Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-09
SENATOR TRUMBULL INTER VIEW
ED.

| The Louisville Courier-Journal has the
following report of an interview with Judge
Trumbull on the Sd, in which he gives his
opinion upon the passive policy and the cam
paign next year.
have just had detailed to ME, by a promi-
nent Southern politician, the particulars of a
conversation had within the last day or two
with Senator Trumbull of Illinois. My in
formant, who is himself an exUnited States
Senator, states that he met Judge Trumbull
in the library of Congress, and that after ex-
changing friendly salutations, he asked the
Senator whether he would consent to the use
of his name as conservative candidate to
the Presidency against Gen. Grant. The Hi.
nois statesman replied with more than usual
emphasis:
mo, sir, would not"
''And why not!"
sFor many reasons" Judge Trumbull
said in substance ''In the first place | am
satisfied where l am. l consider a seat in
the Senate of the United States position in
which can be more useful than any other,
| and believe it to be as honorable any I'M
der the Government, if its duties be etfectu-
ally and properly discharged. In the next
place, do not agree with the programme
which has been marked out by those who re-
fuse to support the candidate for the Presi-
| dent for reelection. | am conscious of the
need of many reforms, and am daily striving
to accomplish them. But do not believe
that revolution of parties would be salutary.
l do not believe either the people of the North
or South are ready to profit by such a
change"
| "And why not? %
Because the people of the South have really
/ o. taA pothipy and ar mi uillipy IN
crate with the liberals OF the North in settling
the practical relations of society on sure
and generous basis. l know that the South
has much to complain of. But so have the
| liberal republicans. 1t is not the rebel ele-
ment, perhaps, but the nature of things that
the South should not realize the complete
overthrow of the old order and the necessity
for complete change of the domestic policy
l believe that the defeat of Gen. Grant would
involve reaction at the South whose conse-
quences would be even worse than the present
state of affairs
"Don't you think Gen. Grant meditates the
permanent usurpation of the Executive
office? ?"
mo, do not. My opinion is that Gen.
Grant, in the main, is conservative man. He
has made mistakes, but cannot say they JUS
THY his removal"
~ ~s'
very lflehaiy. nave opposed some OF
MS measures pu, i nave no personal ieeiing
| against "i'u' ANU inueeu' tnis 10 one Vi the
reasons why as oisagreeaole 70 nave my
name mentioned in the connection you name. y
''The Southern democracy would support
you with pleasure"
GU are mistaken Inc democracy Is yet
'oo strong III hu",oers 10 oisoanu' ior tnat Is
the meaning OF the passive policy. three
miiiiohs OF democratlc voters cannot AFFORD
I" sell themselves 10 loo'ooo or 3oo,ooo re-
publican voters ana that Tor mess OF pot
tage which the repubilcans anu not the dem.
ocrats are TO ENJOY. don't oeileve they Will
90 II. THINK the passive poilcy already a
failure
Like the New departure
NO. not exactly Inc New departure
was necessity wan or lose. itad me demo,
Gratis not adopted II, out IN It's place nae
adopted the platform OF 1905 they would
have been still more disastrously oeaten
The New Departure made no recruits because
democratic party leaders did what they coult
no longer avoid-that is, accept the amend