Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-14
FIRST EDITION.
11.30 P. M.
NEWS BY TE ,EGRAPH.
GENER AL GRANT
Is Interviewed by a Chicago
Journalist,
And Tells Why he Stands b,
Conkling and Platt.

Col. Fred Grant and his wife, and
Miss Sharpe, arrived here yesterday
morning. Owing to the poor health
of Mrs. Grant the general will re-
main until Wednesday, when he Will
proceed directly to New York. TO
Morning News representative
lie said: 81 accomplished the pur-
pose for which L went to Mexico,
having obtained all that I went for
without any great difficulty, despite
the attempts of certain newspapers
and persons here to create opposi
ton through talk of annextion, &c.
The articles published by the Chi
cago papers were copied into those
of Mexico, and at first aroused q
little opposition, but I went before
Congress and in short speech told
them what I wanted, and they gave
me my charter at once. No charter
was ever before issued in so short a
time The road will be in all about
700 miles long, running from the City
of Mexico through Pueblo to the
Pacific Coast, while another branch
must go down to the Gulf. It will
be a great benefit to Mexico In de-
veloping the resources of that coun-
try and to the United States. The
charter provides for the completion
of the road in ten years, but in all
probability it will be finished inside
of three years. Four surveying par
ties are already at work. shall
very likely return there next winter.
In regard to the situation OF af-
fairs in Albany, General Grant said {:
If you want to know what L think
of the manner in which Conkling has
been treated by the President and
by his colleagues in the Senate, I will
tell you, without any hesitation. [
think it is most outrageous, and II
you want to know where I stand in
the present contest, [ will tell you
that [ am with Conkling and Piatt.
Conkling is my friend. He has been
a warm supporter of mine, but for al
shat [ do not owe him near SO much
to-day as Garfield 1t is true Conk-
ling did not support Garfield IN the
Chicago convention, but he saved
him IN November. Without New
York State Garfield could not have
been elected, and without ConkIlng
New York State would not have gone
Republican. Whenever the State
has gone Republican in past years
tie cause could be traced to Conk-
ling and his personal efforts.
When I say that Garfield owes more
to Conkling than I do, I do not
mean 10 underestimate the Obiga-
tiOns that I am under to him, but [
was elected once without the State
of New York, and when 1t did go
for NE I would have been elected
without it. When Conkhng went to
Warren and commenced his vigor-
Gus campaign for the Republican
party and Garfield, matters look i
very serious. Defeat was almost Ger
tain. It was then and then only tha
the Republicans took heart, and from
that time on tue battle turned. C0nk
ling went into the campaign because
he was Republican and because ht
desired the success of his party not
because of any trade he had made
with Garfield It was in accorC
with the resolutions which he offered
IL the national convention, pleading
the support of every delegate to the
candida es nominated, whoever they
might be- This was done because
several had declared that if [ was
nominated they would bolt. In re-
gard to the Mentor treaty, of which
we have heard so much, there was
not a word Of truth in the sensation
al reports that were published con-
cerning what occurred during our
visit. We were in the State speaking,
and, in compliance with Garfelds oft
repeated request, [ determined to
call at Mentor, as it could be done
without putting US much out of our
way. Conkling said that he would
go With me. Arriving at Garfield s
Iioo9e' ~ we found crowd of people
there, probably $50 in all W.
went into the house ard sat dawn
and talked with Garfield and o+bors
present, but not word was said hu
either Conkling or myself to Gar.
field IN the way o. a trade or bargain
nor was any understanding of any
kind whatever arrived at. All that
we said while with Garfield was in :
general way and could be heard b7
those around us. Ia fact, it would
have been impossible for us to say
anything that those around us coulC
not hear. All this talk about the
Mentor treaty is mere nom
sense. have no doubt but
that wher Conkling resigned he
did so with the intention of keenino
out of politics and out of the SEN
ate, and think he acted wisely. He
was sick and disguised with the con-
dltlon of affairs he had been insnIt
ed py the President and sighted bv
the Senate. There is, or should be.
great deal in Senatorial courtesy
which means simply this, that when
the President makes an appointment
IN any State and it fails to elicit the
approval of two Senators from that
State, the matter ends there. and
'ne nomination is rejected, II