Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-05
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
Senator Trumbull on the Situation.
The Passive Policy Declared a Failure
No Serious Division in the Radical
Party Apprehended.

Special to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 81 have Just had
detailed to me, by prominent Southern
politician, the particulars of conversation,
had within the last day or two, with Sena-
tor Trumbull, of LII. My informant, who
is himself an ex-United 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
for the Presidency against Gen. Grant. The
Illinois statesman replied with more than
usual emphasis:
'No, sir, would not"
"And why not ?'
'For many reasons" Judge Trumbull
said in substance: ain the first place, l am
satisfied where am. | consider seat in
| the Senate of the United States a position
in which l can be more useful than any
other, and believe it to be as honorable as
any under the Government if its duties be
efficiently and properly discharged. In the
next place, do not agree with the pro-
gramme which has been marked out by
those who refuse to support the candidacy
! of the President for reelection. l am con-
scious of the need of many reforms, and l
am daily striving to accomplish them. But
! L do not believe that revolution of parties
would be salutary. 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 accepted nothing and are not willing
| to cooperate with the liberals of the North
| Ill 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 element, perhaps, but the nature
of things that the South should not realize
| the complete overthrow of the old order
| and complete change of the domestic
policy. believe that the defeat of Gen
Grant would involve reaction at the South,
whose consequences would be even worse
than the present state Of affairs"
Don't you think Gen. Grant meditates
the permanent usJHpation Of the Executive
Officer"
no. do not. My opinion is that Gen.
Grant is, in the main, a conservative man.
He has made mistakes. But can not say
they justify his removal"
"What are your personal relations?"
every friendly. l have opposed some of
his measul es; but have no personal feeling
against him, and, indeed, this is one of the
reasons why it is disagreeable to have my
name mentioned in the connection you
name"
"The Southern Democracy would sup
port you with pleasure"
"You are 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 can
not afford to sell themselves to two or three
hundred thousand Republican voters, and
that for a mess of pOttage which the Re-
publicans and not the Democrats are to en-
JOY. l don't believe they will do it.
think the passive policy already failure"
Like the new departure?"
"No, not exactly. The new departure
was a 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 disastrously
beaten. The new departure made no re-
cruits, because the people did not believe it
honest. The Democratic party leaders did
what they could no longer avcid-that is,
accept the amendments-and the Republi-
cans have TO thank such writers as Mr..
Stephens and Mr.. FOrsythe that the step in
advance did not make further in"oads. By
1876, the issues of the war, the amendments
and the Ku-Klux will be out of the way,
and there may be a new and complete re
organization Of parties. But not nOw.'
"What do you think of the Ku-Klux?'
"They may be exaggerated. But there is
enough of unpublished violence at the South
to justify the newspapers in all the cutlery
they are making. This alone would beat
the Democtacy."
"Then you think the fight next year will
be straight-out party AFFAIR.""
Il think it viii be as far as the Republi-
cans are concerned. The party is not really
divided. Its internal discussions merely ex-
hibit the exercise of individual free will and
do it good and not harm. 1t will act as a
body, and | think viii poll a larger vote
than it did in 1868, no matter what frame
work or what candidates are opposed to it.
The people believe in the Republican party
on account of its liberal discussions"
| am assured in saying that the pinions
of Senator TTumbull are also the opinions
of Senator Sumner.