To bear in
miId that the logical candidate for
the Republican opposition 10 adopt
would be che who would be most
likely TO be unwelcome TO the Demo-
Gratis; that sny attempt TO select
candidate partially agreeable 10 the
Democracy, or TO yield them the ice
President on a fusion ticket, would
P5cvest Us from being able to handle
par forces, and leave the immense
foo of the Republican msiDrity TO
roll back and settle at the feet Of
GRANT.
All these views seem to lie Sp-
proviugly received and the company
dissolved as free a. it went in. but al
the same time with an intelligent Uu-
deTstanding which will probably have
more moral binding force than any
treaty that could have been made. Z
may add that it is very probable that
the Democratic party Will hold a
convention of some sort between now
and February, in which il will enun-
ciate the one term principle along
with the kefpm Republicans, who
will soon lie ready TO develop their
detailed line Of battle. All the while
during tbi> fierce contest, the Demoe-
racv will bear all attitude of aU>tere
observation operating mainly a. all
armed reserve, free from all coalitions
Eut prepared TO act with wisdom and
with vigOr.