The New York herald., 1874-08-28
LONG BRANCH.
What President Grant Thinks of
Cornell and FentOn.
A PRESIDENTIAL REMARK.
How the Fenton Bargain Came
To Be Proposed.
LONG BRANCH, August q, 1874.

Although President Grant IS wonderfully reti'
cent on the subject OF politics. and watchu In his
avoidance OF newspaper reporters and correspond
ents, his opinions will sometimes hnd publicity
through the gossipping propensities of his inti-
mate friends United States District Attorney
Bliss has recently been retailing a story which
let's in light on the Presidents sentiments in
regard 10 New York affairs Mr. Bliss was at the
Presidents cottage day or two ago, IN company
with Two three gentlemen, one OF them being
MIR. Hugh j. Hastings, OF the New York CONNER
ctal ADVERTISER when. according to Mr.. Bliss, the
President inquired OF Mr. Hasrngs:-
'what is this story see going the round OF the
papers about q State ticket in New York with Mr..
A. B. Cornell for Governor and Senator Fonton for
Lieutenant Governor" ?"
"Weh," replied Mr.. Hastings, 'ic Is one OF those
rumors that are always put anoat about election
time, Mr.. President, without any person knowing
where they start or what foundation they
restn
''Do you think this one has any foundation at
all 20 asked President Grant.
"Certainly not" said Mr.. Bliss; ''none whatever,
although Cornell no dOuDt wishes 1t had.n
The President took two or three heavy pulls on
his cigar in silence.
"well," said he, ae last ''ir were a citizen or
New York. tnat Is ticket should certainly vote
against"
Mr.. Bliss relates this story with double relish,
embeishing 1t hberally with his own conclusions.
and quoting it as authority for the assertion,
first, that the President never favored any bar.
gain, compromise or union with Senator Fenton.
and next. that he is opposed to Mr. A. B. Cornel's
political promotion by the republicans OF New
York. l shah presently show how far Mr.. Bliss is
correct and in what he s mistaken in the infer
ences he draws from the significant remark made
by our usually reticent President.
Mr.. A. B. COENELL's POSITION.
Those who suppose that Mr.. Cornell is ont OF
politics this year are greatly in error Mr. Cornel
Is restless in his political ambition ana he regards
himself as having been badly treated by his party.
As Speaker OF the Assembly he believed ne had
made record that merted favorable consdera-
ton, and he looked to the Governorsbip or the
United States Senatorial seat as prize assuredy
within his reach. Khonorable action in respon-
slble position could always command reward Mr..
Cornel probably had right TO expect further
promotion. He did all in his power TO conduct
the business Of legislation honestly, and the adap-
liability he displayed as a presiding ollcer agree
ably surprised his friends But he was not suf-
iciently plable suit the views OF the clique rep
resented by Messrs. Murphy, Bliss anu Daven-
port, and at the close OF the legislati We
session ne met cool treatment from the fed
eral oficc-hOloing ring with which he had
east his political fortunes. Everybody who
has had experience In politics knows how 1t
is with an aspiring politician who becomes i'm
pregnated with the idea that he is OF appreciated
in his party and that his just rewards are with.
held. Such a man grows morbdly scnsltive; his
mind Is filled with jealousy and suspicion; he
gives himself up TO querulous compa,nings and
petty intrigues which can only end in new disap.
pointments. He ynay continue loyal to his party.
but his dissatisfaction and grumbling mpart to his
loyalty almost the appearance or disai1ecton.
THE JEALousIEs OF POLITICIANS.
II Mr.. Cornell is not exactly in this position il is
only because his large wealth renders him more
dangerous tnan the majority Of snubbed aspir-
ants. But he is offensive to his old associates all
the more. inasmuch as he excites their fears.
There was never hearty fellowship between the
ex-speaker and his more active associates OF the
hew York iederai ring. In his private relations
Mr.. Cornell has held himself aoof rom
the successful snoddy politicians who
have come down from the ladder
or risen up from the mortar bed to take charge or
superior social standing has even manifested Itself
in the relations OF the exSpeaker with the house
@ noo Oh cne no pendrd 80 ane NJ Mn ae
with the leaders Of his party or 10 increase his
chances OF prelerment. BESIDES Mr.. cornell has
hJtle in common with those or his republican as
sociates whose characters have Deen so grapni-
caly drawn by Mayor Havemeyers. pen. He Is no
card player, does not understand the value OF
Iour aces, and is not possessed OF the convivial
propenslties that distinguish the ring OF which he
was until recently component part. or what
advantage would it be to the politicians VINO pull
the wires to advance a mau to ONCE out OF whom
nothing IS to be made ana upon whom they can
not always relyY Mr.. Cornell has discovered that
he has no chance OF promotion in his own faction
OF repuolcanism, and hence he has doubtless been
instrumental IN getting up the rumor to which
the anecdote related by Mr. Bliss refers.
THE PRESIDENTS MEANING.
AS President Grant never makes o political re-
mark without having an object in view Mr.. Bliss
is no doubt correct IN his sagacloHs conclusion
tnat ''the President meant something" when he
thus avowed that he should vote against Messrs.
Cornell and Fenton, two republicans. II he had q
vote in the State of New York. 1he President
probably was not un willing to administer little
wholesome rebuke to Mr.. Cornell ior ntruding his
claims 80 persstenty on the party. The ey-
Speaker has not nesltated to express himself
among his political trends decided opponent
OF the third term policy. IL was TO the GOODNESS
growing ont Of his position on this question that
MS retirement from the Surveyorship OF rhe Port
OF New York due. This OF Itself IS sufficient to
account Tor the determination OF the Conkling
clique 10 Keep Mr. Cornell In the background,
ana Tor the opposition Of the President TO that
gentleman's aspirations to the Governorsnip of
New YORK. But President Grant took occasion
subsequently to the conversation with Messrs.
Bliss, Hastings ana Others to repeat the remark
he had made TO Mr. Cornell on the Long Branch
boat and to tell him that his name was not the
one he objected TO on the rumored ticket. Mr..
Cornell might have replied that the opposition to
the ticket expressed by the President included
both Names according to Mr.. Bliss statement,
and that 1t would have been an easy matter to
nave relieved his remark OF all DOUBT In tnat re-
spect by stating TO which candidate he objected.
Certainly IL would seem by the story as II the
President did not like Mr.. Cornell for Governor
any better than senator Fenton Tor Lieutenant
Governor.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE FBNToN BARGAIN.
But Mr.. Bliss errs II he really nterprets tue Pres
ioents remark as indicating that ne never encour
aged a bargain in New York with senator Fenton.
IL Is an unquestionable fact that President Grant
has insisted that the republican ascendancy IN
that state depends upon the conciation oil the
liberal republicans. am assured by gentleman
who was present when the President was discuss
ing the subject with his close political advisers
month or SIX weeks ago, that he took decided
position in favor OF the union.
Senator Conkling had been urging the attacks
made ON Fenton ny the republican organs last tall
as reason why It would be impossible to uphold
Inn as q candidate OF that party for any ONCE ana
had cited the last Presidential election to prove
the weakness and insgnihcance OF the 'liberal'
faction.
10 this the President replied by asking Senator
Conxing whether the stale OF New YORK was not
carried IN 1879 by combination OF republicans, re-
form democrats and Independents
..CertainlX II was. " said Senator ConKling.