Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-06-21
FIRST EDITION.
Jas A. Bayard's Views.

THE EX-SENATOR INTERVIEWED IN NEW YORK
HOW HE REGARDS PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
The New York Tribune OF Saturday has the
following Ex-senator James A. Bayard OF
Delaware, who for more than forty years la,
taken an active interest in political affairs, is al
the New York Hotel, much enfeebled in health
In conversation with Tribune reporter yester
day, he stated that lie had virtually Withdrawn
| from political life most Of his old colleagues
were dead, and his age prevented him from mix
ing with the class Of active leaders who shape
the destinies of parties and control the politics
| OF the country. Still he could not be disinter.
ested observer Of public events, and oontem-
plated with fear and anxiety the spread Ct cor.
ruption III both parties.
| Take our own town of Wilmington for in
stance" said the ex-senator. awe have a Tweed
Ring there ON small scale composed of both
Republicans and Democrats; and wherever 1
| look around and see city growing in wealth
and population, there iH corruption. In Phila-
delphia,, understand, there is Ring, quite as
| formidable as any you had in New York. Ger
ruption stalks about everywhere in high and low
places, in municipal State, and Federal politics,
| and unless it is stopped there must come an end
| TO our republican institutions. Icannot but feel
| deep reverence for those old constitutional
principles which prescribed q Limitation of pow
ers,' and forbade, among others, the Federal
Government from interfering in internal i'm
| provements. The abandonment Of these prin-
ciples breeds corruption, and Government inter-
ference with railroads, or any other matters
which should be left to individual enterprise,
will ultimately lead to it's destruction. This lin
itation Of powers should be applied to State and
municipal governments as well as to Federal. II
government, whether Federal, State or munich
pal, is to take charge Of everything the result 10
always, especially in large towns, that some
shrewd demagogue will surround himself with
| clique, take advantage of powers conferred by
precedent or by statute, control the masses, and
power than it needs to exercise its proper func-
tions, and the occupation Of the bad leaders will
be at an end. There is no question as worthy
OF the attention OF the public mind to-day as
this question Of corruption. IL must be met, and
met speedily, too il we are at all determined to
preserve the institutions founded by our faith
ers"
Upon being asked what he thought of the
political status Of tie Southern States, Mr..
Bayard again repeated that he did not mix suffi-
cient)y with the people to express an opinion.
"But," said he, have always thought and be-
ieve to-day that it has been great mistake to
give the right Of suffrage to the negro race.
They are untutored; are a race full of passions,
without deliberaton, without argumentative
powers; and they become the easy prey Of any
demagogue who desires to use their votes for
his own selfish purposes. They did not expect
this right of suffrage, though considered them
always and consider them now worthy Of equal
rights before the law"
In referring to President Grants letter on the
third term question, the ex Senator shock his
head and said:
"How easy it would have been for him to
write letter which might have stopped all con-
troversy on this subject My opinion is" he
continued, "t that Grant will take the nomination
il he can get it, and believe he would not hesi-
tate to employ the armed forces Of the United
States in various Southern States OF the Union,
il he saw the least chance Of success But Grant
is not fool He is persistent, obstinate even,
in all his doings. At the same time he has
great degree Of common sense. Everything de-
pends upon the Fall elections Of this year.
Should they go against tho Administration you
will hear no more OF the third term but II they
should go otherwise, take my word for it Gen.
Grant will lose no opportunity in drawing COM
candidate for the Presidency next year.