Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-06
DlSSENSlON In THE CAMP.
A Republican Senator's Opinion OF
GFant-The War for tie Success

/ u
/ was somewhat surprised a few even
ings ago, while talking to Republican
Senator on the political prospect OF
1876, to hear him declare that Grant
was "a political abortion" My friend
was not the only Republican member
of Congress l have of late heard ex-
press sentiments very similar to this.
"You would not dare to make that
declaration in public" said /, hoping
still further to draw him out. You
are too much fettered by the chains OF
party"
PARTY or no party" he resumed,
''the fact is too transparent, and the
sooner we acknowledge it the better.
He is the worst political abortion the
country has ever had In the Executive
Mansion"
ITO what do you attribute this sig
nal failure?" | inquired. 1 was indeed
anxious to know what had produced
this change of opinion in "a Senator who
had heretofore earnestly supported all
that Grant did.
4" He seems to have no respect for
public sentiment" was the answer.
The fact Is his West Point training,
and habits acquired In the army, have
totally untitled him for the proper ad-
ministration of civil government. l
regard his administration as trial for
West Point, which has been found
wanting. Grant has two dangerous
weaknesses. One is an intense love of
money; the other / will not mention.
These have led him to make associates
of and be Influenced In his public acts
by men no President should take into
his confidence. 1t is only too true that
Mosby, the guerrilla, would have more
influence over him to-day than / could
expect to obtain"
/ interrupted him here by asking
"What, Senator, can Grant expect to
gain by this strange friendship for
Mosby? He certainly cannot expect
much political strength from such men
as Mosby and Butler in laying pipe for
a third term?"
mot at ALL" he quickly resumed.
''The question of third term regard
as definitely settled. 1t never had any
consideration except among a few prom
inent Office holders. Grant understands
that perfectly. He knows that he has
lost the respect of the great body of
the American people, and that to allow
his name to be used would be sheer
folly.
MANY of the leaders of the Repub-
hcan party have mistaken Gen. Grants
real character. There exists under that
quiet exterior an intense ambition, love
of power, and spirit of intrigue. He
has also that fondness of display COM
mon to all parvenues. This of itself
has seriously injured him among think
ing people. Public sentiment is under
going revolution at this time such as
1t has not undergone for many years"
''To what do you attribute that, Sen
ator?" l inquired, interrupting him.
TO the simple fact that the people
understand Grant and his administra-
ton better to-day than they have ever
understood him before. There is 10
Disgusting that, he replied, with en-
phasis.
This very Republican Senator, during
the last campaign, supported Grant
with all his strength and ability, be-
cause, to use his own words, he ''was
afraid of Greeley" Two years ago
this very same Republican Senator in
sisted that Grant was stronger than his
party-seouted the prediction that
Grant would yet be found the heaviest
load the Republican party had to car
~. He also secuted the prediction,
made to him by the writer, that the
time was not far off when the Republi-
can party would have to defend itself
against the idol it had set up.
Now mark the change and look for
the result. He frankly admitted that
that time had come already. By prob
ing down a little further, / discover
that something more than appeared on
the surface was disturbing my Senate
rial friends political equarimity.
do understand you to admit, Sem
ator, that Grants administration has
been failure ?" 1 inquired.
Il regard it as a misfortune to the |
Republican partyAdecidedly The |
very worst feature Of it is that he has
allowed himself to get involved in these |
yenal rings, and to be used by corrupt |
men, who have no respect for the prin- |
ciple of any party, but attach them
selves to the strongest for mercenary |
purposes. Instead of adding dignity to |
the executive Office, and preserving it |
above reproach, he has draggedit down |
into the dirty pool of real estate specu-
lation."
"Was not that the natural result of |
what you call his intense love for
interrupted.
81 suppose it may be attributed to
that, " was the quiet reply. ''That in !
trinity is what has given the independ- |
emit press of the country such power
over his administration. Grant friends /
say he does not like politicians; and yet
no one that knows him intimately will
deny that he loves to dabble in politics.
Why, sir, here he Is, not content to re-
tire quietly and peacefully from the
field at the end of his second term, at
tempting to dictate who his successor
shall be-"
"What object can he have for that,
pray?"
"Well, he fancies there may be ir-
tSuudT1JleS III MS ADMINISTRATION winch
a captious and unfriendly successor
might be inclined TO inquire too closely
into, especially if backed up by an
Congress. 1 do not myself
think he has anything to fear from
that"
HAS he expressed any choice as to
who shall succeed him.
The Senator smiled and continued:
ut is very well known that confer
snces on the subject have been held be-
tween him and number of prominent
His candidates are
and Roscoe Conkling. But,
Washburne hardly available,
Conkling is his great card. and he in
lends TO play it like a skillful general
putting his forces properly in the
ield. The combinations now be-
ng made to this end me
very well understood here. Conkling
has bowed before his idol with such
reckless adulation, and has fiattered
MS vanity to such an extent, that
Grant fells he can only pay the debt
BY working for his nomination. This
S what has stimulated the Blaine men
% action recently. They understand
II