New-York tribune., 1875-01-13
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
pIsCoURAGING PROSPECT FOR THE
RRPIJBIICAN PATTY.


pvcovpp prPoRK fs76--FREsIDRNr GRANT TOO
uvAvv.rnADTo cARRY-HR II DETERMINED TO
pRoyokK THE SOUTH TO RESISTANCE III POSSIBLE
-RRpuB1ICAN LEADERS LACK THE COURAGE io
TAKE A STAND AGAINST NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
er.rrs WOULD REPUDIATK HIM IL NOMINATED
nus YKARs,NG AFTER A THIRD TERM NCUhA-
toRfK-A srRAIGffT-oUT DEMOCRAT TO BE THE
NEXT PRRsIDENr--rHE POLICY OF THE SEAr
HOUSE.
rBY TELEGRAPH rHx rRIDuSE.l
wAsuIsGroN, Jan. ia Republican Congress
man of exceptional prominence, whose dread Oh
being interviewed serves generally TO keep MS
onpons ON public questions out of the news
papers. talked unreservedly with TRIBUNE cor
respondent tonight on the main features OF the
noliticaI situation making it condition that as
name sbould not be given in connection Win the
very foreible and independent views be expresseu'
He looked upon the Louisiana usurpatiOn as
ata0oering blow dealt the Repu0hcan parry
NV the President. from which it could not recover
in. time 70 make o successful race IL 1877. Inc
animal is down." he said, and Will not get up AZ
long as Grant is astrde of it, and the worst Oh IL H
that the President win not sit light, as the boy on
the stage coach did when it came to hill de slts
beaviar and heavier tine more we try to get the
party on its feet again"
: Can nothing be done to make Grant see that lie
is running his party T asked the correspondent.
That has been tried again and again. He knows
what think, and what Othors in Congress tnnK
about his course but it makes DO difference with
him. He is determined to worry the South ana pro-
woke il to resistance. if possible. He will make 1t
a field OF blood,, If he can. see DO way to throw
him off and 70 carry him is certain death for us as
party"
o" Holding such views as you do, why do YOU not
Il 81. Of he
destructive course and thus furnish the independent
Republicans with leader around whom they could
rally r.
It vould be of no use" replied the Congressman.
snould only be made the target for abuse from
the Administration and it's followers. andthe men
who gapree with me in private conversation
would lack the courage to speak one word In
publc in nv support. There is no maDIlness
left among our people. Who nro the men VINO
would come to the help OF a Republican Who should
courageousy condemn the performances OF Grant
and sheridan in Louisiana and declare that the ne
publican party must disavOw them if it would save
itself from certain death : Can you name them =
What do you, as a party leader, propose to dof
Will you let Grant push you over the precipice
without resistanee'" asked the correspondent.
After acknowledging that he could not name even
half dozen Republicans who would have the cour-
frankly say to you that l do not see tnat any
thing can be Done If there Is any life for the
Republican party it will be through its death. No
political event appears more certain than that we
will be oyerwhelmin 9ly defeated IN 1876. once ont
OF power we might as an opposition party, regain
public confidence
The conversation turned upon Presden Grants
third term ambition and the Con gressman declared
that there was no hope of persuadng him ont OF the
insane notion that he could be nominated again and
reelected This deusiOn influenced all his
public acts If nominated which was an event
almost beyond the range of possibilities, he would
be repudiated by 81 States. The Congressman
hoped the party would take Elihu d. Wasbburne
for its candidate. There would be a poetic
Justice in selecting President Grants nearest
friend for the victim. Mr WashburDes friendship
for the President would him to be kicked and
cutfed from one end OF the country to the other
throughout the campaign. Failing of an oppor-
tunity TO get at Grant the indignant voters would
set UPON the man selected for his and beat
him "A no candidate had been beaten IN recent
times Unless the prospect changed with a sudden
ness that would be almcst miraculous, no man whom
the Republicans might nominate would have any
prospect of success Mr. Washburne least Of all, on
account of the odum his; connection with Presi-
dent Grant would brlng upon him.
We may as well make up our minds continued
the CONGRESSMAN, that the next President Will be
a straighout Democrat. For my part shall not be
sorry. On the contrary, shall breathe freer when
see Democrat in the White House. We shall
then be out Of the era of military interference,
and can fight our political battles with political
weapons"
lis there not reason to fear that President Grants
programme for governing the South will lead TO
more serious difficulties than have thus far arisen in
louisiana And what safeguard have we against
his use of the army the Southern states for
his party if not for himself. ia 1866
lone thing you perhaps have not thought of.
Next Winter the Democrats will undoubtedly follow
the example we set them during the Kansas
troubles, when we had the House and
they the President and Senate. They will
vote no appropriations for the support
of the army unless they are allowed
TO attach to them conditions as to how the troops
are TO be employ cd. They may insist that no SOL
diers shall he quartered any Southern State and
may thus put it ont of the Presidents power TO re-
peat the Louisiana performance except by coup
fetdt
The Congressman did not believe the Cabinet
would break up the Louisiana issue. The men
composing it were not of the sort that nauseated
easily. He thought ithe next campaign would be
fought by the Republican party on the Old out
rage" line. There nothing upon which
they could unite, except the negro question. The
Finance bill just passed had removed the currency
question from the field of the present and there was
nothing but the Issues growing out of the war on
which the Republicans could stand together. 1t
was therefore, essential TO keep the outrage mill
running.
THE COLD HEATRER