The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-12
Washington Special (Nov. s. to New Yorl
Trihl1ne

washington Special (Nov. s. to New York
Tribune.
There were no M tiers of import
ance to receive the attention Of the
Cabinet at its meeting to-day, and, be-
sides the ordinary routine. nothing of
business nature occurred of sufficient
interest to record. After certain
small matters relating to the depart
ments had been disposed Of, the men,
bers of the Cabinet and the President
turned naturally enough into the polit-
ical stream, and the events of the last
few days were discussed on all sides.
Considering the terrible defeat and rout
of the Administration at the Tuesday
elections, it must be acknowledged that
the President and most of his
Cabinet were in admirable temper, and
the remarks we're all in good-natured
spirit. None of the gentlemen present.
not even the Attorney General. express
ed the opinion that the country was in
danger, and the President himself rath-
er treated the occurrences Of Tuesday
as a good joke. He talked more freely
with reference to the third term than he
has ever done before, and repudiated
the whole attempt to get up third
term issue as colossal joke. He laugh
ed at it as the best joke of the season.
He thought no sensible man could i'm.
agine there was such an issue in the
field; still he could not fail to remem-
Der that the South Carolina Republican
Convention had placed itself on record
in favor Of third term, and he seemed
to derive much comfort from the fact
that South Carolina had gone so large
ly Republican. He said it was the only
oasis in the desert. He regretted ex-
ceedingly the defeat of Ellis H. Roberts
in the Utica District, because he regard
ed him as straightforward, upright,
unprecedented, honest man, and he
had shown himself a good legislator,
but the President seemed to take pleas
ure in remembering that MIR. Roberts S
convention passed resolutions against
the third term principle. Whether
Gen. Grant is seeking third term or
not is subject on which there is a d.
vision of opinion, but it is very certain
that he is proud of the fact that South
Carolina was in favor of third term,
and carried her ticket on that issue,
and that Mr.. Roberts; with conven'
ton opposed to third term was de.
feated. The President during the con.
versation did not seem to regard the
defeat of Butler as great calamity to
the party, and treated mention of the
subject with great equanimity. There
was good deal of chatting among the
members of the Cabinet over the fact
that Belknap of Iowa was the only mem.
Der from Republican State. Attorney
General Williams thought Oregon ought
to be classed in the Republican list
but there was so much doubt on the
subject that he did not insist upon an
equal partnership with Belknap.
The President, in conversation with
his friends, ascribes as one Of the prin.
cipal causes of the late Republican de.
feat, the Civil Rights bill, the social
equality features Of which he regards
as distasteful to the whole people of the
country. His conversation leaves little
doubt of his purpose to veto the bill il
the House should undertake to pass il
at the next session. He regards the re
verses as only temporary, and believes
that the present Congress can do much
before the 4th of March to win back
the confidence Of the people. He does
not look upon the result of the cleo
tions as in any sense a censure upon his
acts.