Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-02-26
THE GRANT BOOM!

THE GRANT BooMl |
THE SOURCE OF ITS INsPIRATION.
some Of the Secret History Of the Hayes
Cameron.
The n. Y. Heralds Albany correspond
ent writing OIL the movements of the Grant
schemers of Albany says that it is we'll au-
that Grants whole European
tour was arranged with view to the
effect on his third term aspirations.
The constant attentions to the ex-presi-
dent by crowned heads of all countries,
the carefully worded after dinner speeches,
the suggestive, modestly written inter
views, the republican simplicity of man.
ner, the adroit inuendOes as to third term
ism-all such movements, as alleged, We're
part of the great transformation scenes i'll |
tended to keep the ex-president alive in the |
memory of his countrymen and surround
his personality with the glittering idea that
he was the only lone strong man.
who could save the American nation from
anarchy and destruction.
The Pittsburgh Postin commenting upon
this statement says that the ''whole
boom" was systematically arranged i'm
mediately after Mr.. Hayes's Inauguration
and prior to the great Grant leave-taking
demonstration at Philadelphia, when Cen
eral Simon Cameron made a speech nOmi-
mating Grant for the succession before
Hayes was warm in his seat. The only
break in the programme has been the re-
turn of General Grant several months be-
fore the time fixed on. His triumphal
progress across the continent was to have
been in March and April. This break
made the West Indies and Mexican trip
necessity. for the Grant managers did not
want 1.-the old man" in the country, an
approving and close spectator to the un-
scrupulOus games of Cameron, COnkling,
Logan and other third termers, in control
ling state conventions.
But the origin of theGrant boom remains
to be told, and singularly enough it was
the refusal of Mr.. Hayes to continue Don
Cameron as secretary of war that started
it, originally as a means of breaking down
his administration and for purposes of
personal revenge.
There had been pledges given that Cam
erOn would be retained, when things
looked squally for Hayes getting into the
White House, and these pledges sent MIR.
Mackey to Florida. What he did there
will probably never be known, except that
tributed by the Camerons and their hench
men. There was a returning board to in
tluence, and the presidency was the stake.
Anyone who knows Mr.. Mackey's peculiar
methods, need to be in no doubt as to the
arguments he used. Florida was made
''safe" by Mr.. Mackey and the reward
was to be Don Cameron's retention in the
cabinet. He was the only one of Grants
| ministers who was to receive such signal
mark of confidence, and it would unques-
| tiOnably have been a great triumph.
But on Mr.. Hayes's arrival in Washing
| ton, and when the decision of the electoral
commission was assured, rumOrs reached
! the Cameron people that no one of Grant S
cabinet, not even Don Cameron, would be
retained. Immediately it will be remem-
bered. the political machinery of the COM
mOnwealth was put in operation to intlu-
ence Mr.. Hayes. A delegation from our
Legislature, with Gov. Hartranft and all
the state officers, and prominent Republi-
cans from different parts of the state,
waited on him at Washington, in
sisting, pleading and demanding that
Cameron should remain Us secretary
Of war. n congressional delegation,
headed by Judge Kelley, who had been re-
conciled for the purpose, although always
!
with the same prayer. He was inundated
with letters and petitions from all parts of
the state. Mr.. Mackey organized these
demonstrations, and it was the subject of
remark at the time that never before had
there been such systematic and deter
mined effort to influence a president i'll
the choice of a cabinet minister. Its bad
taste was apparent, but the Cameron peo-
pie cared nothing for that. Don had nOm-
mated Hayes by defeating Blaine at Gin.
cinnati The control of the new admins
! tratiOn was what was wanted, and with
the son in the cabinet and the father in the
Senate, and both of them matchless pOliti
cal intriguers, such control was probable.
The electoral commission having in
dicated what it's outcome would be, Mr..
Hayes got on one of his fits of ''amia-
bic obstinancy." He wanted no Cam
eron taint on his administration. He or
his authorized friends, it is true, had
pledged Mr. Don Cameron the place,
but the presidency was then in doubt.
Itwas so no longer, and he repudiated
the pledge. Mr.. Lincoln in 1860 did
the same. The price of the Pennsylva-
mia delegation for Lincoln in the Chi
cago convention of that year was the
treasury department for Simon Came
| lol. IL was piSuoO" w hiiii " AAi'
LincOln's representatives at Chicago,
but "honest old Abe" with trouble
brewing, would not put Cameron at
the head of the finances of the nation,
and made him secretary of war, from
which place he was removed for cOunte-
nancing gross corruption in the award of
contracts, after brief service OF nine
months. "Honest old Abe" had had
enough of the Camerons and Hayes, his
purpose served in Florida by Mackcy,
would have none of them all interces-
sion and appeals failed; and, while
acknowledging Cameron's services, and
outside his official family, he declined
to retain him as secretary of war,
We have an account from two sources
of Mr.. Mackey's closing interview with
Mr.. Hayes on this subject day or two
before the Inauguration. Defeat in it had
palpably become more ignominiOus after
the piteous and public appeals that Don
should be retained. Mr.. Mackey in his
quick, nervous and forclble way, recalled
to Mr.. Hayes how Cameron had assured
his nomination at Cincinnati and promoted
his election. This was conceded. Mr..
Mackey referred to his own services and
expenditures in Florida, and how he had
saved that state to Mr.. Hayes by securing
and paying for an honest count of the
votes. " Mr.. Hayes again assented to the
services of Mr.. Cameron and his friend,
Mr.. Mackey, but regretted he could not
appoint him secretary of war-he had de-
| tcrmined to make a clear sweep of the