New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-03
Alexander III. stephens on the Sitca .ion.
A Washington special to the Chicago

| Tunes says:
Hon. Alexander II. Stephens has take:
mp his quarters for the coming season o
Congress. AS previously reported, no i
enjoying better health than for some years
| past. He has no secretary this season, anC
personally attends to his large correspond
| cree. lie receives numerous visitors daily
ard dispatches his private and official busi
ness with prOmptness. Your correspondent
called on Mr.. Stephens to-day. and after
exchanging the usual salutations remarked
There has been quite political revolu
ton since we last met, Mr.. Stephens
To which he replied that he had foreseen
and predicted it. though it was more ex
! tensive than he had looked for.
| When asked what he thought Of the
chances Of electing Democratic President
| in 1876. Mr.. Stephens answered that that
depended altogether upon the conduct of
| the next House of Representatives. and upon
| the policy pursued by the Democratic press.
and the leading men of the party.
When asked if he did not think the Dem.
ocracy had pursued winning policy since
altogether Mistakes have been made" He
then referred to an editorial in q New York
paper. which declared that the next fresi
dent would be one of two men mentioned.
and said such publication was, in his opin-
ion great mistake. 1t was not only fatal
10 the men thus prematurely nominated.
but made capital for the other side. He
illustrated this by telling Of his visit to
melon patch when boy, when he plugged
the most promising fruit; but the plugged
melons, he said. invariably rotted before
thew ripeled.
With regard TO the third term and the
Louisiana question, Mr.. Stephens feels that
he has been seriously misrepreseuteI. His
only aim throughout has been to prevent
the Democratic party from making foolish
issues. There is nothing in the constitution.
he said. forbidding third term, and he did
not think that the question is one we are
called upon to discuss now. He reviewed
the Louisiana case, and adhered 70 his pre-.
viously expressed opinion that Grant could
not have acted otherwise than az he did
Everything was ia such confusion il that
State that it was impOe slble to say Tho had
been elected, and when Congress assembled
the President left it to deal with the problem.
"If,' said Mr.. Stephens, 1.-THE Democratic
party 60 before the country on the issue
that Grant is usurper they will certainly
be defeated. There has not been within my
recollection a President so 10th to exercise
doubtful powers" Mr.. Stephens here re-
ferred to Grants declaration that he had no
policy to enforce against the Will of the
people.
1t must be evident to those who COZ verse
with Mr.. Stephens that he acts and thinks
solely from principle and conviction. He
is not ready to follow any party beyond
what he considers the borders of right and
Justice. He has friendly feeling for the
President, whom he regards as sensible,
practical man, and does not hesitate TO
avOw it; but sensational rumors to the
effect that Mr.. Stephens, Mosby and other
Southern men are in Grants confidence and
secretly furthering his third term aspira-
tiOns are wholly unfounded 30 tar as Mr.. |
ia concerned. His late interviews
with the President have been solely with |
regard to federal appointments or of a
social character. He has never spoken of
the third term to the President, nor has the |
President mentioned it to him. 1t Mr. |
Stephens retains his present bodily health |
he will be frequently heard from during the !
coming session. but to attempt to indicate |
what side he will take until the issues are |
fairly presented would be as futile as TO !!
undertake to point out where lightni0. will !
strike. He is a party unto himself.