The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-05-24
CORRESPONDENCE,
W AsHINGToE, ]
May IL, 1861

WASHINGTON, !
May IL, 1861
EDITOR DEMocRAT-
THE GREAT UNKNOWN,
to whom Mr.. Blaine has 50 frequent
ly referred as the man who will b,
suddenly sprung upon the Cincinnati
Convention by the Grant clique, i,
now known to be Mr.. Washburne, q
Illinois, now Minister to Paris
Grant owes his advancement in lif'
to Washburne, and is determined t
secure him the nomination II posi-
BILE. It was Washburne's wish tina,
his name should not be mentioned
too early as candidate. He is very
unpopular with his party, and he
knows it, and was therefore afraid te
give his legions of enemies time t.
kill him off by showing his absolute
unfitncss for the Chief Magistracy
Grant let the cat out of the bag the
other day, however, while Gin his
cups" and stated that all his influ.
ence in the Cincinnati Convention
will be used for his early and stead
fast patron. But the President for
gets that his influence, even with the
rapscallions OF the Republican party,
has been steadily and rapidly on the
wane, ever since it has been regarded
az fixed fact that he has not the
ghost of a chance of being re-nomi.
mated. There are dozens of men in
the Republican party who will have
more personal influence on the dele
gates to Cincinnati than U. S. Grant;
and it is more than probable that the
Convention, scared by the earnest
ness and evident purpose of the dis
tinguished leaders of the s'Liberals'
and "Reform Republicans" will
throw overheard all the old party
hacks, and take up such a man as G..
W. Curtis or Geo. F. Hoar. The
friends of the several
DEMocRArIc AsPIRAxrs
are all apparently hopeful. Those of
Mr.. Bayard are especially enthusiast
tic, and make up in real and hard
work for their lack Of numerical
strength. But the number of his
friends is growing larger week by
week. should rather say his politi-
cal supporters, because al who know
the able and courteous Senator are
his friends. The friends Of Mr.. Jus
tice Davis, of the Supreme Court, are
working actively for that distinguish
ed gentleman, under the direction of
Mr.. John D. Defrees, an honest man,
an able wire-puller, and a personal
rather than political friend of Mr..
Davis. The admirers Of Mr.. Hen
bricks, it is unnecessary to say, are
working vigorously for him, and are
determined to do their beat tn secure
his nomination. The Southern mem.
bers of Congress, however, appear to
be all Tilden men, and the friends Of
the other candidates do not hesitate
to say that there is a growing feeling
that his nomination may como to be
considered party necessity, by the
time the St. Louis Convention meets.
It does look that way now. 1t is diff
fcult to see how We can elect Pres
ident without the aid Of New York.
Again, if the Republicans throw over
board their hacks, and select some
man Of irreproachable character, and
with good reform record, which it
is quite likely they will do; the Dem
ocrats must put forward a man who
has distinguished himself as a re-
former and q practical public econ.
omist.
GRANTS CHOICE FOB THE PRESIDENCY.
A confidential friend of Presiden,
Grant said, to day, after initiating to
the extent of half a dozen glasses OF
lager, "Do you know who is going ia
be nominated at Cincinnati2" The
immediate answer from nearly a doz.
en- persons present was "Blane. -
mo, sir" was the reply. "Well
them" said several of his auditors
"Conkling, or Hayes y '''Not RICH,
yet" said the Presidents friend
"you will have to 60 lower down in
the alphabet. The name of the mar
who will get the nomination begin.
with a'W,' which his name is Wash
burne, the present Minister tt
France" A n incredulous laugh
greeted this assertion. "Well, gen
tlemen,' was the reply, II am will
ing to bet $1,000 against 800 tina
Washburne ia nominatedn uRn