The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-19
II A n L A NJ.
A Republican View of the
Situation.
Grant TO Be Certainly Reelected Of
the Men and the Measures Of the 0pposition-
The Colored Vote Solid for the Old Party
A Coming Victory in North Carolina.


been stopping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, lie Of
course well known as q strong believer in the ad-
ministration and fully committed to the support of
General Grant In the coming campaign; but his
reputation as thoughtful and experienced states
man, who held ONCE In the Cabinet at singularly
disturbed and troublous political epoch, gives his
views somewhat more Importance and interest
than is yielded to the partisan opinions Of the
ordinary rank-and-1le republican.
Having called upon MIN, the reporter Of the
HERALD at once asked, ''What do you think Of the
situation, Senators ?"
Senator HARLAN-Wen, when ! arrived here, o
few days ago, my first IMPRESSION formed from
casual conversation with gentlemen met at the
hotel, was that Greeley was showing very consid-
able strength. But that impression has now given
place to conviction that that strength is very
much more apparent than real. All the solid bust
ness men that have seen are strongly In favor Of
General Grant, and seem determined to do their
utmost to secure his election, while the men who
support Greeley are mostly democrats or aspiring
young politicians, who think they will find better
field for ambition In new party. In Washington
of course, all republicans very confident Of the
triumph Of the Philadelphia nominee; indeed,
they nave no doubt whatever Of the result Of tho
election
THE INFLUENCE OF BALTIMORE
action Of the Baltimore Convention In accepting
Mr.. Greeley win have upon his prospects
Senator HARLAN-Just now everything Is too
unsettled to form any thing like o just opinion.
But, from the present indications, there seems to
me no doubt that the republicans who nominated
Mr.. Greeley at Cincinnati are beginning to think
the situation rather serious, and many Of them,
at any rate many Of the votes they influence, will
be driven back into the regular party by fears Of
democratic ascendancy. That is my opinion but we
must wait and see.
REPoRTER-What do you think Of the liberal plat
fOrmY
Senator HARLAN-I see nothing whatever in it
but many empty words. There are no distinct
principles enunciated, If you take 1t to pieces
cept such as oil parties agree to. They might just
as well have copied out
THE CONSTITUTION
and the Declaration Of Independence, and, having
adopted them in convention, announced them
as tho Issues upon which the contest should
be fought The great cry made is the revival Of
local selfgovernment but when you talk the matter
over, and confinc the discussion to that point,
You won't find Greeley man who can tell yOu
exactly what changes could be made in the present
state Of affairs in that regard
GENERAL GRANT AND THE HABEAs CORPUS.
REPoRTER-No more suspension Of the Habeas
Corpus act, perhapsY
Senator HARLAN-It won't be suspended II Gen.
era CIR ant Is reelected, unless the pressing needs
of the country should demand 1t. General Grant
himself told me, during the latter part of the ses-
sion, when 1t was being debated whether the sus-
pension OF the Habeas Corpus act should be con-
tinued, that he did not see what good it would be
to the administration. In any case the question is
one which ia surrounded with some uncertainty.
Some statesmen think that the power to sus
pend the Habeas Corpus act Is vested In both
the President and Congress, whenever either shall
Judge the occasion demands 1t, while others think
eral Grant, however, has always preferred to be
on the safe side, and has suspended the Habeas
Congress- to do So Even then lie has restricted
the suspension to as limited an area az was pos.
sble, and only used 1t for the suppression Of the
Ku Klux.
GREELEY's BARGAIN WITH THE DEMOCRACY
=, REpoRTER-lf Mr.. Greeley is elected don't you
think the democrats will practically control the ad
Senator HARLAN--Mr. Greeley has simplined mat
tiers very greatly by declaring that he will recog-
nize no party distinctions among his supporters In
the distribution of patronage in the event Of his
be given away In proportion to the support re-
ceived in the campaign and as the democrats will
will obtain the lions share. The administration
would necessarily be democratic, and We should
have to depend upon the Senate alone-whch
would remain OF course, republican-to act as q
check to reactionary legislation and improper ap-
pointments and the Senate would probably
Of Johnson. Very possibly we should have have
another four years Of wrangng between the va
the case after the death of Mr.. Lincoln II Greeley
is elected think Southern democrats will claim
large share or Offices both home and abroad,
that might give rise to trouble
THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE. y
REPoRTER-Will the democrats In the South gen.
orally vote for Greeleyp
Senator HARLAN-There will be good many who
VIII not, put the large majority viii. Young
the older men, who are guided by principle and
conviction and not by ambition, will abstain from
voting altogether feeling that they can't consci-
entiously vote for either candidate.
THE COLORED VOTE.
REPoRTER-And the cOlOred vote-hOw about
Senator HARLAN-Overwhelmingly for Grant /
have talked with many cOlOred men who have quite
re Gee1 tb me South ana they al agree
the party that freed them. have no doubt about
1t myself
REpoRTER-And, coming back to the general
prospects OF the campaign what do you think will
be the result?
Senator HARLAN-I have the strongest and firm
est faith myself that Grant is certain of reelection.
All the business men of the country salts
fed with the administration, and have whole
ear OF the Possible results Of Greees
with the present plan OF resuming specie payments
by allowing the excess Of currency to be gradually
absorbed by the growing popalation and business
only safesmethod that can be followed. The country
was never more prosperous than 1t has been under
would be is, to say the least, doubtful. And
then again there was scarcely ever admins
tration which gave rise to so few scandals.
The charges against General Grant are either
unfounded or are without any serious Importance.
The President is required to make recommendations
to Congress in regard to what legislation the coun-
try needs, and he has done So His suggestions
have generally been adopted, In part as a WHOLE
and where they have not been he has readily
yielded to the expressed will Of the people. The
government was never conducted with q greater
degree OF flrmness and moderation.
JUDGE DAVIS.
REPoRrER-Do you think Greeley the strongest
man that Cincinnati could have chosenS
Senator HARLAN--Strongest No; he ia very
much the weakest candidate they could have found.
Judge Davis would have been greatly stronger. He
10 the superior Of Greeley in every way
In brain power, in social position, in culture,
In frnness OF purpose and foresight, and IN short,
In everything that makes statesmanship. II he had
over a much larger number OF republicans. But
Greeley has never been success at anything.
GREELEY A FAILURE EVERY WAY.
REPoRTER-Except as q Journalistic