Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-16

taken the whole country by surprise. In
no place was the excitement greater than in
Washington, where the full import of the
act was most thoroughly understood. An
attempt has been made to smoothe over this
! new and formidable breach in the Radical
party-to make it appear to the public as
being merely a necessary step on Col. For
ney's part to enable him to attend to the
more congenial duty Of editing his paper,
the Philadelphia Press, but the very letter
in which he tenders his resignation conveys
the strongest proof of bis detection from
! the President. He expresses no hope that
Grant will be reelected; no promise to
/ support him in the future. The only eX-
! cuse heroffers for resigning at such a criti-
cal period in the history of his party is that
| the appointment seriously interfered with
bis business, and especially with his "inde-
pendence as a journalist" The President
made no immediate reply to the letter, bu,
sent a message to FOrney asking him to
! call on him. The invitation was declined
and Porney returned to Philadelphia with.
out seeing Grant. Whatever doubt may
have fingered in the public mind as to For.
ney's position, has been dispelled by the
dispatch telegraphed to the Philadelphia
Press by its Washington correspondent
There can be no question that it was au,
thorized by Forney himself, and given all
possible publicity, for it appeared in the
New York, Washington and other papers
simultaneously with its publication in the
Press. The following is the concluding
portion ofthe dispatch:
"While he was collector of the port, if he
wrote an article in favor of President
! Grants administration, some 'superservice-
able knayen would hasten to exclaim that
the Colonel was paid for his praises OF
power. And if he ventured to denOunce
| some local politician, or refuse to join the
scandal against a statesman like Col. Nc
Clure, an older and a better Republican
! than many who have been hunting him
down, he would be characterized as an in.
CRATE to that same power. Thus he had tC
AAtOboC bEgNCCll VI bNAAAS a oAel =
| or a parasite. lie has decided to be
neither.
"Many persons suppose that Col. Forney's
resignation means opposition to Gen. Grant,
| do not think the President has to-day q
more grateful or earnest friend than Col.
FOTney, and Gen. Grant knows it. But he
is at the same time a friend of Summers
friend of more than twenty years standing
- H., i D-aof
dents denomination. This fact was known
| to the President when Col. Forney was ap-
pointed Collector Of your port. His great
desire is to unite the Republican party OF
Pennsylvania, and to this end be will work
steadily on his return to his editorial duties,
He feels that it is time to cry "Udlt - Cnce
more to the desperate men who are trying
TO use the name Of Gen. Grant to keep
them in or help them to offices. He be-
lieveS in the Cancellation of the old dissatiS-
fed anti-slavery leaders of the country. He
! pleads for good relations between Grant and
! Sumner, between Grant and FentOn, be-
tween Grant and Greeley, and insists that
what Mr.. Lincoln did with the men dissat-
! istied with his administration, Gen. Grant
ought to do with the dissatisfied with his"
To appreciate the importance Of the
above, it must be remembered that in the
recent election contest in Philadelphia to
! fill a vacancy in the State Senate, Forney
while supporting Gray, the Grant-RadiCal
candidate, refused to abuse Col. Mcclure,
the reform Radical candidate. President
Grant expressed his disapproval Of this non
partisan policy, and, it is reported, sent
word to Forney that he would hold him re-
sponsible if Mcclure should be elected.
Forney replied that he would not permit
the President to interfere In local matters,
and expressed his belief that Mcclure
would be elected. He furthermore de-
cared that he would exercise his influence
| to prevent any corrupt practice which might
be attempted to secure Gray s.return. Nc
Clure was elected, it is claimed, by 1900
majority, yet the certificate was given to
Gray. This little incident raised
quite a breeze in Pennsylvania. Nc
Clure laid the matter before the
State Legislature, where he was opposed
by the entire strength of the Grant party.
! Through the death Of Mr.. Evans, Radical
Senator, the opposing parties in the Senate
were again reduced to even numbers, Mr..
Gray, of course, counting as one Of the
Grant wing. The utmost Importance was,
therefore, attached to McClure's success or
failure in obtaining his seat. While the two
parties were thus evenly balanced, the inhu-
ence Of the administration was exercised in
the Senate and in the courts of law to de-
feat Mcclure. This decided ForneY, and
be Immediately rendered his resigna-
ton Of the collectorship of Philadelphia,
that he might be entirely Independent of
Grant in taking part in the local contest.
The Press may not show a decided opposi-
ton to the President for some time to come.
| Greeleys detection was a matter of public
comment long before the Tribune sounded
a note against the administration. As it was
in the case Of Greeley, so will it be in that
/ of Forney. There is this difference, how
ever: Greeley opposed Grant on principle;
Forney deserts him because he sees the hand
writing on the wal, and has sense enough to
/ interpret it in time. He can read the signs
of the times, and he knows that Grants
defeat in the approaching contest is fore
/ gone conclusion. He is too old a politician
to be caught on the losing side, and too
crafty to let his desertion appear to be for
any other cause than the public veal.
Col. Forney in this matter is perhaps
but simply making his record consistent.
In 1856 he retired from the Washington
Union, the organ of the Democracy at the
National capital, that he might be free to
] oppose the denomination Of President