Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-09-27


suit of an interview Of reporter with
General Malone on the subject OF
C@sarism:
Correspondence of n. Y. Herald
On THE CARS, ATLANTIC, MIssIs-
sIPPI AND Ono RAILRoAD, August
q, 1873.-General Malone is thin,
wiry little man, not more than five feet
three or four inches in height, sallow
complexion, high cheek bones, pierre
! ing blue eyes, full but thin dark beard,
/ weighing not more than ninety pounds.
He wears broad -briInmed Panama
hat, the leaf hooked up on the left
side, which is said to have cost Sl25,
and was presented TO him by promi-
/ nent gentleman of New York; a linen
coat nearly as loose as duster, but
toned to the neck, and dark pantaloOns
! complete his attire, giving him some
what remarkable appearance. He was
a successful officer during the days of
the late Confederacy, when he gained
! the reputation of one of the hardest
| fighters of the war; but his success
since then as a railroad diplomat and
! financier has made him a greater celeb
rity than ever.
| As was already slightly known to
the General, he remarked:
! "Well, sir, l see the Herald IS fight
ing Casarism, and think very properly
too, but if third term constitutes
Cesarism, and Grant wishes it, | think
| the labor is in vain. rr 81 ef ra
COrrespondent-Do you think Grant
| will be elected to third term?
General-Elected, certainly, if he
| wishes, and have no doubt but that
! he does. He has everything in his
own hands, and is at the head of
party that will go to pieces without
him.
Correspondent-Is it your opinion,
then, that in the event Of third term
for General Grant, the Republic will
disappear and an empire be establish
ed in its stead
General-Pm not so sure that an
empire will be established; that all
depends on the ambition of General
Grant, with whose ideas am not sufE-
ciently familiar to give an opinion on
the subject.
Correspondeut-What influences in
the country would be in favor Of
Grants re eleetiOn2 --..
General-The monetary influence OF
the country would be decidedly in ia
vor of his reelection; it was in favor
of his last election. Even here in our
own State all the national banks were
strongly In favor of Grant, and they
will be so again. Then all the Fed
eral officials, both at home and abroad,
who are almost countless, would be
unit for his reelection. Besides these
there are numerous other influences
of minor importance, ali of which
combined to cooperate with General
Grants own desire to become Presi-
dent third term, or perpetual Presi-
dent, could not fail to accomplish their
object, and ride rough-shod over any
public opposition that might be organ
lied against him. AS to the latter part
of your interrogation it is my opinion
that these same influences are now in
favor of an empire, perhaps in advance
of Grants own ideas on the subject.
Correspondents General Grant
was ambitious enough to assume the
role of Caesar, do you think the peo-
pie of the North would thus tamely
submit to be deprived Of their liber-
ties? eiaIg
General-Yes, they would submit.
The change would only be a1days sen-
sation. Then the differencewouid not
be so great after all, and itvould come
so easily and quietly that Nc notice be-
yond some newspaper thunder wo;ld
be taken Of it, and way would soon
be found to silence the newspapers.-
The Federal courts now assume par
tizan jurisdiction over all matters IN
the South, even to disposing of State
governments, and if the occasion arises
at the North they viii do so there
also. / am scarcely certain but that
they do so now at the North. Conse-
quently there would be very little
change in case Of an empire, and as to
resistance the people Of the North
would never dream of that.
Correspondent-HOw about thepe
pie of the South? a..F
General-The people Of the South?
with great astonishment) Why, sir,
the people of the South have nothing
at all to do with the matter, and
think it would be presumptu0us in
them to have anything either to say or
do in the premises. We are regarded
and treated as conquered provinces
For myself | look upon the Southern
States in that light, and l don't think
they should have any concern as to
what form the government of the
country assumes. Ii can make but
very little difference to them, situated
politically as they are now. Wefought
for our independence and were defeat
ed. We cant and don't expect from
the United States Government all we
fought for. We stood by our State
governments, and if Virginia seeded
again | would stand by my State and
fight the war over again. We should
have nothing whatever to do with ma
tional politics or national affairs. There
is where we made the mistake in the
last Presidential campaign, and thaS
is why Greeley was defeated. There
was big split then in the Republican
party North. which, if il had been Ia
ken advantage of jGdieiously, might
have defeated Grant and elected Gree
ley; but as soon as the Southern
States held conventions and endorsed
Greeley, then the people of the North
looked upon him as our candidate, and
his doom was sealed. Had we Of the
South said nothing. but stayed at home
and attended to our business, and then
gone to the polls and voted, Greeley
would have been elected We ought
to have nothing TO say in regard 10
national politics. What We want to
establish is our peeuniary and material
independence, control our State gov
ernments, manage our domestic affairs
as far as they will allow us, live peace
ably and orderly as good citizens un-
der the government, rendering unto
Caesar the things which Cesar exaets
as his, and quietly await the develop
ment of events. s.E5ailE cd
Correspondent-Then, in general
terms, you regard an empire as ineVi-
table if Gen. Grants ambition takes
that shape?
General-Yes; | think if Grant de-
sires it he can wear n kingly crown or
WELD an imperial sceptre. He has the
power and the influence at his back,
and no opposition worthy Of the name.
/ think, though, on the other hand,
that if Grant is not reelected to q
third term, or does not assume the
role of dictator, monarch or empe-
ror, the Republican party will 90 TO
pieces, and by combination Of the
various political elements. not pledged