Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-30
terms would not do for country as large
and new as ours"
PpFsIDENTIAt TANbID.vrS


Speaking of the canvass of 1876, the Cen
eral said one day Il had only one candi-
date for the Presidency as my successor, and
that was the Republican candidate who
could he elected took no part in the dis
cussions antecedent TO the Cincinnati conven-
ton, because the candidates were friends,
and any one, except MIR. BristOw, would
have been satisfactory to mc, would have had
my heartiest support. Mr.. Bristow | never
would have supported, for reasons that /
may give at some other time, in Il more
formal manner than mere conversation. Mr..
Blaine would have made Il good President.
My only fear about him was that the at
tacks made upon him at the time would in
jure his canvass. To me personally Blaine
would have been acceptable. He is Il very
able man, think perfectly honest man
fit for any place but his enemies had open
ed line Of attack which would have made
his canvass difficult. Mr.. Morton was a
man of great parts. who did Il great work
during the war. He saved Indiana 10 the
Union. As speaker he was most persua-
sive. Morton would have been rs good in
the Presidency as in the Govcrnorship. But
there were two objections-his health and
his opinions of finance. 1t would have been
difficult, | am afraid impossible, 10 have
elected Morton. COnkling would have sat
isfied me, us | am fond of him and hold his
great character and genius in profound res
pect. should have been delighted 10 have
had Washburne as my successor. Apart
from our personal relations, which are
of the closest nature | have great
admiration for Washburne. He has
been my friend always, and | am
grateful for his friendship. He is a true.
high-minded, patriotic man, of great force
and ability. While he was in France some
of our enemies tried to make mischief be-
tween u.s. but it had no result. | have entire
faith in Washhurne, and if | could have
cleared the way for him in Cincinnati |
would have done 50. But his Illinois friends
made that impossible. | did not see any
nomination for Blaine Morton or Conklins;.
Looking around for a dark horse. in my own
mind, fixed on Fish. Gov. Fish seemed
to me the man to run. Bayard Taylor said to
me in Berlin that the three greatest statesmen
of the age were Cavour, Gortschakon and
Bismarck. | told him thought there were
four; that the fourth was Fish, and that he
was worthy to rank with the others. That
was the estimate | formed of Fish after
eight years of cabinet service, in which
every year increased him in my esteem. So
wrote letter TO be used at the proper
time-after the chances Of Blaine, Morton
and CODkling were exhausted expressing
my belief that the nomination of Gov. Fish
would be a wise thing for the party, and his
election, if elected, for the best interests OF
the country. The time never came to use it.
Fish never knew anything about this letter
until after the whole convention was over.
Hayes was, under the circumstances good
nomination. knew Hayes as Congress
man fairly well, and was very glad to sup
port him. l think he is doing as well as he
can. especially considering the difficulties
which surrounded him at the outset
difficulties which would embarrass any ad-
and which our friends should
consider before they are impatient. The
financial views of Mr. Hayes, at time like
this, are blessing to the country. For that
reason alone he should be made as strong as
possible"
GRANT on GEEELY.
Il never knew Greeley WE'LL said the
General, land don't think | ever met him
until after was elected President. But 1
had great respect for his character. | was
raised in an old line Wing family. my faith
er being an active man in the Wing party
attending conventions and writing resolu-
tions So that all of my earliest prediec-
tions were for Mr.. Greeley and his princi
pies. tried very hard to be friendly with
Mr. Greeley, and went out of my way TO
cordial invited him to the White House,
and he dined with me- Greeley had strange
notions about the kind Of men who should
take office. He believed that when man
was a helpless creature, who could do moth
ing but burden his friends. and was drifting
between the Jail and the poorhousc, he should
have an Office. For good men to hold Office
was in his mind u degradation. | remember
on one occasion meeting HIM on the train
between Washington and New York. We
talked all the way. lie laid down this doc
trine. | said laughingly, That, Mr.. Greeley
accounts for your always pushing so-and-so,
naming one of his herd of worthless men
who were always hanging about the Wash
ington hotels with letters OF Recommendations
from him in their pockets. He was much
moved at my personal application, although
had no idea of offending him. ! don't
think he ever quite forgave me for my rail-
cry. Greeley was IL man Of great influence
and capacity, but think that in his latter
years, Mt least when | knew him, he was
suffering from the mental disease from which
he died. He made suggestions To me. and
10 office. of the most ex-
lraoriinary character, that he never could
have conceived in Il healthy frame of mind.
should like to have known him earlier. when
he was himself Ii he had been elected
President he never could have lived through
his term, and the Government would really
have heen in the hands OF GratZ Brown.