Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-11-23
THIRD EDITION
rHE aKAsT PARTY AT MENTOR

A statement Bh wing that the Al.
legged s'Barg ain" IL . Democratic
Myth.
Yesterdays Cleveland Herald pub
fishes the following statement, furnish
ed by George H. Walker, q member Of
that papers editorial force, and its as
curacy is vouchsd for and can be relied
en-:
The visit Of Gen. Grant, Senator
Conk ling, Gen. Logan and others at
Mentor last September, since the publ
cation OF the Brooklyn Eagle story at
tachipg to it an unwarranted politics
significance, is being vigorously DIS
cussed by the newspapers of the COM
try. Democratic organs insist that a
compact or "bargain" was made,
whereby the Great :riumviIate, who
had successfully started the "boom"
which they allsSs gave the October
victory, were to have good share OF
the "spoils" in the shape Of official pa.
lronage. To those who witnessed the
famous meeting at Mentor the story
has no importance whatever. The
writer accompanied Gen. Grant from
Warren and was within view Of them
at almost every moment until they
reached Cleveland. The special train
bearing them stopped al Mentor station
barely an hour and a half, during that
me ride OF two miles to Gerera Gar.
fields houss Was made, most OF the dis
lance there and on the return being
done at q walk, TO allow the escort,
some OF whom we're on foot, to keep NJ
with the carriages. Then, atthe house,
the time was nearly all taken up vita
a lunch, reception and speeches. I'm.
til Just before the departure from War.
rem it was not certain that the visit
would be made. Other engagements Of
both General Grant and Senator Conk.
ling tt reatsRed TO interfere, but rather
than let it appear that tho visit was
purposely avoided it was concluded to
make . hasty call at Mentor. As the
party approached the house Of General
Garfield . crowd vas seen on the porch
and in their midst stosd the General,
waiting to receive his guests. The
fist carriage contained General
Grant, Senator Conkling, General Lo-
gan and the Hon. Levi P. Morton. As
they alighted they were in turn greeted
with a hearty "How are you, Senator'"
and GLOW are you, General?" Sens-
tor Conkling and General Logan each
responding, General, Pam glad to see
you" while Gen. Grant, teing the last
togst out of this vehicle, with Gen. Gar.
field, folio we'd the others into the
house. After removing their wraps
the party were ushered into the parlor,
where they were introduced to the
members OF the family. The greeting
on all sides seemed of the most friendly
character. After few minutes passed
in conversation, during which time no
one sat down, Gen. Garfield led his
guests to the dining. room, where lunch
was spread, Of which the whole of the
party who had come with them from
Warren partook. The desire Of the
people to see General Grant being so
great, he went into the parlor with
General Garfield, where an informal
reception took place, Senator Ccnkllng
and Gen. Logan following soon after.
The three afterward appeared on the
porch and short speeches were made
to the crowd assembled. The "meet-
ing" was now over. The guests had
donnei Their hats and ovsrcoats, and
wee ready TO leave. There had been
no conference or anything like one.
All conversation thus far had been in
the presence Of throng, and there was
apparently no thought about an agree.
ment. They prepared to bid adieu to
the household, while General Garfield
ordered up the carriages for the return.
Before the latter could be brought up
furious storm broke upon the scene,
scattering the crowd and driving
everybody to shelter, the residence be,
ing thronged in twinkling. As rain
still came down in torrents, and gave ev-
idence of lasting few minutes, rather
than allow his guests 70 be j?stled by
people who had crowded in 70 escape
a wetting, General Garfield invited
them up stSo...r5 to his library. Gener.
q. Grant, Senator Conkling, General
Logan and Hon. Levi P. Morton and
Mr.. Painter, Of the Philadelphia III
quirer, followed him mp, and there, the
door being open, the distinguished cit
liens enjoyed quiet smoke, chatting
socially meanwhile though not vert
ing to politics. People passed and re-
passed the door during the short inter.
val, and there was no attempt at con-
c2alment of the subjects of converse
ton. They had scarcely time to finish
their smoke before the storm passed
over, ard before the rain had entirely
CEASED the party started for the depot.
The above ia the truth about the mat
ter, and in view Of it the Reports about
Senator Conkling submitting paper
of agreement for General Garfield to
agu are the merest mOOnshine.