The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-31

Origin of the Rumors of Grants I'm
tended Withdrawal.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 2S.-For two
days or more reports have been circulated
simultaneously from this city and Phila-
delphia to the effect that at the meeting
of the Pennsylvania Republican conven-
ton. which meets in Harrisburg next
Wednesday, there was to be positive
avowal by some of Gen. Grants friends,
having the authority to make the same,
that Grant was not a candidate for the
presidency, and would not permit his name
to be presented to the national convention.
This statement was made with good deal
Of positiveness; indeed, 40 much so that
for the nODce it created here not little
nervous anxiety among Grants friends.
For the past twenty feur hours nearly
every close friend of the ex-president has
been subjected to an interview, and no
single one of them believes either the re-
port or that it is fact that Gen. Grant
desires OF has authorized any one to de-
clare that he either is or is not candi-
date.
Your correspondent has given the sub
ject of the rumor good deal of attention,
aud if very creditable source of infcrma-
ton, which is usually quite reliable, is
correct, the foundation for what is be-
ieved to be a canard can be traced very
close to Secretary Sherman. 1t is alleged
that the author of the rumor is Mr.. John
W. Frazer of Philadelphia This gentle
man is one of Secretary Sherman's most
superser viceable friends. He is engaged
mans life and public services, and is also
engaged in preparing a pamphlet. to be
entitled Tho Dangers of Third Term"
1t is known that more than one startling
political rumor had its origin with him.
1t is known that he has Sherman's conf
dence-so much so THAT the secretary
wrote letter TO Postmaster Hartranft of
Philadelphia soliciting for Frazer a place
IN the Philadelphia post-office. Failing to
induce Hartrantt to take care of him ,Sher
man wrote to Snowden, the director of the
Philadelphia mint, beseeching the latter
TO give him place.
1t will be remembered that some months
ago there appeared in the New York San
q letter signen u. W. F." stating that
there was positive information in Phila-
delphia With Grants friends that Grant
did not intend TO be d candidate At that
time the general im preston was that job q
W. Forney was the author of this an
nouncement, and until ne repudated the
letter it created q good deal of excitement.
If, as it is alleged and believed. Frazer is
the author of this supplementary state
ment that Grant is to withdraw, there can
be but little doubt that Secretary Sher
man knew all about it, as his relations
with Frazer are of an exceedingly confiden-
tial nature.
To GO back to the alleged withdrawal,
Gen. Grants friends here laugh at it.
They say that there no man who can de-
clare for Grant that he is a candidate. or
that he is not a candidate. 1t is a subject |
to which he does not ailude himself, or
permit any one to question him about |
His staulchest friends say that since the |
day that Grant returned to the American /
shore he has never conYersed upon the |
presidential topic with any one, nor has |
be by word or act intimated what his |
feelings on the subject of the third term
are. The meanness of his enc
mics, though, TO take advantage Of his /
absence to circulate reports which are cal
cuIated 10 change the presidential outlook |
by crowoiDg him off the track before it is
known whether he ever cared to be on 1t,
so appar emit that it ought to react to the
of any rival candidate who
would stop to use such devious means to
further his own ambitious schemes. It is
the old Brlstow game being played over
agaiD-trying to build up by pulling down;
and if Sherman had the wisdom of SER
peDt he would see it. His ambition seems
TO have run away with his senses.