The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-19
The Ex- President as Popular
Presidential Candidate.
SOUTHERN ESTIMATES.
He Would Win the Negro and Make
a Strong Government.
RESULTS OF A LONG TOUR.

Having just returned from six weeks tour
among the people of the South. during which en-
joyed special opportunities. social and personal for
observing the drift of popular opinion. am COM
PEELED to say as mere matter Of simple truth that
the recent editorial suggestion in the HERALD OF the
possibility OF General Grant being in certain con-
tingencies, the favorite Presidential candidate OF
large portion Of the Southern people is strictly cor
rect. To my utter amazement have found Grant
~ q possible President for the next term freely and
favorably csnvassed by representative Southern
MEN Of all classes and professions the following
detailed resume my trip and its experiences will
attest:-
GRANT A STRONG CANDIDATE IN THE SOUTH.
In conversation with one OF the prominent men
as the South "a member Of one of the old families.
u Ian of considerable wealth and great culture.
&.t was before the war "red-hot" State rights
,L. xnalist and during the war active men,
S.s7of General Sidney Johnsons stair. the follow
Jag views of General Grants chances q Presiden-
ti candidate in the Southern States thus dis
tinctly promulested:-T> a.s.ss-
General Grant," said the gentleman just referred
to- would mako iluch stronger candidate through
out the South than most Northerners-and many
Southerners. for that matter-magine. He prob
ably would receive the electoral vote Of
North Carolina State which has never been
so extremely Southern, politically speak
ing. He would also probably receive the
electoral vote Of South Carolina the principle
suppose that extremes meet. South Carolina, the
most Southern politically speaking. of all Southern
States. would prefer u strong government under
q soldier whom circumstances made q republican
or identified with the republican party, to the ad-
minstraton Of mere Northern protested poll
tican. At any rate. feel perfectly certain. from
what know personally of prominent South Caro-
from friends in that State that South Carolina
would to-day be infinitely more likely to cast its
vote for General Grant than for any other Northern
man. The State of Virginia" continued the gentle
man. II class among the doubtful States. far as
the Grant Presidential prospects. are concerned.
Virginia il large State, and sections OF it
much more strongly democratic than others. Per-
haps strong democratic candidate like Bayard
might bring out the vote of Virginia. but certainly
no Northern man but Grant could command the vote
Of Virginia. and unless very strong democratic
candidate was run against him. why Grant would win
in Virginia anyway.
DIVIDED FEELING IN THE COTTON STATES
''The State of Texas" continued the exponent of
Southern opinion. II regard doubtful-on the
Grant issue. But of this much am certain, that
General Grant to-day has much better chance in
Texas than has Samuel j. Tilden. II Tilden to
be nominated by the democrats next time and Grant
by the republicans count Texas sure for Grant,
Tennessee the reply, lis. far Grant is
concerned, to be classed with Texas-doubtful. But
AZ Tlluen were TO be nominated by the democrats
Grant by the republicans you would witness the
remarkable spectacle Of the State of Tennessee voting
the republican ticket. The State of Florida, con-
tinued the Southcrner, would probably cast its
electoral vote for Grant The General for rea-
or other. perhaps for many reasons. is moro
popular throughout that State than any other North
ern man Of prominence"
"How about Kentucky? inquired the writer
''Oh, Kentucky would go against Grant. or that
fact there Is no question. The majority against
him there. Still. he is popular with very inauen-
tia minority, even in Kentucky"
"What do You think Of Mississippi?
mississippi is u doubtful State. 1t might go for
Grant or it might go against him. At any rate he
many political and personal admirers in Mississippi.
As for Alabama. Louisiana and Georgia" said our
companion. "these States may be counted for the
democratic nominee under any and every circum-
stance. Consequently Grant, unless nominated by
the democratic party. would have chance in these
States
HOW THE STATES MAY
eff understand you Alright. then, said the writer
to Che gentleman whose views have been recorded,
''you class the Southern States. the Grant
boom is concerned. about as follows:"-