National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-20
General Grants Letter


The letter of General Grant deals Will
the political situation with characters
tic directness, and cannot fail to make
profound impression in the country.
comes from & source whence only wisdom
common sense, and patriotism have EN-
anated. 1t is a manly protest agains
the course of the administration in at
tempting to punish men who were
friendly to him at Chicago I
properly holds General Garfield re
sponsible for the policy he is pur
suing, although he thinks another
was the author OF that policy
He says Senators Conkling and Platt have
been insulted by the selection. without
consultation with them, of the most of
fensiYe man to them in New York for its
highest Office. He thinks such an insult
justifies the strongest resentment. He
asserts truly that without the active aid
! of these instllted Senators Garfield would
not have been President And he re-
CARDS the selection of Robertson as an in
suit to the New York Republicans, whose
trust he betrayed.
General Grant has a deep hold on the
affections of the people. and especially OF
the Republican party. He surrendered
his life position in the army to accept
the presidential nomination in 1868,
when all the party leaders were doubtful
of success. Sumner, SchHrz, Fenten, and
others quarreled with him on spoils
grievances during his first term and
turned "reformers." Upon his unanimous
denomination their faction deserted the
party and joined the Democracy. Scourged
with derision and defeat, it came back
into the party and made head against his
second administration. The utmost in
genuity of malice was exhausted by these
men for four years more to injure General
Grant, but they failed.
In 1880 the assaults upon him were re-
newed because there was a movement
to nominate him again for the Presi-
dency. Among other appliances, a bu-
reau was started here in the interest of
Mr.. Blaine, from which issued many in
furious and offensive documents. Mr..
Blaine doubtless felt that in 1876 his de-
feat for the nomination was largely due
to the Stalwarts, who were mainly
the friends of General Grant. But for
this he had only to thank his unfortunate
separation from his party in the House
in 1875 on party measure. Be that as it
may, the contest at Chicago was sharp
and bitter between the Grant delegates
and those favorable to Blaine. Neither
prevailed, and Blaine retreated, leaving
Garfield to get the recruits he could not.
1t was the work of Blaine that caused
the treachery of Robertson & Co. and de-
feated Grants nomination. 1t was the
adherence of three hundred and six dele
gates to Grant that defeated Blaine
Garfields nomination would have been
a barren victory but for Grant and
Conkling. Mr.. Blaine had been unfor-
tunate as leaderof the campaign in Maine,
which ended in the September disaster
He seemed bankrupted in politics. The
charitable were inclined to think that
under the circumstances he would regard
the State Department rather as q refuge
from the storms he could no longer brave
at home than as base of offensive opera
tons against those who had obstructed
his way to the highest honor. This hope
has not been realized That he is the
spirit of the administration is
a common belief. With what motives does
he inspire 1t? The administration placed
in power by the votes Of the whole party !
has not appeared to realize for an instant |
that any votes were cast against |
it. The dangers with which the country |
was threatened had the Democracy pre-
vailed are forgotten. While the whole |
party was at peace and the opposition
discouraged and dissolving, the admins
ration finds exercise for all its energies
n one grand effort to annihilate the po-
itical forces represented by the names of
trant and Conkling. The Secretary of
State may. have no further ambition.
That General Garfield had was announced
Dy his nearest friends. 1t is reasonable
o suppose that he surrendered this when
le entered upon the business OF avenging
he two defeats of his Premier at the
hands Of the friends of Grant.