The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-07
JUDGE TRUMBULL INTER-
VIEWED.
What he thinks of the Democracy and
their Proposed Passive Policy.


Special to the Louisville Courier Journal.
WASHINGTON, December 81 have
Just had detailed to me, by a prominent
Southern politician, the particulars OF a
conversation, had within the last day or
two, with Senator Trumbull, OF Illinois.
Ny informant, who is himselfan GX United
States Senator, states that he met Judge
Tmmbull in the library Of Congress, ana
that after exchanging friendly saIuta-
tions, he asked the Senator whether nc
would consent TO the use of his name us "
Conservative candidate for the frcsllehCy
against General Grant. The Illinois
statesman replied, with more Than usual
emphasis:
"NO, sir | would not
sand why nol?'
"For many reasons" Judge Trumbnll
said in substance: I'm the first place, |
am satisfied where | am. consider u
seat in the Senate of the United States q
position in which | can be more useful
than any other, and believe 1t to be us
honorable as any under the government
II its duties be efficiently and properly
discharged. 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
tor reelection. | am conscious Of the
need OF many reforms, and am daily
striving To accomplish them. But do
not believe that a revolution Of parties
would bG salutary. | do not believe
either the people OF the North or South
ore ready to profit by such a change"
"And why not I"
Because the people of the Soulh have
really accepted nothing, and are not will
ing 10 cooperate with the liberals of the
North in settling the practical relations
of society on q sure and generous basis. |
know that the South has much to COM
plain OF. But so have the liberal Repub'
licans. II is not the rebel element, per.
haps, but the nature Of things that the
South should not realize the complete
overthrow OF the old order and the neces-
sity for a complete change of the domes.
tic 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"
"Don't you think Gen. Grant medit0tes
the permanent usurpation OF the CxCcu'
tive Officer"
mo, don't. My opinion is that Gen,
Grants, In the main, u conservative man.
lie has made mistakes But | cannot say
they justify his removal"
"What are your personal relations y
VERY friendly. have opposed some
Of his measures; but have no personal
feeling against HIM, and, indeed, that is
one OF the reasons why il is dlsagreeable
to have my name mentioned in the con.
nection you name"
"The Southern Democracy would sup
port you with pleasure"
"YOu are mistaken. The Democracy
Is yet too strong in numbers TO dsband,
for that Is the meaning of the passive pol
Icy. Three millions Of Democratic voters
cannot afford to sell themselves TO two or
three hundred thousand Republican
voters, and thai for a mess OF pOttagc,
which the Republicans and not the Dem.
OCrats are To enjoy, ldOn't believe they
will do i. think tho passive policy al
ready failure"
Like the new departure"
mo, not exactly. The new departure
was necessity, win or lose. Had the
Democrats not adopted II, but in It's place
had adopted the platform of 1863, they
would have been still more disastrously
beaten. The new departure made no re-.
crnits because the people did not believe
II honest. The Democratic party leaders
did what they could no longer avoid
that is, accept the Nmendments-and the
Republicans have to thank such writers
ma Mr.. Stephens and Mr.. FOrsythc that
the step In advance did not make further
inroads. BY 1876 the issues Of the war,
(hc amendments, and the Ku.KluX will be
out of the way, md there may he u new
and complete reorganization Of parties.
But not now"
"What do you think of the Ku.Klux"
"Thcy mOy be exaggerated. But there
Is enough Of unpublished violence at the
South to justify the newspapers IN all the
outcry they arc making. This alone
would beat the Democracy"
"Then you think the fight next year
will be astraight out party AFFAIR.""
n think II will be as far rs the Republi.
cans are concerned. The party Is not
really divided. Its internal discussions
merely exhibit the exercise of Individual
free will, and TO do II good and not harm.
II will act as a body, and think will poll
\ larger vote than II did in 1868, no mat.
Ter what frame work or what candidates
arc opposed to IT, The people believe in
The Republican party on account Of It's
liberal discussions"
lam assured in saying that the opinions
Of Senator Trumbull are also the opinions
Df Senator Simmer