The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-25
What the Ex-President Thinks the
Country Owes Him.

When he was first elected to the Presi-
dency, Gen. Grant claims that it was by
the imperative desire of the whole Nation.
The cry for him was so powerful that
politicians had no power to oppose his
nomination, and he was so strong that he
did not require their support. He was
elected by the voice of the people in OPP
position to the politicians. Being thus
elected, it was his aim to weaken the
power of professional politicians, and in
order to do so he withdrew from the Sem
ators who were in Congress at his inau-
guration their share of patronage. The
consequence was that he incurred the
hatred of the whole tribe, and they are
now opposed to his denomination. In
something of the same way, he says, be
incurred the hatred of journalists. Dur
ing the war it was his constant object to
snub them and to refuse them any assis-
tance in the prosecution of their labors.
The consequence of this snubbing of the
press has been, according to Gen. Grant,
that almost every newspaper in the Uni
ted States has always been opposed to
him. At the time of his re eelection the
press was bitterly hostile to him, yet he
was triumphantly chosen by the people,
and what has been done once can be done
again. If there should be a Plebiscite,
it is the opinion of Gen. Grant and his
party that he would receive the votes of
nine-tenths of the American people.
Outside the honor and power that q
Third Term would confer on him, there
are several other reasons to make Gen.
Grant anxious to obtain the nomination
of his party. He says he is a poor man,
not even as we'll off as his young son, who
is practicing law in New York. When
he was elected President he was obliged
to resign his position in the army, and
in consequence of the failure of the
Constitution to provide a pension for an
ex-President, he now finds himself with
out profession or business, and well ad-
vanced in years. The proposal made to
him to take the presidency of the COM
pany to be formed to construct the 18th
mus canal was the work of politicians,
who hoped by his acceptance of it to re-
move a powerful and dangerous candi-
date. Again, it will probably be neces-
sary, he thinks, to have as the Republican
candidate man of tried nerve and firm
ness. When, at the last election, the
Commission declared Mr.. Hayes Presi-
dent, Gen. Grant took decided steps to
have him inaugurated. His preparations
were complete to use military force, in
case the Democrats attempted to enforce
the claims of Mr.. Tilden; that gentle
man, the recalcitrant Democratic sena-
tors, and Mr.. Randall would Immediately
have been arrested and imprisoned in
Washington, and any State governments
that objected would have been seized by
the military. 1t was the knowledge of
these preparations that deferred the
Democrats from any effort to capture the
Presidency, but it required Gen. Grant
to take these effective steps. Now Mr..
Hayes, "the present incumbent" as Gen.
Grant euphemistically terms him, is q
very weak man, and should the number
of votes for each candidate be anything
like as close as in 1876, he might not as
sert the rights of the party. Even if by
the aid of a "solid South" Democrat
should be elected by small majority, it
is not unlikely that trouble would ensue,
for the North and West would not readily
submit to q Government chosen by that
means. What, then, is the-natural result
of all this? In Gen. Grants opinion it
is necessary that the Republican candi-
date should be man who will not hesi-
tate to use proper force to obtain his
rights, and the man who would not fear
to order out the military is the candidate
who is wanted.
Moreover, as between the different
leaders of the Republican party, it is
Gen. Grants opinion that the antago-
nism between Conkling and Blaine would
render either of them a weak candidate,
and Secretary Sherman would be still
weaker. The financial policy under
which resumption has taken place was
no creation of Mr.. Sherman, and his
loudly vaunted success is due entirely to
the policy begun and planned by Gen.
Grant. During the incumbency of Mr..
Hayes, the real power has been in the
hands of Sherman, and every one knows
how it has been used. If any one wanted
an Office it would be much better to be
refused by Hayes and supported by Sher-
man than to. be promised an Office by
Hayes and have Sherman only luke
warm supporter.
The foregoing are the sentiments ex7
pressed by Grant and his companions in
conversation since their departure from
Cuba. The one leading idea that seems
to possess them is the necessity of having
Republican candidate who will not hes
itate to call out the military and employ
force if by any chance there is contro-
versy as to which candidate is elected in
November next.-lferico City Correspon-
dence ~ Y Sun.