New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-16
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
ATAIK WITH EX-SENATOR GwIN.

ATALK WITH EX-SENATOR GWlN.
HIS ARREST AFTER THE Wharf.-The DEMOCRATIC
PARTY CONSTANTLY GAINING srRENGTH-GRANT
PROBABLY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
trRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSsl
STOCKTON, Cal, Sept. 2.-One OF the most
remarkable men in California is DIR. W. Mex Gwn' VINO
for twenty years preceding the War occupied high
rank among American politicians and statesmen HIS
long service in both branches of Congress his prominence
abroad his conduct during the War, his Sonoma ex-
perience, his imprisonment by President Johnson oi
eight months in New-Oreans. and his placid retirement
from politics and public life in California nave maue HIS
name well known 10 the reading public met the ex
Senator today on the his way to his mines anu
estates in Calaveras County Somewhat iamiiiar WIN
his history had expected to thin old man, bowed
with wears and trouble with little of memory lett 10 TO
mind him of what lie had BEEN Picture instead oi 'e
irritable disappointed, discouraged Old man OF "aS'eu
frame | bad expected to see, all Old Roman ol el"h'
Frame who after more than seventy years OF me-
gives excellent promise OF sialwart hSh'lns LOT
half n century more / have never seen NJ MS age
a man more hearty and well preserved IMAM
Dr. Gwn. Every sense is acute, MS voice Is s,I""s
and firm and physically he lie as active ana nearly as
though he were only fifty years old He weighs some
where about $50 pounds, is six feet ana some inches II,
hight and ia OF splendid proportions. His hair fun ana
thick Is as white a. the whtest His ruddy com
pexon; his face ceany shayen; his eye dark spark
ling gray his form having that roundness ana uineSS
which so well become age and altogether ms dist-
guishcd bearing not less than his form ana iacc point
him out as man of distinction bore to him letter
of introduction from of the hotheaded Secession
,s NJ baltimore who had fought ducs fed the country,
lost property and suffered imprisonment for his peace
full support the Concdcracy, and had supposed there
wns a bond of sympathy between them on account OF
their suHerngs. They had spent many years together
abroad and while their friendship was and is OF the
strongest character, surprised to learn OF the
tIair
their opinions concerning the War
HIS IMPRISONMENT IN NEW ORLEANS.
Daring prolonged conversation with Dr. Gwin Il tired
to obtain ideas regarding the approaching freSi
Dental battle lie first referred to the subject OF Jour
nalism lamenting the want of representative Demo
cratic newspaper the Pacific coast and paying tribute
TO THE TRIBUNE ms the leading American newspaper
and the best and most satisfactory in all respects ex
cent politics in the world. The ex-senator then e1-
planned his position in the War. 81 was not sahd
he "a Secessonst. but was Southern man. lheNer
believed in secession, but / could not 90 against the
South. My position nearer that OF neutral thah
YOU believe But because was not against the South IL
was taken for granted that 1 with her. and was
always on the point of the Federal sword ever felt Its
edge. Andrew johnson imprisoned me III NcWorleahS
after the war for eight months. Gen. Sheridan was my
iailcra man with knowledge of the world no expe-
rience in public affairs, and no knowledge OF the mean
ing or history of governments What does he know of
the word Republic good cavalry leader
| grant you, and as such he useiui
doubtless why should he have anything TO do win
civil matters in Government after war had ceased
While was in prison messages came to me daiy ASKING
me TO give nv parole refused Then physicians were
sent to lie 10 report that my health was such That I'M
prisonmcnt would be serious injury would not let
them see me sent word back that was perfectly well
and would not I've released on any trick or pretense
demanded trial by court martial felt stronger than
all the Government bayonets. for knew that had done
nothing to cOmpromse my good name Thus l was de-
MED trial aud kept for eight months, when cOud nave
been released at any moment by tacit acknowledge
mcnt OF my fault Refusing all compromises, became
AZ as bic white elephant and they did not know what
TO do with me- Then the prison doors were opened ana
stopped out but reparaon no explanation iooweu'
and never had any satisfactory reason gwen sr the
course of the Government.
.You have" observed, " turned your back on ma
tonal politics You never come 10 Washington inc scene
of your former greatness"
al have not" answered the old politician, D'eh III
Washington since left the Senate fifteen years ago
have had desire TO there and do not intend TO go
a-ain until there il a change OF Adinihstrauoh-i
mean until the Democrats are restored to power
would be ashamed to he in Washington for should
blush for INV country with Grant at its head regard
him as the commonest man, intellectually ana morally
that ever held high office III this country Believe me- Sir
had rather have an Empire with an able hcad thah
Republic under such man as Grant lheIe can pe Ho
greater dcspOts -Four years more of such government
where would we bel A third term of such a President
would be a calamity that history would shudder at"
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
"Uaye YOU any hope of at the next National
cecton2"
eyes" he answered. with great earnestness, " have
much hope do not how We can well be defeated
The Republicans have been playing into our hands ior
two years. and there doubt that the sentiment OF
+l,e s.pg
elections show this"
"But how the Democrats to take advantage Oh
this Is not the sentiment OF the people against your
paryl What do you propose to do to santh confidence
OF the cOuntryf"
"Tbcre can h. only two great parties in this country
There IA no halfway house We tried to stop between
the two parties in the Greeley campaign You know how
we failed Next time the very sins OF the Republicans
will give the election to the Democrats"
"who will he your candidate for President" asked
"1bat : hard TO tell. Thurman and Hendricks seem to
c the preference among the people Of the coast Ny
own candidate is Gov Tden. did not like Hendrcks's
positon toward the Seymour Convention in New-Icrk
He was too much mixed up with that. Thurman IS
very good man. but think Tden the best candidate yet
mentioned The opposition to Tilden at home Will be
feeble and nobody can doubt that he would carry the
state Church has the elements of popularity and
Charles Francis Adams, whom You mention Is states
man OF the old school wish lie could be President
but DE cannot he. OF the people The hardest
load a" continued DIR. Gwn. (Which the Democrats have
10 carry is the South. The war Is over and instead
OF taking a modest course which experience ought 10
show is the best, if nothing but policy Is to be con
sidered TIE South 10 take its old place III the
parv This cannot d for many reasons II ~ under
a cloud. its prestige is gone. its wealth Is gone, us
Statesmen are gone. and il ought To exercise mat
Virtue of fortitude which misfortune teaches. IL ought
to keep still and permit the party of the North q NEAL
of course that portion of the party north OF the rebel
lion, S,tcS) 20 take the lead. Particularly ought not
the South TO compromise on the financial question
The peOplc of that section without money. Ihcy
think any change will be the better, for II can
NOT be any them. They have an idea that an
increase of the currency will put more money III their