New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-03
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
TIE DIVISION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-CHANCEs
or THIRD PARTY-BLAINE AND THE FORCE
BILL-FRANK TALK BY WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS.
From The ST. Louis Republican,

THE DIVISION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-CHANCEs
ORA THIRD PARTY-BLAINE AND THE FORCE
BnL-FRANK TALK BY WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS
Prom The ST Losts Republican.
The Hon. William Walter Phelps OF New
Jersey after spending couple OF days IN this city, left
nor pS e was apponed By tue Committee OF
Arbitration recently in session In Newfork 10 see that
the decision compromise settled upon by that Com
mttee is faithfully carried out Touching the arbitration
az his Office in NewYork Mr. Phelps observed that was
strange commentary upon the results o! Federal Inter
ference I'm the domestic affairs OF State, TO see seven
men, two Of whom private citizens, and none
OF whom citizens of Louisiana sitting as board OF
arbtrafors to determine who the men chosen by
the people Of that State to represent them ID their own
Legislature He said this spectacle should attract at
ts5fop not only on account OF It's novelty an episode
in the history of the country but also on account OF the
startling possibilities which suggested IN the WORKINGS
From this point Mr. Phelps proceeded to discussion
of National politics He said tue Repu1can party was
now s0uarely divided within ITSELF and that from TINS
time until the National Convention next year he con-
test he ween the Grant Radical and the Blaine or
Conservative factions would De nnremltuug lie IeauB
admitted that Grant was in the Held either Tor renom
inotou or for tie power 10 dictate the nomination or
his successor lie did not believe that Grant would De
able to force his own denomination. ana thought he
nuld give up all idea OF being candidate before the
time of holding the Convention arrived But ne oeeved
that would Try, nevertheless, 10 MAKE ms nnu
euce paramount in the ConVenOn ana thereby 10 force
the nomination of COnkng as his rst choice aier him.
self. .,, -, 49,, . - =.
fice-holders would have toward forming the Republic
can National Convention in 1876. He was not inclined
underaie the force OF the machinery when was EN-
bodied In present enormous system OF Federal pa
tronage But ne believed that between this time and
1876 feeling would be stirred up among the Republi
can masses which would Oyerwhelm the office holders
and defeat their plans for packing the Convention with
the creatures OF the Administration The conservative
Republicans ght now he said to form party All they
lacked formal alton They were represented
In the Senate the extent OF nine or ten In hunters
and vastly greater proportion than that OF Intelligence
and personal influence They would be found to be
largely in the ascendant III the hepuDncan minority IN
The next House. Mr.. Blaine would be their natural
leader. 1t true thai Blaine had not led the meas
al ,cussOn the House, but his failure 10 take decided
stand or at least his failure 10 take strong ground
against the measure IN speech was eApllcaOle upon
grounds that left mputaton upon Ills sincerity or
purpose his courage OF conviction. The fight over
the Force bill was carried on by the ana Doota
Mr. Blaine strongly desired TO 90 on the record against
the measure Out he saw no opportunity " 10 30 Will
ont descending into the muck ana mre OF contest WIN
Butler and his unsayOry hdherens ana SO the speaker
eDce against the bill in quiet way Mr.. Phelps did
not presume that Mr.. Blaine could have actually
Oy Speech eaed o o srsons onnos
ton The who voted for the Force bill would not
Blame And who voted against II were certain to
do so whether he made speech or nor; Those who
voted bill we're mostly men ON the point or re-
TRACY from public life There was sconed OF Pennsy
vana for instance. At heart Seoheld was opposed to
field had been notified quit by his He
must look out for himself. There was prospective
United States Judgeshlp In PENNSYLVANIA which he
wanted as provision for his declining years. and he
knew that man who voted against the Force Dlll
need ask any favors OF Grant. This was sample of
In reply TO question as to what the conservative Re
pubcans would do IN the event OF Grants renomlna-
non or of the nomination OF OF his cIeatuEes like
Conklng Mr. Phelps said there would be two eourses
left open to Republicans OF his views One course
would be 10 bolt the Convention and nominate third
candidate; the other would be To cOalesce
with the Democracy and destroy Grant and tue
wreck be had made of the Republican party
geLher. II the Democrats should agree on fair con-
seryat1ve platform aud nominate ticket which would
persoDaize that spirit, there would be occasion for
third nomination. But II the Democracy should hope
lessly Bourb0niZe itself aud the Republican Convention
he captured by Grant either for himself for a third
term OF his creatures, then there would be
free Tight general uproar and music by the full band.
as ~ were But this ali Hypothetical upon contln
gency which Mr. Phelps still believed impossible. He
did not think Grant could capture the Republican Con
vention He thought Grants Influence upon the party
would dwndle rapidly as soon as the next Congress
came in with its applications Ofnvestigaye cautey to
me various departments OF his administration. II could
be safely assumed that the Republican minority IN the
next House would commit the bunder or standing.
or seeming 10 stand IN the way OF invest
the defender and apoOgst OF the Grant administration.