New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-17
SOMETHING ORACULAR.


Extraordinary to the Republican Court, has
gone West. Started, as he remarked mel
dentally to q reporter of The Chicd0o 1r1odne,
who took an interview of him on the fly, Tor
Omaha, and stopped g to see Chicago on the
way. In the interview referred to the eX-
Governor who is described as a pheasant laced
and very large gentleman AS indeed why
shouldn't he he with the opportunities he has
had ?-unbosomed himself i'll n pie: 't-iaced
and very large way upon Tie subject Of the
third term and the merits and prospects OF
the several gentlemen who have been named
as candidates for the Republican nomination
for the Presidency. His talk was refreshing
and delightful. Beng on terms OF the most
cordia! and confidential intimacy with The
President. and in the midst, SO To speak, OF
the intcllectua circle which constitutes tho
society oi the Executive Mansion, his uticianccs
have something Of an oracular tone and flavor.
The reporter. after putting the usual direct
question 10 visitors, "What do you think OF
"Chicago? and receiving the usual reply,
81 think Sir, she is n marvel; her growth
"and prosperity are tremendous led e1adu-
ally up TO current politics b. way Of PRED
"Grantr and the reported remarks oi that
viyacous young warrior on the tlInd-tefm
question and his fathers preference for Conk-
ling. The first important fact elected was
that the Ex-Governor took "no stock IN the
"yarn," which he said Originated with n
"Washingion newspaper correspondent and
with grim humor he added. "you know what
they are Which would seem to- thc casual
reader to be n reflection upon the average
Washington correspondent. II - quite .r1s-
snring to the American citizen who j. not IL
timately acquainted with Fred Grant to he in
formed ON such authority a. that of cN-tot.
Shepherd that that person is quic', una>-
"suming young man. and not likely to tell all
che knows" 50 We may bc certain that he has
not "told all he knows" about his father
preference for Conkling.
Coming then directly to the third-tcrm qucs-
tion the reporter said, "Thcn you think Grant
ais not a candidate frr rcC,octionl' To which
,he oracle. thus: 81 know he IS not. Tie old
gentleman i sick and tired Of politics. lie
" has had q constant strain upon him for over
thirteen years, and fearful Responsibility
and he need, rest sun unapTca-cl in III,
thirst for information and tor copy, TIE
probing inaurcr asked. Would 20" favor Il
third term ~ To which came this response
conveying argument, sentiment and illu~tia-
.ion "Looh here, young man, where firms
d" or individuals hire persons to serve them by
"thc wear, when they do them duty well they
are IcCngagcd again successfully year after
year Thi is especially the ease with
"uilroads and other great corporations
Now, why should not tina, bc the
lease with the President! lie has served
" the people two term, and II they feet
like recl,cting him, why should they moi do
"so?' But when asked further what he
thought OF "thc third terra any how, he re-
Piled tina; it was "humbue' ami "spooh,
for he says, "irom what tho President ha. al
"vays told iar. lie would NOT laho the office
"again, even il tend red him. ~ be- j. tad 81
the cares Of the Office and wants 10 retire
And 80 that matter seems To be- finally dis
posed of once more until some more "circum-
"st,nce." arise VIII cli shall make it "scom IN
imperative duty We dimly remember To
have seen aud heard something of THE general
character before from oihor source, but thiN
il tEe first time We have h1d anyta.n- all-
thoritatiye on the subject from cN-GcE. Sh'p-
herd. II X quite important.
Concerning candidate, the eX-Goyernor VA.
not at aB rclcrnt. iutCir0gatcd on TIM point
he begins with. "Wcll. There l. tOnklng. |
"think lie stands the best chance perhaps al
- ny. He is smart, and man of energy, and
Thoroughly posted and would de- honor to the
" POSITION" In answer Ia Il question whether
ho thought Mr. Eonklun@'- manner would not
" kill him with the people, lie said, No, Sir.
" do not. He seems cold ~ first, but lc j. Il
genial and warni-hcaited man, who is pOpu-
lar with the ma-aos and who improves upon
acquaintance. He has what may hc called Il
manncrism. ~ YOU know, the papers lave
stated that hc ha, Hyperion curl-
and ,Joyc-like face, and tllinh that
"may have spoiled him some, bul he
would make an excellent President" al
of which shows an oh,ci1ant disposition on
.hc part of the Ex-Governor. The "manncl-
ism" ha- been remarked before. Mr.. Shop
herd thinks Blaine j. strong man, "smm;
"and dn,t.' "grnal but little too oily, -
" in fact, too much Of a politician Some one
II his juncturc remarked tha. cN-S' nJtor
Frntom might be the coming man, which drew
from the oracle The rcply: "Scs, he would
make Il good pic,idcnt-for Tract Socici
" or Missionary or Mite Soccty. He might
" do ut pinch. for church deacon; bat
" President of thc United states, nCVc,i Young
oman, he'll fall in ILL.,, Il little Major aud sup
port Conling, il be is nominated ami thai's
"what Fcnton II do Morton, however, h.
thinks, sis the strongest OF all ii he had
L" the uae Of bis legs ne would be the nomi-
nee Blaine. Conlling, and Morton stand
about alike" Hayes OF Ohio he thinks
has chance as a compromise candidate
Haltranft has but little show in The contest.
l.. 4. Wa,hburno is not seriously mentioned
and Bristow "docs moi stand IL SHOW at all"