New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-19

TTRNkL IMPROVEMENTS DEMANDl.D-ifi-'t4lA L
GRANT THE NEXT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
The Hon. Henry Watterson, ex-member Of Con-
gress from the Louisville KY, District, and Editor
of The Cowir-jouyral. came to New-York last week.
In conversation on Saturday with a TRIBUNE repre-
sentative he expressed frankly his opinions on cur
rent political questions and the probable action
Of parties in the next Presidential campag On.
"What effect has Mr. Hayess visit and policy had
upon parties in the south p Mr. Watterson was
asked.
None whatever. How could it' Parties DO
not spring, fuil-ledged. from Misunderstanding. Mr.
Hayes made an agreeable impression on the South
ern mind. He il ready and affable, " hat is known
in the South a good mixer and, being not only
a President who proposed TO do what the people
considered his duty, but Northern soldier speak
ing words of kindly cheer, he was warmly and sin
cerely welcomed. But his coming did not, could
not, and should not from the nature Of the case,
make one single Republican out Of one single Demo
crat"
why has 1t made conversions a"
"Why should il The Southern party joined the
Democratic party by species of enforcement. They
came out Of the war committed to party. In 1860
they had, of their own voliton, broken up the Dem
ocratic parry. In 1865 they had no motive TO join
il again, foT3lt was powerleSs 20 help them. But
the Republicans slammed the door IN their face,
and after Laundering IN the chuck-hOle Of Andy
Johnsonsm for four years their sole refuge was
the Democratic party. They had nowhere else 20
CO. This was in 1868. Ever since, in sun and
shower-but principally shower-they have stayed
there. The policy of the Republican leaders has
been devoted to keeping them there Now, just as
the consequences of Republican oslndcring are on
the eve Of bringing the Democratic party back TO
power, what sort Of idiots would these Southern
people be if they should be diverted from their
allegiance by a few sweet words from Mr.
Hayes, unsupported by any particular response from
the leaders of his party l waive the question Of
gratitude. Parties, ike Republics, are pr0verbially
ungrateful. ~ u matter of policy, desertiou Of
the Democratic party would be suicidal. As
transaction between men and men it would be little
short Of infamous The only hand which has been
stretched ont TO the South from the North has been
that of the Democratic party. II the South should
take Mr. Hayes at his word and fall into lue under
his Lead it has no assurance that it would not find
in him another Andrew Johnson"
do you mean then thai the South cannot be
relied on to support the Administrations
4" 1t will support such OF its measures as it ap-
proves-n the character of isolated transactions-ln-
dependent Of mere partyism In other words, It
will sustain the President against the extremists,
taking pains meanwhile, to vote the Democratic
ticket"
Then the President has made an empty haul
Of iti7
As far as the Republican party is concerned, he
has. As far the country Is concerned, he has not.
Ills policy has reestabshed confidence in tie SOUTH
1t has removed load of uncertainty from the pub
lie mind 1t has put the people upon their response
billty and left them to work out their destiny for
themselves 1t is testimony of the most conclusive
kind to the Democratic policy of Cancellation and
reunion
what about the Old Line Whgsp
They are all dead
Are there none left IN KentuckyN
Those who did not Join the Republican party
have been among our most irrec oncilable politicians
The idea of an Old Line Wing revival in the South
is simply laughabe.'
what effect will these things have upon parties
in the North p
They will encourage the Democrats with the as
surance Of an overwhelming victory and consolidate
the Republicans on General Grant. About the
time Of the National Conventions there viii be a
action against dilettanteIsIn. The machine mana
prs and hle-leaders viii Teappear at the front and
take things into their own hands There Will proba-
blv be three tickets in the field tine Democratic party
the Republican party and little sdeshow arrange
ment Of amateurs and Molly Goodies enough to give
every State in the Union to the Democratic noml-
uees'
After this, what viii the South do "
= lam not a prophet can only speculate upon
current and contingent probabilities As matters
stand. 1t seems to me that shall get nd Of sec
tionalsm in our politics, and be able to turn our at
tention to works Of substantial and practical mo-
ment. such "a a Southern outlet to the Pacific
and die reconstruction Of our river and harbor sys
tenn along the southern seaboard. On these points,
we shall rout the absTactonists and level mp
somewhat on the vast inequality which exists as to
the benefces Of Government
"You are in favor of works of internal improve
ment, then y
ITO the extent Of bringing the producing classes
nearer the market and removing needless OBJ
strucions to transportation, am. believe that in
that direction, and in a readiustment Of our tariff
system. lies the solution Of the labor problem"
And the finances -
Are settling themselves. Whilst demagogues
tinker. the recuperatiye energies Of the people
are bringing us round 10 a sound basis
In addition 70 these general answers, Mr. Waiter
son said: The Northern mind has allowed Itself
10 drift away from its loyalty to Repubcanism in
il, excess of zeal for the union of the States.
Whilst that was menaced, fidelity in its behalf was
assuredly virtue. But IL has not Deen III question
for twelve years, and will never be again from the
same cause which formerly assailed 1t. That which
il in danger is the Republican principle-the self
governing principle Broken down IN the south
Tor any cause whatever-it could not long sur
vive in the North. General Grant, 40 long as be
lives. and the Republican party as long
A. il Is exposed to the Vaccinations Of the Grant
set headed by Senator COnkling-himself a strong
laatar--ig n "a
menace to simple home-bred Republican IDEAS OF
. - ..,-er,,,,ant Ioolx upOn General Grant and