Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-12-14
gaIitifaI.
JUDGE TRUMBULL INTER-
VIEWED.

7 s~ VIEWED.
What she thinks of the Democracy
and their Proposed Passive Policy.
Especial to the Louisville Courier Journal
WASHINGTON, December al have
just had detailed to, me by prominent
Southern politician, the particulars of q
conversation, had within the last day OF
two, with Senator Trumbull. of Illinois,
| My Informant, who is himself an ex-
United States Senator, states that be
met Judge Trumbull in the library OF
Congress, and that, after exchanging
[ friendly situations, he asked the Sem
atar whether he would consent to the
use of his name as q Conservative can
didate for the Presidency against Gen.
ieral Grant. The Illinois statesman re-
piled, with more than usual emphasis :
it'No,, sir, i would not"
s'And why not ~ .e Ia +
'For many reasons" Judge Trum-
bull said in substance: SIN the first
| place, I am satisfied where am. Il con-
slider seat in the Senate Of the United
States position in which Ican be more
useful than any other, and ] believe 1t
to be as honorable as any under thegov-
ernment fits duties be efficiently and
properly dischaHs ed. In the next place,
/ do not agree with the programme
which has been marked out by those
who refuse to support the candidacy OF
the President for reelection. / am
conscious of the need of many reforms.
and am daily striving to accomplish
them. But 1 do not believe that rev.
olution of parties would be salutary.
1 do not believe either the people of
the North or South are ready to profit
by such change ~
Sand why not ?'
because the people of the South
have really accepted nothing, and are
not willing to cooperate with the lib
erals of the North In settling the prae-
teal relations ofsociety on sure and
generous basis. I know that the South
has much to complain of. But so have
{ the liberal Republicans. 1t is not the
rebel element, perhaps, but the nature
of things that the South should not
realize the complete overthrow Of the
old order and the necessity for COM
plete change of the domestic policy.
believe that the. defeat of Gen. Grant
would involve reaction at the South,
whose consequence would be even
worse than the present state of affairs. -
- t'Don't you think Gen. Grant medi-
tates the permanent usurpation of the
executive office ?" 80 osa7, ~ ..i'i't'is'''is
"No,I dea,s. opinion Is that
Gen. Grant is, in the main, a conserva-
tigesi man. He has made mistakes.
But i cannot say they justify his re-
movai. - - &c llss5- - -
SWhat are your personal relations q,
Every friendly. I have opposed
some of his measures; but have no
personal feeling against him, and, in
deed that is one of the reasons why it
is disagreeable to have my lame men
toned inithe connection your name."
- s.The Southern Democracy would
support you with pleasure. ,, -
4 NYou arc mistaken. The Democracy
is yet too strong in numbers to disband,
for that is the meaning of the passive
policy Three millions of Democratic
voters cannot afford to sell themselves
to two or three hundred thousand Re
publican voters, and that for o mess Of
pottage, which the Republicans and
not the Democrats are to enjoy. I don't
believe they will do it. I think the
passive policy already a failure"
p Like the new departure ?"
= !. t'No, not exactly. The new depar-
ture was necessity, win or lose. Had
the Democrats not adopted it, but in
its place had adopted the platform of
1868, they would have been still more
ldisastrously beaten. The new depar-
ture made no recruits because the peo-
pie did not believe it honest. The
Democratic party leaders did what
they could no longer avoid-that is, ac-
cept the amendments-and the Repub-
licans have to thank such writer's as
Mr.. Stephens and Mr.. Forsythe that
the step in advance did not make fur
ther inroads. BY 1876 the issues Of the
war, the amendments, and the Ku-
Klux will be out of the way, and there
may be new and complete reorganiza-
ton of parties. But not now"
"What do you think of the Ku-
,Klux ?1 si5-i.itt 5sos
"They may be exaggerated. But
there is enough of unpunished violence
at the South to justify the newspapers
in all the outcry they are making.
This alone would beat the Democracy"
d '.Then you think the fight next year
will be aIstraight out party AFFAIR.""
'e at think it will be as far as the Re-
publieans are concerned. The party is
not really divided. Its internal discus
sions merely exhibit the exercise of in
dividual free will, and to do it good
and not harm. 1t will act as a body,
and think will poll larger vote than
lit did in 1868, no matter what frame
work OF what candidates are opposed
to it Tho people believe in the Re-
publican party on account Of its liberal
discussions" ~ ii rs5s.Ia "a a.,5fl.,s.
1 am assured in saying that the opin-
ions of Senator iTrumbull are also the
opinions of Senator Sumner.