National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-07-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
Grant and HIa Dos Eoines spesch.


DR.. Heating in the Philadelphia Enquirer July al
" Would he never ssy word on the subject
of tiird torn %
" Got single word. As / told you before,
he Is strictly non.committal man. He would
talk over each man aud his chances, but not o
word about himself"
" What was the opinion then, formed by his
travelling party as to his intentions or desires
concerning third term?"
ave agreed unanimously that he would
never put one step before the other to secure
nomination, but that If he was nominated he
would do his best to deserve the compliment"
Did lie ever make any illusions about the
election2 ~
Z" But once that can remember of, aud that
was when he was pressed aud worried into It
by our persistence. We asked him: If you
were elected to 10 to Washington, would you
like to goT"
4" And what was his answer?
=" His answer was: Well, we'll wait until
the time comes aud then talk about it,"
There Is one thing" continued DR.. Keat-
Ing, Il wish particularly to speak 10 you
about, and ! think that It would be gross
injustice to General Grant II did not mention
IT.. refer to the speech which he made at
Des Moines four years ago, and which put him
in such bad grace with the Catholic commu-
nifty and created such political sensation at
the time. lam a Catholic myself and IL was
matter of great conjecture to me after had
conversed with General Grant several times
whether he really felt toward our sect so
harshly as he has been said to. One day upon
the steamer while sailing the Red Sea the Cen
cral asked ME If | believed that he was so OPP
posed to Catholic institutions rs people said he
was. AT the same time he pulled from
pocket Grumbed manuscript aud told me to
read It. found that it was the famous Des
Moincs speech but not word in IL did find
at which the most strict or devout Catholic
could take the least ofiense. Rather they
would have admired and approved its every
sentiment. Before asking for an opinion con-
corning 1t he called Colonel Lord Ralph Kerr
brother-in.aw to the Duke of Norfolk, who
was on board, and said:
" Now you are two representative Catholics,
one from each side of the water | want you
each to say just what you think OF the bona
ide speech that made at Des Moines'
Colonel Lord Ralph Kerr took the manu-
script and read IL carefully. He concurred
with me that there was nothing offensive or
wrong In 1t, and the general put the parchment
back in his pocket with sigh of relief, and
seemed to be perfectly satisfied.
1T Is somewhat singular" said DIR. Keat-
ing, but 1t is true, nevertheless that on our
way through Omaha we CHANGED TO fall in with
Bishop OConnor, from whose articles on the
speech in question the comments which APP
peared in papers in this part Of the country
were drawn and caused so much commotion.
lie said to mo that there was nothing in his
life he repented more than the haste with
which he had niisjudged one of Americas no.
blest mon, and in explanation stated that he
had taken his version from misnterprctcd
and grossly false account which had APP cared
in local paper. He discovered his error when
1t was too late to make effective retraction, but
he said he did so now with his whole heart