The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-10
POLITICAL WISDOM.
The Sphinx Speaks and Exposes a Pro-
found knowledge of Statecraft.
The Late Republican State
Convention.
Diverse Views Of President Grant and Of a
Prominent Republican Politician.

LONG BRANCH Sept 8, 1879
In conversation with some gentlemen to-day Presi-
dent Grant spoke freely on the subject Of the New
York Republican State Convention He expressed the
conviction that tho action Of the Convention had been
controlled by earnest desire to redeem the State
from the hands of the democracy, and the hope that
the desire would not DO disappointed. The New York
politicians, he said, bad arrived ut the CONCLUSION
. which he had reached year ago-namey, that the
sures way OF defeating the opposition to strengthen
the republican party by drawing back into its ranks the
who had left them consequence of the local quar-
rels of the leaders The liberals they now call them
selves. whatever their strength may be- arc Just so
many votes lost to the republican party If they remain
passive, while If they with the democracy their
number counts douby against rcpublcanism. The
platform and the ticket in the opinion OF the President
have both been formed for tho purpose OF concat-
ing Mr.. Fcnton and his followers and, If
they accomplish this end they may benefit the party
provided no great number be driven or through tho
now combination Last year. said the President, in
substance, 81 was assured by prominent leaders in New
York that by reunion with Mr. Fenton and his faction
the republican party would lose more votes than it
would gain. presume this opinion has been aban-
doned, and hope wisely"
THIRD TERM DEAD?
While President Grant avoided any direct allusion to
the "thrd crm' plank in the New York PLATFORM and
while the gentlemen with whom he convcrscd hesitated
to bring 1t to his notice, he made certain significant
marks which evidently intended to refer to the
eighth declaration of the platform He regretted, he
said the practice that had grow up making declara
tons of national policy and settling national issues in
State conventions. The people OF State, and cspe-
cialy Of such State as New York. have local matters
Of vast importance TO occupy their attention They
deeply interested in securing wise and prudent State
policy and honest, economical and capable
State government When political parties con-
fine themselves in their local contests, to the trial
Of local issues they enable the people to intci-
gently on matters that directly their welfare
and happiness, and thus promote good government
'Besides, said the President only slight degree OF
importance can attach to any declaration on national
issues that may be made by State convention 1t may
have its influence other States it is true and this
influence will be greater less in proportion to the
political Importance of tho pronouncing State or the
concurrence of large number of State conventions
lgivcn nationab issue may be accepted an indication
Of the policy TO which a majority of the States may in.
pinc. But national questions only be properly
Icttlcd by n national convention after mature
Fideration of the views of every State republican
convention in Eastern State may declare in favor OF
high tariff, whe republican convention in a
Western State may advocate free trade One State
convention may be much moro outspokcn on
the financial issue than another. When the
national convention of the party assemblies
II does not study what platform may be expcdient in
this State and what in that II considers the condi-
tion and studies the sentiments Of the entire nation
and acts with tho best judgment for the good OF tho
whole country" Tho Presidents remarks were evil
IDENTIFY intended 10 the hrd tcrm plank in the
Saratoga PLATFORM and in harmony with his letter
which claimed for the majority the sole right to decide
vrh thrrt nj n hirdp
nation on President who had served for two terms.
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
In a conversation with prominent republican poiti-
clan from New York, to-day, some views elected
in reference to the Saratoga nominations, which, from
the representative character OF the gentleman who
presses them, are entitled to consideration.
''Thc most striking feature OF the whole Convention
said the speaker, sis its anti administration character
both to It's organization its speakers, its
platform and its candidates It conven-
ton without Roscoe Conkng which is cquiva-
lent to saying that 1t against Grant
and his ofcchodcrs and his third aspirations II
he really has any, which doubt 1t was evidently
In its inside machinery by that smart little political
Hcssian, Jenny Hustled, OF Westchester 1t is very
we'll known that Hustled is venomous against Grant be-
OF his failure to induce the President to make
change in the federal Offices in New York after the
journment of the New York State Legislature of 1874
and give him the Custom House. Hustled labored hard
10 convince the President that the young and re-
pubcans in the State ought to be put to the front and
that the federal Offices in the hands Of their present in
cumbents OF no value whatever tho administra-
ton or the party. Hustled claimed TO be backed by
Governor Morgan and George Opdykc. Hc certainly
backed by Senator Robertson OF West
chester; cx-Public Works Commissioner George
Van Mort, tho Eren'"g Post people, and
number Of smaller fry Grant refused TO
recognize his claims and then Hustled fell back on the
Office OF Surveyor Of the Port and begged for that in
place of Addison Lanin whose term was about to cx
pire This also refused to him, and Mr. Latin
was paid the compliment of rcappontmcnt This is
the secret OF Hustcds bitterness against Grant and as
have said, Hustled clearly tho manipulation of the
saratoga Convention. We next find Governor Morgan
calling the Convention to order. This matter OF
course, as tho Ex-Governor Is the Chairman OF the
state General Committee But it certainly looks as If
tho Convention in truth Morgan Convention rs
opposed both to Grant and Conkling. Morgan used
Hustled TO run the Convention machinery, but he con-
iroilcd the direction in which it moved He named for
temporary Chairman Alonzo T. Cornell
THE REsuscITATIoS ExsPEAKER CORNELL
snow everybody knows that the Conkling party in
New York, and the President himself are not ON
friendly terms with Cornell. Aonzo and they are out
When Speaker OF tho Assembly Cornell snubbcd little
Johnny Davenport District Attorney Bliss and all the
unky crowd and positively refused promote tho OBJ
jccts they had o view in reference to the New York
city charter Recently the Conklingtes have been
busiy spreading the report that in consequence of his
serious financial embarrassments Cornell had entirely
stepped out of politics and would be heard Of no more
Now he comes suddenly to the front, handed forward
by Governor Morgan who has money enough to do as
he pcascs and who expects that the nomination
Tor President may yet fall into his mouth in
which event he calculates TO A. Il. Cornell for Gov
,rnor next year After Mt Cornell find the pcrma
mont Craftsmanship OF the Convention bestowed
Ecorsc W. Curtis, Mr. Hustled having been chairman Of
'hc Committee on Permanent Organization Mr. Curtis,
u is well known, has expressed lack Of confidence in
ahc sincerity of the professions OF General Grants ad
ninstration in the direction Of civil service REFORM
and, As far as his mild non committal principles will