New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-06
THE POLITICAL FIELD.


PRELIMINARY oRGANIzAnoN-GEoRGE WILLIAM
CURTIS on THE MOVEMENT TO NOMINATE GEM
ERAL GRANT-EX-GOvERNoR BRDLE OF News
JERSEY FOR MR. TILDEN.
George William Curtis, in conversation with
n TRIBUNE representative yesterday, expressed
in forcible way his views of the move
ment to nominate General Grant He de-
clared that this movement is due to
clique of sef-seeking politicians; if Grant
is nominated he holds that he will be de-
feated and the Republican party disorganized.
The new Republican State Committee organ
lied yesterday, electing General Arthur chair
man. The Tammany Hall General Committee
also organized, making Henry ID. PurrOy chair
man. Ex- Governor Bede. of New-Jersey is
strongly in favor Of Mr.. Tilden's denomination.
OPINIONS OF GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
He DECLARES THE GRANT MOVEMENT THE WORK
OF CLIQUE OF sELF-sEEKING POLITICIANS.
"Now that a week has elapsed since the Utica
Convention. what do you think is the effect on the
public mind Of the doings of that body Z" Tho
question was asked of George William Curtis yes
terday, by a representative of HE TRIBUNE lie
replied
To confirm the revelation made BY the Pennsyl-
yania Convention that there is no popular demand
State ofiice-hOldlng machine and all the power OF
the State patronage to secure majority in he Com
vention favorable to the thlrd-em scheme. At
the same time Indiana and Vermont held Conyen-
ti0ns at which there was no manifestation what-
ever favorable to Grants candidacy. Since then
Maine has chosen her delegates TO Chicago, and In
that State also the third term failed 10 show the
slightest strength. have opportunities Of learn
ing the drift Of opinion in every part of the country
and making all allowance for the fact that ] am
known 10 think that's third term would be false
platform for the Republican party in this election,
it is evident that there is no spontaneous popular
demand for the Grant nomination. Looking at all
the facts the public considers rightly that the Grant
demonstration. go far it is a force in politics,
is the work Of small clique Of politicians who are
not soeng the good of the country and the success
of the Republican party 80 much "a their own adj
vantage. Now that the pubhc begins 10 see the
real state of affairs tic feeling Of opposition to the
third term scheme Is growing stronger every day.
People are alarmed at the power OF machine
which, against the wishes Of an immense part OF tho
party and the settled traditions OF the Government.
may even nominate the candidate. They naturally
ask why such extraordinary efforts are made TO sup
press the opposition to General Grants nomination,
and whether the machine itself is not getting 70 be
the chief evil to be removed"
How do you account Tor the success OF thls ma
chine in New-York with all the forces You havo
enumerated working against it
@ BY the fact that the ofiice-hodng element IN
this State hangs together aud works III perfect
harmony with the will of the Grant leaders. While
few of the principal Federal officers were removed
by the present Administration, nearly all the minor
ones are protected by the Civil Service rules OK
President HAYES. The officers date back TO the
time Of Grant, and owe their places TO the men who
are now managing the Grant movement. The
lenders Of the party the same men who figured
durino Grants Administration. Mr.. Conklng is
still Senator Mr.. Cornell, who was removed from
tho Naval Office, is Governor Mr.. Arthur the late
Collector. is chairman of the State Committee
Mr. Piatt who was Mr.. Conklings lieutenant when
he made his first attack the Administrations the
Rochester Convention. Is chairman of the Executive
Committee Mr. Sharpe is Speaker of the Assembly
in word the old set is all in power. Now, as to
smaller officials throughout the State. they felt re-
leased from all Obligation to refrain from manipu-
latino local politics when Mr.. Sherman allowed Mr..
Dutcher to travel over the State for Mr.. Cornell.
and when Mr.. sherman came into the state hlm-
self 10 support a candidate for Governor whom
the Administration had turncd ont oil the Naval
ONice These people went to work TO send Grant
delegates to Utca. The whole body OF oilce-
holders State and Federal. with few exceptions.
look upon the Hayes Administration - Il dsagree-
able Interregnum. which they will only nave to tlds
over IN order TO enjoy restoration o! the old Gfano
re ,ime The Civil Service rules arc not 10 blame
for thi, condition of affairs, but the failure to en-
force thcn. O1i,e-holders should have been
eicctualiy restrained from interfering with
cancuses and conventions. and promptly removed
for disobeving the rule. If this had b'ea done the
nolitical situation In this STATE would be moro
promising than it Is"
WHAT TIE RESULT OF GEANTS NOMINATION.
MIGHT BIZ
Suppose the Gran: leaders 20 Oh IN dshince OK
the powerful sentiment ag inst tEfd tern; sup
nose they secure majo,ify ia the CHcaSo Co"Nen-
tion and nominate Gmnt-Thi, theh"
THE result wouid probably he .h" ttlcat oi Gen-
eral Grant and TIE conscqu'n; break ur - TIE he
pubhcan party. do not think. however. that the
Grant leaders will heed this danger Ip'y prefer
the defeat Of the party 10 ano.he: Administration
which they cannot control.
.'Win tue and-Grant element - - i1r aS 10 or
ganiz, against hm in case he is ro:uiHatcas
1T Is too early to speak i, iinl ely oD this point.
There H. undoubtedly. an opinion r'pc.ng which
may result in some acton IKE that al th" Liberty
party IN IL No such strenuous opposition 10 the
nomination of 4 Presidential candidate az l. now
manifested toward Goneral Grant was ever shown
50 far as Ixomember. before IA nominating Conven-
ton
Is this opposition more widespread AID positive
than wa, shown IN 1879, WHOM many Rcpubll-
can State Conventions pronounced against ihird
tcrmW
Il think il is. and it is evidently incessing in
volume aud mower from week 10 wees
What would be the effect OF tie nomination of
second Republican candidate representing l.e oppo-
sition to Grantsm''
1T would tend a. said before TO discrganze tha
Republican party. which is not strong enough to
stand such a strain"
"Do YOU contemplate such resultf