New-York tribune., 1872-05-20
NM REroRM THERMOMETER.
VIEWS OF LEADING SOUTHERN POLITICIANS
ENTHUSIASM FOR GREELEY.

VIEWS OF LEADING SOUTHERN POLITICIANS
ENTHUSIASM FOR GREELEY
Ex-senator Mcdonald of Arkansas, who Is
staying at the St. Nicholas Hotel has not been actively
engaged in political matters for the past year. DuI Is
well Informed concerning the condition OF the various
nars and factions in his State The two wings OF the
Repnbcan party known as "Brndle-tails ana " MID
strels" and headed respectively by Senator Hee ana
Senator Clayton bitterly hostile to each other ana
with no apparent prospect Of any compromises Inc
Clayton wing, which is the larger, held conVen-
tion on Saturday and elected delegates to the Phiade
pbta Convention The Rice wing will do the same on
Tuesday and the National Convention will have to de-
eide which is entitled admission The Liberal RepuD
cans of the state not entangled with either Oh tnese
wings and will hold Convention June Is for the hom
nation Of q state ticket The Democrats meet Tor the
same purpose on the 18TH and there will probably be
harmony OF action between the two. In comparative
strength. the Clayton Republicans and Democrats are
about equal. and so the Rice men and Liberals. The
Republicans have majority Of several thousand in the
State bu I'm the present position Of the party factions,
nniou of the Liberals and Democrats would inevitably
succeed The Democrats will either send no delegation
Baltimore viii send one instructed 10 support the
Cincinnati nominations.
In relation to the feeling in Kentucky, the following
IMPRESSIONS were obtained from Col F. smith, prom
insnt citizen and formerly State officer: The great
mas the people OF the state are strongly IN favor OF
the Ciinuati nominations. There was general but not
unpleasant surprise at the selection OF Mr. Greeley, as 1t
was supposed the choice of the Convention would fall
upon either Adams or Trumbull, but many active po
the state have tod COL Smith tnat they consider
the ticket the best that could have been nominated
Some o. the old party hacks working TO secure the
nomination OF straight Democratic ticket at Baltimore
and they understand the party organization in ;he
State better than the conservative members Of the
party there is chance of their succeeding. The
great need Of the Liberals and their Democratic allies Is
organization. The result Of the Endorsement Of the Gin
cinnat movement viii probably be the destruction of
the Democratic party, which has already outyed its
usefulness.
At another hotel the reporter found gentleman with
national reputation, known before the war as one OF
the most secessioniss of South Carolina and
during the Of the most foremost leaders of
the Southern army Since the war be has been living in
Mississippi and IS also interested IN cattleraisng in
Texas He had recently been in number OF the Southern
State and had the best opportunities for ascerainng
popular feeling Speaking for Mississippi, Texas Louis
ana Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, he said
that enthusiasm for Greeley Is sweeping everything be-
fore IT, The people will vote for him no matter what ac-
ton the Baltimore Convention may take. The gentle
man spoke of his former belief in Slavery, and his
hatred OF Mr.. Greeley, whom he then considered
an honest but mistaken fanatic He was particularly
opposed him account OF his free soil doctrines, but
no willing to admit that Mr. Greeley was right
and be himself wrong He had been earnest and sincere
ss his former actions and he wished TO bury the
hatche aud work for the harmony and welfare Of the
whole country The issues Of the past dead. and
ought to be buried kept Of sight No good could
result TO any part Of the country in keeping alive old
snimostes. He believed the election Of Mr.. Greeley,
who had been honest and magnanimOus advocate Of
human rights, would be for the benefit Of the whole
country.