Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-14
THE POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF


DINNERS.
The effort which has been made by Grant
-abject to degree that makes him ridicu-
lous in the eyes of high-minded men-to
win Col. Forney back to his support since
that distinguished politician broke with him
few weeks ago, has attracted more than
ordinary attention, Had Forney been in
vested with power to decide the fate Of as
pirants for the Radical nomination for
President, Grant could not have been more
obsequious in his attentions to him. Poor
Grant feels that his hopes hang upon Penn
sylvanis, and he clings to politicians Of that
State who ara supposed to possess some
influence with the desperation which
drowning men clutch even straws Ten
days or two weeks ago Grant went to Phil
adelphia to attend Forney dinner. He
had DO other business there. Forney was
"wined and dined7 by some friends at Phil
sdelphia on the evening ofthe Sth inst, and
the President of the United States was
there. What would have been thought aud
said of such an act as this on the part Of
Washington or any of the earlier Presi
dents? Here is the highest officer of
a great government going to a dis
tant city to attend a dinner given to
q retiring collector Of port. The great Of
fee of President being dragged down about
as low as 1t well could be. The New York
Tribune regards the matter in this light, for
1t says it its issue of March 8:
"When Col. ]. W. Forney made sud
den discovery the other day that Grant was
losing ground in Pennsylvania, and that
Office holding was inconsistent with the in
dependence of & political journalist, there
was, IS everybody knows, a great fluttering
at the White House, and commotion about
the capitol. There is no place in the United
States where a single politician can make
such q disturbance as at Washington. In
the social atmosphere of that city individu-
ais grow to extraordinary size, and many
statesman of Indifferent abilities is currently
supposed to carry whole districts-perhsps
whole States-in the pockets of his troW-
sers. As goes Forney, 90 goes Pennsylvs-
MIA, was q very common belief. When
therefore Mr.. Forney surrendered his ap-
pointment as Collector Of the Customs and
set out homeWard TO devote himself 40 the
energetic support of the principles OF the
great Republican party it was only natural
that the r esident should entreat him to
come back and talk the matter over. But
Mr.. F1rney bad business engagement in
Philadelphia and would not stay. Having
fired his shot, he preferred to mako off as
fast as he could, and watch from a distance
to see what would happen. When the
Mountain would not come to MahomRt,
Mahomet must cen 60 to the Mountain.
So the President went to Philadelphia. and
asked Col. Forney to dinner. Forney &C
cepted, and Pennsylvania was saved.
''There was another great journalist-as
great perhaps as Forney-and he too went
to Washington full of enthusiasm for the
great principles of the Republican party.
He saw in the President an obstacle to the
triumphs Of these principles man whose
denomination must embitter fractional riv-
Aires, discourage liberal reformers,and give
fresh heart TO the Democratic opposition;
and be spoke his mind on this subject very
freely. They asked him to dinner at the
White House; and be got up from the table
persuaded that Grant was the most illustri-
Gus of statesmen, the most affable of rulers
wise in the choice of his friends, quick to
appreciate intellect in the literary profession,
the greatest of administrators, and the sole
hope of the nation.
There is a third distinguished editor
who ought to be asked to dinner. Mr..
Robert Bonner has been accounted one of
the Presidents friends. There is a strong
bond of union between the Chief Execu-
tive and the owner of Dexter. Yet in a
recent number ofthe New York Ledger we
find disparaging allusiOn to the military
ring. Can this thing be? Is friendship
fraud? Let Mr.. Bonner have dinner at
once"