Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-06
GENERAL GRANT sURREROERs
His Views on sundry Topics to q
Courier Journal Re-
porter.
The Next National Campaign ON
the Tariff Issue.
Oourier-Journal,l 1.


All yesterday forenoon a constan
stream of prominent citizens poured
into the parlors Of the Gait House K
see -ex- President Grant and shak,
/ hands with him. Both wings of the
Republican party 10 the city we're vel
Represented. The General seemed tt
\ bear the infection OF the host Of sight
fseers with his usual stoical resigna'
ftion, and it would have taken the
keenest observer to have detected the
change of feature in his expression
less face. The General has the repu-
tation among the newspaper men Of
being the hardest celebrity in the
world to interview, and he is not a
gushing talker, to put the matter
mildly. The reporter found him with
a couple of gentlemen, and while he
answered all the questions that were
asked him, he made his answers as
short and as concise as possible.
"Mexico is a great country, said
the General, land it is destined to be
q still greater country. The history
of California will be repeated. 1t is a
country Of boundless possibilities.
Railroads are springing up in every
direction and capital is pouring in.
This much was said in response to
half dozen questions.
"Yes, American capital and Amer.
lean enterprise are doing much to
build up the country The railroads
are mainly built by Mexican lsborers
There used to be some animOsity be.
tween the Mexicans and the Ameri
cans, but it is fast dying out. The
effect OF all this American push and
enterprise will be to make Mexico
magnificent country. The failure to
ratify that commercial treaty last
spring was a grieyous blunder,"
"Do you not think all these Ameri.
cans will ultimately take control of
the country and annex it to the United
States?"
al think the effect will be just the
opposite. We have all the territory
we want. What do we want Mexico
for? No, sir; | think the only effect
Of this new emigration will be tn
make Mexico a strong, firm, prosper
Gus government"
You don't bother with politics
much now2"
II have washed my hands of poll
tics"
There was an ominous tightening Of
the lips that BODIED i'll for the inter-
viewer.
what are the prospects of the Res
publicans for continuing their hold of
the government"
All" said the old soldier, for the
first time smiling, that wouldn't do
to tell Democrat. Anyhow it is too
far of yet. We will depend IN a great
measure on the blunders the Demo-
Gratis are sure to make. At present
the prospects are not very fattering."
who are the prominent candi
dates2p
There is no man who towers above |
the rest very cOnspiCuously. think |
the two most prominent candidates are |
Blaine and Logan. Either one of
them, in my judgment, will be the
nominee. But there are so many
things that may occur TO bring out
other leaders that it is guesswOrk to
name the strongest man now. But /
think Blaine and Logan will 90 into
the convention with the most
strength"
"You will not allow your name to
90 before the convention?"
The General looked squarely at the
reporter. and then answered curtly:
Il am not in politics now"
DO you think Mr.. Conkling has
retired permanently
Il do not know what his future in
tentions are. | know that he now in.
tends to devote his time to his pro-
fession. he has no intention. | think,
to become a public man. Why, he
don't even notice the attacks that are
made on him."
What figure will the tariff ques.
ton cut in the next campaign?"
1T is too far off yet to tell, but | |
think it will play most important
part The Republicans will doubtless
stand by home industries, and the
Democrats will come out for tariff
for revenue only. The next campaign
will be most exciting one."
And your own views?"
II am in favor of wiping out the
internal revenue system and making
the burden Of taxation fall upon the
imported articles. The States them.
selves should have charge Of the
liquor and tobacco tax and do what |
they please with it.
At this point another party of gen.
tlemen came in, and the reporter left |
the General TO their tender mercies. !
He went to NewYork in the afternoon
with his party via the Chesapeake and
Ohio in a special car.