The New York herald., 1879-12-20
Why Grant May Be President Com
mercial and Political.
JOURNALISTIC VIEWS.
Messrs. Mcclure and Fomey Indicate the
Probable Course of Events.
THE CANAL COMPANY TO ORGANIZE.

garding the relations OF General Grant to the pro-
iec.ed ntcroceanc canal Nicaragua have pro-
duced more comment tenfold than all the speeches
o. the numberless orators who, in the open air and
on rosirums. have mouthed the name Of Grant dur
ing tho past week. Their conversations with the
Herald correspondent have started a genuine
..canal BOOM" The probabilities and pros
poets of the Generals retirement from the
race for the Presidency OF the United States to
go into commercial life grand scale every
where canvassed. Indeed. the discussion has led
people into many strange inaccuracies. The mo-
ment it announced by Admiral Ammen and
Senior Franco that General Grant had accepted the
chief office of the canal company the impossibility
of the assertions stated to consist in the fact
that such resolution his part would finally
move him from the field Presidential aspirant.
This conclusion was jumped at by contem-
poraries of the HERALD. who being q day be-
hind in the news, adopted the threadbare device of
repeating of the day before (which they felt to
be true) with an air OF discredit Be that it may.
the discussion provoked has drfted into the channel
deep as the canal-namely. the effect OF General
Grants acceptance. alleged by Ammen and
Franco. upon his aspirations for the Presidency Of
the United States.
QUESTION OF POLICY.
Clearly. therefore. the question has become
purely political one and as such it is my purpose TO
consider it. VIII the acceptance of the Presidency
OF the Nicaragua Canal Company be a bar to General
Grants nomination for the Office of Chief Executive
OF this nation? Will it take him out Of the list of
ddates? This is the aspect the discussion has taken.
These the reasons assigned for General Grants
reticence by the journals who were thoughtless
enough to overlook the presence Of Admiral Am
men, Senior de franco and Engineer Menocal in
Philadelphia, and their many conferences with the
-Dreoi IN hon 7 fboyy,
In this letter propose to consider the question Of
policy and to show that it is not this doubt in Gen.
eral Grants mind but the intimate nter-relaton Of
the financial part OF the programme and the head of
the enterprise that Keeps "the man Of silence true
to his record The scheme cannot be foated without
General Grant at its head To put it concisely
without Grant the money cannot be raised; unless
1t can be raised Grant cannot be had. He will not
father failure.
The problem having assumed such aspect the
opinions Of men of large political experience and
good judgment of far more value in arriving at
General Grants probable course than are the
theories of enthusiasts who champion either the
Nicaragua Canal or the third term. With this idea
! called upon the most intimate personal friend
of General Grant this city and stated the PROPOSE
ton frankly He declared that he could not how
the two matters in any way related. He failed
to comprehend how possible future nomination
for the Presidency of the United States could be
affected by the acceptance of such position as the
head OF any great international and commercial
enterprise He was certain that this
sideration did not deter General Grant from pub
licly declaring his intentions. The General looked
upon the matter of more or less private and
personal nature at present and did not refer to III
general conversation with his friends The political
aspect of the question the gentleman declined to 60
into He appeared willing to talk business viewing
the canal project in such light but eschewed poll
tics.
AsJoURNALIsr's OPINIONS.
Avsit to Colonel A. K. Mcclure. his cosey Office,
elected very pronounced opinion. When the
above queries propounded to him he said -
'You can rest assured that the men who the
moral support of this great. even overwhelming
movement do not for a moment fear that q canal
terprse. any other plan. will stand in the way of
General Grants candidacy. The project of uniting
the Atlantic and the Pacific is certainly grand one.
Ii possesses many attractive features for General
Grant. and far from it conflicting with his politi.
cal aspirations it will further them Besides in the
year and three months yet remaining before the 4th
of March, 1884, he do for such company all that
lie could do in forty years. After the scheme is
thoroughly its feet, after the money is raised
any prominent man OF acknowledged greatness
could fill the Office at it's head. Do you suppose the
interests OF the Nicaragua Canal Company
would suffer by the statement that its
president had retired for few years
from active performance of his duties and receipt
of his salary to accept the post OF Chief Magistrate
the United Statesg OF course not. The idea, looked
ut in the way have unconsciously stated it, is glar-
ingy absurd.
GREAT INTERESTS AND POWERFUL INFLUENCES.
81 do know that General Grants heart is thor
oughly in this canal business. Why should it not
be? 1t will be the great achievement of the century
and would link General Grants with the future
commercial supremacy of this nation. Are his
friends opposed to his accepting the place? think
not. Look at the facts The men behind the scenes
waras of the country. could give names
by the score--men who are here in our
midst but not men who carry in their
pockets corporations representing hundreds of
millions and dine friendly sociabity In private
parlors the floor with General Grant.
These would be glad to see Grant take
such prominent stand for this nation in its
commercial affairs The prestige which position in
the White House would give the company before
the world need only he hincd at to be appreciated.
There is only other consideration and that is
personal one on the Generals part OF course he is
too prominent figure at present to hope that this
he be unfavorabe to the project then2 Ibelevc it is
not secret that General Grants income is not CON-
mensurate with the large expenses which his prom
inence entails. do not think will be offensive to
say that q salary OF $4,000 or sGO.o0O per year,
which such company could well afford to pay for
the of the Generals namc would be welcome.
1t would not involve obscurity; 1T would be profit
able. honorable and ailuring Indeed. do not see
that his bitterest enemy could find anything in such
act to criticise or condemn Of course do not
pretend to know what he will do. am not inter
ested. financially. in the company, and believe In In
dependent journalism Grst OF all enterprises"
DO.
Colonel John W. Forney found at the Progres,
Office. and when the proposition stated to him
said frankly My feelings regarding General
Grant and the White House are woli known. IIe is
the inevitable candidate of the republican party.
Any other Office which he might accept would not