New-York tribune., 1880-02-06
HAS GRANT GAINED?

ro THIRD TFRM-THE WEAKNESS OF THE
GRANT MoyEMENT-cRIrICIsM BY CONGRESS-
MEN,
A staff correspondent Of THE TRIBUNE writes
from Harrisburg that nine tenths OF the dele
gates TO the Convention were opposed to the
nomination of General Grant for President,
and that the exposure Of the weak
ness of the Grant movement was due
10 Senator Cameron's determination TO
secure the passage Of the resolution of in
structiOns. Interviews with several Republi-
cen and Democratic Congressman are given
below. Many of the Republican members
think that General Grants prospects were
injured by the action of the Convention.
THE GRANT MOVEMENT WEAK.
SENATOR cAMERoN's UNwIsE COURSE IN THE con-
yEXfION-NINK-TENTH OF THE DELEGATES
OPPOSED TO THE THIRD-TERM SCHEME WHERE
THE REAL GRANT MEN BELONG.
IFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE.l
HARRISBURG, Feb. 5.-No doubt it is presump-
tlous for ooker-on at the game of politics to queS-
ton the sagacjtv of the moves made by so skitul
player as Senator Don Cameron. and yet / venture
TO say that his course in forcing the Grant resOlu-
ton through the. State Convention yesterday was
not wise. He seems to have sacrificed
the interest of his candidate to his
desire to obtain for himself full vndication of his
right aud power to control the Republican party OF
Pennsylvania. He was able TO triumph by a small
majority over an unorganzed opposition to his
leadership, but in gaining this victory be exposed
General Grant to an attack which demonstrated his
weakness as Presidential aspirant in vital point
that of his popularity with the masses Of the
party.
The friends of General Grants candidacy
halia lrrpSlstiDle
ular current running in bis favor.
They interpreted the demonstrations winch at
tended his tour from San Francisco to Philadelphia
as evidences that the people desired to renstate
him in the White House. They have been so posi-
tive in their assertions of his great political popu-
larity that they have rather imposed upon
the Judgment of people who have little
opportunity for learning the real state OF
public sentiment. They chose the State of Pennsyl-
vania as the field for first bringing him for
ward as candidate in an authoritative manner.
Everything was III their favor here. The impress
sion of the splendid demonstration at Philadelphia
had not faded from the public mind. General
Grants championship was undertaken by his former
War Minister and close personal friend. who had
complete control of the party machinery and had
never failed to shape the action of State Conven-
tions at mis- pleasure.
The opposition was taken by surprise by the call
ing of convention at so early date. and bad no
time to make an organization to appeal to public
sentiment
The best political organization in the country is
that of the Cameron men, and it was strained to
produce convention that would give to General
Grant candidacy the appearance Of an overwhelm-
ing popular Endorsement. In many of the largest
counties in the State where it was feared the people
could not be trusted. the county committees acting
&Io of he IN
TO call county conventions, but took upon them
selves the duty of naming the delegates to the State
Convention. And yet with all these powerful agen-
cies and influences at work, when the Convention
assembled it was plain that nine-tenths of its mem-
bers had no sympathy with the third-term project,
and hare majority was obtained for the project
only because it was demanded as test
of allegiance to the Cameron leadership.
In fact, the Endorsement was only secured
because Senator Cameron made It purely a
matter personal to himself and brought to his aid
ali the pressure of his great personal and political
influence and the aid of the forces of the State Ad
minstratiOn.
Thus body which can almost be said to have
been composed of persons expressly selected TO give
a verdict for General Grant was only kept from ac-
tually breaking out into open condemnation of his
candidacy by extraordinary effort and pressure.
After this there can be no more talk about General
Grants overwhelming popularity In the State
where he was supposed to be strongest he would
have been beaten out ofsght by Mr.. Blaine if it had
not been for the aid of Mr.. Cameron's machine.
And it is Mr. Cameron who has made this fact con-
spicuous to the whole country. IL he had been
satisfied to 40 TO Chicago with an uninstructed
delegation bound only by the unit rule. he could
have given General Grant just many votes as he
can now and he could have kept from the knowl-
edge of Republicans other States the weakness of
his candidate in Pennsylvania. General Grant
might still have occupied the position of a peoples
candidate. Now he becomes politicians candl-
aate only whose sole chance of success lies in the
devotion and skill of caucus organizers and cOnven-
non managers. This is why / say that Senator
Cameron made mistake, if he really desires Cen
.ral Grants nomination, in forcing the instructions
through the Convention.
Perhaps. after all, he is wiser than his critics. 1t
nav be that he foresaw the result, but could not
ire from his engagements TO his former chief aud
that the revelation of the weakness of General
Grant as popular candidate does not surprise him.
II this be the case he has to be entirely
cent with the result for he has fulfilled his obiga-
lions demonstrated his ability to control his party
IN the face of the most formidable opposition he has
ever encountered, and obtained delegation to Chi
.ago winch will act as a unit under his directions
One circumstance showing the relative popularity
Of Presidential candidates in the convention think
failed 10 mention in my dispatches. One of the
speakers named the men whom be would gladly sup
port il nominated at Chicago, and paused second
after each name to give the convention chance
10 applaud if it wanted to. General Grants name
eliclted slight demonstration, which came chiefly
from the Pittsburg benches; Mr. Washburnes was
little better received Secretary Sherman's was
followed by dead silence Senator Blsine's which
came last was greeted with hearty applause from
aoor and galleries. l asked Senator Strang last
evening the reason for the codness shown toward
Secretary Sherman. He said :" 1t is because we
don't want another Ohio President right away
We have had surfeit Of Ohio men of late"