New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-22
THE THIRD TERN MOVEMENT.

FROM ILLINOIS.
The Washington correspondent OF 1HE
TRIBUNE reports decided change of sentl-
ment among Republicans in Washing
ton, in relation to the third term
since the New-York Convention at Utica
chose united delegation for Grant.
An eminent member of the party believes tae
danger of General Grants nomination 10 De
very great; because the men who are manag-
ing his campaign are the oldest and most
experienced politicians in the party !;
they have the full power of the machine
10 work with they have Pennsylvania, New
York, and in all probability, Illinois, to start
with ; and other States will be likely to wheel
into line before the Convention is held, or on
The first ballot.
EFFECTS OF THE NEW-YORK CONVENTION
THE FRIENDS OF GENERAL GRANT GAINING COUR-
AGE-ILIINOIs NOW TIE PIVOTAL STATE
rROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, March 21.-No one who habitualy
reads THE TRIBUNE will accuse it of using its great
influence with the Republican party to secure the
nomination of General Grant at the Chicago Con-
renton or its Washington correspondent of a dis
position to magnify unduly the strength of the
Grant boom"
During all the cally part of the present session OF
Congress, and, in fact until since the meeting OF
,he New-York Republican State Convention 1t was
gery difficult to find more than dozen advocates
f n third term in both branches of the
National Legislature; and 1t was very
natural that an observer in Washington who tired
20 see things exactly they We're and not as he
would like to have them, should conclude
that the Republican members of Congress,
returning fresh from their homes and
from the political struggles of the
Autumn. which brought them into contact with the
people. represented fairly the sentiments of their
constituents touching the wisest policy to pursue in
preparing for the great political struggle of the
present year.
The proceedings of the Pennsylvania Convention
and the remarkable disclosures made by 1BE
rRIBUNE's subsequent canvass of Republican SEN
nment in that State tended TO confirm
impressions already formed. Senator Blaine was
the favorite candidate of an overwhelming
majority of the Republican members of Congress,
and there was every reason to believe that he was
the choice of large proportion of the people VINO
sent them here.
Since Senator COnkling by his mastery manage
ment of the Utica Convention. secured for General
Grant on the first ballot at Chicago the united vote
Of the New-YOrk delegation. there has been
marked change in the political outlook as seen from
Washington. The Grant stock, TO use business
expression, has certainly advanced. This change
may be partially explained. suspect, by the greater
courage of some who were at heart third-erm men
when they came to Washington last December,
but who did not care to ayow their sentiments while
they were so universally unpopular. "Nothing
succeeds ike success y and when these men saw
the entire delegations from the two great States
Of New York and Pennsylvania apparently secured
for General Grant by the skill and personal inhu-
.nce of Senators COnkling aud Cameron, they lost
no time in declaring their own preference.
1t requires moral cOurag, for politician. de-
pendent upon popular vote for his future promo
lion and even for his continuance i'll public
life, to eSpouse public man or measure
having a small following or weak support; but 123
Convention votes secured for General Grant III the
hrst two States i'll which his friends made a fight
for him actually put him ahead of all
competitors at this stage Of the contest and it is
not at all strange that timid hestatine men, who
are anx Gus to be the winning side should hasten
TO enlist under his banner.
But the success of the Grant movement in New
York and Pennsylvania has opened the eyes of some
of the shrcwdest and most experienced Re-
publican politicians in Washington who are OPP
posed to it-whO believe. in fact. that IFS triumph
At Chicago might be followed bY very serious dis
aster TO the Republican party. They don't say
much about IT in public. They dOn't care to dis
courage those who are working in behalf Of other
candidates. nor do they give mp the contest them
selves but III private they admit their fears that
the thrd-term movement may yet succeed IN spite
Of every elortthat can be made against It.
As sample of the kind of talk one frequently
hears in private, among antl-third-term Re
pubiicans during the last week or two, may repeat
tie substance of conversation with very
eminent member OF the party, who
defined his own position by saying that lie shall
support General Grant If he Is nominated, because
he thinks the country viii be safer undcrany Repub
lcan administration than under the best Democratic
one that could be formed At the same time lie
looked with gave concern upon the Grant
movement: first, because he thought the Re
publican party is entitled 10 have a
stronger candidate than General Grant can
possibly be and secondly, because the former ad
,inistrations OF the ex-Presidcnt were Of such a
character that he did not to see them re-
peated.
The gentleman began by saving that the danger
of Grants nomination at Chicago seemed to him
very great " The men who are managing it,
he continued, are the ablest and most experienced
politicians there are in tins country and they have
behind them the most perfect and compact political
machine that was ever devised. These men are all
working with single purpose, and their power
cannot be overestimated."
But the Grant men say that Secretary Sherman
controls the MACHINE" remarked the correspondent
of The TRIBUNE.
.'You and know better than that" the reply
"Take New-YOrk, for example. The Presidents
course has left to Mr. Conklings friends all the
advantage they ever had from the control of the
Federal patronage, without any of the odium of
usng 1t. believe that the President intended to
break up the machine in New-YOrk, but he
failed. He knocked out cog here and
there but the concern runs on just the
same. The men who employed IN
the New-York Custom House do not feel
fill fI.o oil nrI