Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-20
THIRD TERM TALK.
An Interview With IOhn Russell Young
1.-The Movement the Work Of
Politicians, not Grants
Friends.
Special to Cincinnati Commercial. ]


lowing interview with John Russell
Young, registered at the Colonnade
Hotel last evening. He left San
Francisco last Friday, upon the tele-
gram of his brother, James Rankin,
from this city, announcing their
fathers death. lie travelled per extra
post in order that he might arrive as
soon as possible to pay the last tribune
to his father, stopping only in Chicago
between trains to see Colonel Grant
and General Sheridan, and coming by
way of Canada, through Detroit, not
even pausing in New York. Mrs.
Young has been stopping at the Col
onnade for a month past.
Mr.. Young chatted moment with
Times man in the parlors of the
Colonnade before he retired, after his
long journey. "0f course" said he,
in his old soft, persuasive tones. "of
course General Grants reception in
Frisco was extroardinaryin every way
but probably the most noticeable fea-
ture was the unanimity of all parties
and all opinions in doing him honor
The demonstration by the large col
ony, so to speak, Of Confederate
soldiers, who have settled in Califor-
MIA as though by common impulse
since the war, was most remarkable
feature of the reception ceremonies,
and the Democrats We'd with those of
the opposite party in making them
selves conspicuous in those ceremo-
MES
"Yes, General Grant was in good
health. He has grown little stouter
than when he was on East.
General Grant did not wish to 60
out of his way to snub Kearney, as
has been asserted, but when the sand
lot orator, as you call him, visited him
the first time, the general not wishing
to offend him, sent down word to 'ex-
cuse him, as he was much engaged.
Kearney, however, insisted in calling
not twice, but three times, and at the
fourth visit the general was so vexed
at the persistence of the man that he
sent word that he couldn't and
wouldn't see him. Then Kearney
had attacked him on the sand lots, to
which General Grant remarked, L
would see any workingman or any
man in California, but | won't see
a rufiian.
Third term? That was a thing
that General Grant never talked
about. 1t was never a subject of con
versation. All this so-called third
term movement was unknown to us.
because we had no consecutive news.
only stra ggling items since May last.
4" The general rarely saw an Ameri-
can paper, being most of his time in
the middle of China, Japan, etc.
The only thing about home matters
that interested him then, was the
Nicaragua Canal scheme. OF this he
heartily approved, and | myself sent,
at his request, to Admiral Ammen,
his dear friend the / approve cable.
He meant by this, as he explained il
to me, that he approved of the whole
plan as projected by the Nicaragua
canal men not that be opposed the
different schemes Of friendly English.
French or other projects, but this
Nicaragua one was la his opinion the
only practicable route. This he knew
or believed from his own personal OBJ.
servation of the country, having trav-
eled the different routes when he was
a young officer. If Lesseps could
build the canal by that route, he
hoped he would, but, says General
Grant, he can't. Nature is against
him.. Again recurring to the third
term subject, Mr.. Young remarked in
answer to the question whether
General Grant had not been in con
stant correspondence with prominent
politicians and other boom organi
zers' for Grant Anybody who knows
General Grant well would never think
Of writing to him about politics, be-
cause they would know that such a
thing would be regarded as pre-
sumption. He is a man who decides
these things for himself No, he had
very few correspondents - Borie,
Drexel, Childs, General Patterson,
Admiral Ammen, General Sherman,
and WaShburne. But more especially
General Beale, General Sherman and
Admiral Ammen were his American
correspondents beyond members of
his family. Indeed, he seemed to let
go of all cognizanoe of American af-
fairs from the time he reached India.
Therefore it is not at all surprising
that either he or II should know ab-
solutely nothing Of this third term
business.
My opinion ? have no opinion.
The only person living who could an
swer the question whether he took
kindly to the project is General Grant
himself"
"They do not tackle kindly to it,
| observed, and at this point the young
man looked as though he was saying
something very significant, though his
words were most cautiously chosen
" | observe that among all General
Grants friends friends, l mean,
whose interest in him springs neither
from a political nor q military stand
point, but from a merely personal re-
gard, do not speak with any enthusi-
asm upon any prospect of his return
ing to political life. y
u think this a fact, so far as /
know"
As to Mr.. Young's personal move
ments, he says he will stop here two or
three days to look after his fathers
affairs, and then at once report for
duty at the home Office to Mr.. Ben
nett.
The magnificent diamonds which
were presented as a bridal gift to the
daughter Of General Sherman by the
khedive Of Egypt are kept in the vault
of the United States treasurer, and
fhoir oncknt iu eanlnJ eo tk.t Al