The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-06
GRANT NOT HIS CANDIDATE.
40 sirS THE MfN VINO PROSECUTED
TIIJ RING GRINT SHIELDED.


kew Ring in st. Louis. in 1875 was SO vigorous.
able. and honest that it alarmed the Admins
trntion and caused his removal from the duties
Of Assistant United States District Attorney.
He is tall thin. Of sandy complexion. with
heavy eyebrows. square jaw and well balanced
head; looks like kindly Tut stcrnly honest
md determined man. As n Republican he was
elected to the United States Senate and nom-
nally he is Republican still. Arcporter Of THE
suN found him in his room yesterday. " | am
out Of politics now" Mr.. Henderson said out
Of active politics. ut least Concerning my
action in the prosecution OF the Ring. and its
results. don't think the Ring cuts any import
ant feature in the country Mt present Tho coun-
try made up its mind about the matter mt tho
time. and believe the general verdict was that
Grant committed a great error. Whether hc
did SO wilfuy or not am not prepared to say
lhave no point to make. and am willing to lot
Gen. Grant now. as l have allowed him TO all
along. stand upon the record he himself has
made | am quite content to abide by it myself.
Even IL | were not it is too late now to talk
about it, l don't like TO be put in the attitude Of
u man with n grievance. who. as the world
knows. is generally n bore. II is quite notorious
that Gen. Grant discharged me from the execu-
ton Of what l considered duty at the time.
but on that ground have no feeling. aud no
objection to him. He had the right to discharge
me II he saw it, II he conceived that was doing
less or more than my duty"
What has become Of Mcdonald. Mckee and
Joyce. the Whiskey Ring men whom you pros
ecuted"
Il do not know. think that Gen. Mcdonald
Is living up in Wisconsin. somewhere out near
Green Bay. He had some property there. and
after the difficulties at st. Louis removed there
ufr O. I 4. ...,li
secluson. | have seen very little OF him since
the fall Of 1875. Joyce. l think is n resident Of
the District Of Columbia; lives in Georgetown
believe and has an interest in some business
here in New York. II remember right groco-
~ business. Mckee is living in st. Louis and
Is yet. | understand. the chief owner OF the
Democrat"
Are they. by the earnestness OF their advo-
cacy Of Gen. Grants claim to a third term. en-
deayoring TO requite the favors shown them by
him?'
| have not seen either OF them for at least a
twevemonth. and how they personally stand
do not know. Mckees newspaper the Demo-
qdt, is very warmly and decidedly in favor Of
takes any active part In the editorial manage
ment, or merely gives Mr.. McCuloch carte
blanche"
At the time OF their prosecution they had a
large following Of friends aud great influence
IN the Republican party OF Missouri. did they
Well. yes. The members Of the Ring. I
think were rnther influential in Missouri poli-
tics nt that time. and the same may be said OF
the Ring at Chicago in Illinois politics. and Of
that at Milwaukee in Wisconsin pOlitics-and
20 Of other points. They were active leading
men, were numerous. used money very freely
for their purposes. ana had more or less lnfu-
ence In lisposing OF the pronts OF partisanship
IN the Immediate neighborhood Of their az
:" Have they retained much Of the .nfluence {?
and Il So are they l9yally using 1t to nep along
Think they have not much widespread in
nuencr leit. but oi course II is generally under
stood that those who were most actively en-
gagged In that AFFAIR were and are friends Of
Gen. Grant or that. however. cannot speak
from any personal knowledge"
How is the Grant boom booming in Mis-
souri, " 80,
vote for the Democratic nominee whoever he is
The Grunt movement there cannot affect gem
eral results to any great degree and its effect in
the kepubiican party is not likely TO prove en-
couraging ~ It's lnstigators. Speaking rs a Re-
puhhcan-though not as Grant mani think
permit his name TO be used a third time.
think the feeling that animated the earlier
Presidents is sufficiently fixed in the American
should he be renominated."
lom have said that you spoke as Republi-
party when you dared T., prosecute the Admin
istrauOn Mhiskey Ring p
DO not know how il was regarded else
where, but don't think my action WAS attended
with that effect in Missouri. The Republican
party Is not 50 very strong In Missouri COM
paratively. Or course there were certain mem
lers OF II VINO did not regard me ms very good
Republican,. Perhaps | may say that numbers
o. Them had not regarded me ms Il very good
Republican even before that. | am very free TO
say that ~ Gen. Grant is nominated for third
trm-wlthout stating all my reasons Tor not
supporting him-l shall not support him. II
that makes me poor. or bad Republican. shall
accept the consequences. My impression Ia
that there ought to be freedom In POLITICAL
Al % A. il n ht4 q rnuf
metropohtan newspapers They are permitted
70 AAr an independent course. or al least they
DO 50. because they are powerful enough TO DO
~ regardless o. consequences. Individuals
who attempt like course are ruled out of
parties, because they are weaker than the
As in your own case?"
] imagine that by, some my action in prose-
cutting the Whiskey Ring was looked upon as
un attack upon the Republican party 1t was
supposed that an attack upon the " hiskey Ring
was in some way an attack upon the Admiuis-
tration of Gen. Grant, and so great was the at
tachment Of tie stalwarts to him at the time
that they could not separate the party from the
Administration. Such ls often tho case in all
parties. The nearest approach 20 II contradic-
u9n Of that doctrine perhaps exists In the case
Of Hayes and his Administration. 1t does not
exclude man from fellowship in the Republi-
can party to denounce Hayes.
Gen. Grant in 1868 found the Republican
party strong, with majority Of two-thrds in
both branches Of Congress, and large popular
mWoriues in the several States electing him.
Tho party was materially weakened in his first
four years. and almost completely destroyed in
his second four. When he went out he lett the
House Of Representatives. largely Democratic.
aud perfect certainty that the Senate would be
Immediately Democratic after he left. Hence
do not see anything in the effect
Of his administrations upon the people
% encourage "A repetition Of his Presidency. so
lar as the Republican party Is concerned. On
tho contrary. ] see everything 10 discourage
tho reappuarancc OF Grant as President.
Mr.. Hayes found the party almost broken uD.
and think now that il has sumcient sOlidity,
strength. and power 10 make a very strong if
aOtRsuccessfu struggle for the next Presidency,
provided IL does not nominate Gen. Grant but
II he is nominated he will be- defeated Such a
man as Thomas +. Bayard would be easily
elected over Gen. Grant"
w hat do you think Of Gov. Palmer Of Hi
nois3"
He Is a good man. aud would make a very
etrong candidate. and most efficient and able
I;Seeutvr. He would fill any place with ability.
lie Is fine lawyer, man OF expansive views
as statesman. and has been a success in mill
| tary life"
Who is favored for the Presidential nomi-
| naton by the Democrats OF Missouri z"
M, l mink the sentlmen Is very much divided.
Ihere are very few Tlden men there. There
are many who favor Hendricks and some for
Thurman. Perhaps | may say that the feeling
y equally divided between them. though either
hayard or Palmer would be accepted gladly
Illden's chances In Missouri are by no means
good. Ihere Is II want Of confidence in him
Tho Democracy OF Missouri seem 10 think In
home way, right or wrong that Mr. Tilden did