Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
characteristic views OF Henry ward
Beecbcr.
TFrom a New York Herald lntcrvlcw.I


Bcecbcr.
CFrom New York Herald lntervlcwL
There is rumor In circulation that Mr..
Beecher lie to,bU delegate to the National
Convention Of the Republican party at Chi
cago, and Herald reporter yesterday called
| upon the Plymouth pastor to ask him if there
was any foundation for it.
"Ah, rumor, eh 2" repeated Mr. Beecher
| with quizzical smile "Wsll, now (in a
| confindential tone), there's another rumor
| that I'll tell you about il you keep quiet. Pm
talked Of as Presidential candidate myself.
When the thing comes to head the Herald
| shall have the first news Of it--that is, ex-
| ceptiug my wife"
You believe that the next President will
be Republican, 1presume Mr.. Beecher."
II think so, without any question. /
could name ticket for the democracy
though" continued Mr.. Beecher, that
would draw thousands upon thousands of
votes from the Republican ranks and carry
the country without doubt. l am not going
to do 1t, though"
"What is you opinion, Mr. Beecher as to
the probable Republican candidate from
among those who have been named"
"Oh, you cant tell. / think that all
| things considered, on an abstract ground,
there is no man would make an ADLER Pfesi-
dent than John Sherman, But John Sher-
man can't be elected
"Whv 2"
"Folks won't vote for him, that's the
principal reason. The next man, TO my
mind, that is prominently before the public,
is Senator Edmunds, in every way an ad.
mirable candidate, but | thinh he labors
under the same difficulty. He would not
excite the synpathies Of the average
common people. What l mean is that
the man 10 whom the people take
IS genial man; a man who
has great deal of fellow telling who has
good nature as well as ability who can tel
a good story, and who is interested IN any
man high or low, wherever he meets him
Such man Is catching; the people are in
terested 10 him. And, generally speaking,
such men have large trunks ; are big belIied
and big chested, with good deal of blood
ani well organized head on top"
'Neither Mr.. Sherman nor Mr.. Edmunds
answer such requirements ?"
They have able heads with shad bellies
They are not catching"
GLOW about Blaine dosen't he fill the
lbillp"
II doubt whether Mr. Blaine has any such
following as the Tribune, in its quiet way,
would make it appear that he has. think
the nomination Of Mr. Blaine would dctsch
thousands aud tens of thousands of Republi.
can votes at once"
| "And President Arthur, who would he
suit 2"
/. "Arthur would be my choice"
}, "Do YOU regard him as the most available
candidate ?"
| II cant say anything about that. / am
not in position to KIN wv. l simply say this
THAT II the people were inclined 10 it
think Arthur would make one Of the wisest
and best Presidents we have had for long
ime, and whether he should be nominated
is simply practical question. think
though, that the signs OF The times show that
he could be elected. know sometimes mer
are nominated for the sake of having them
killed, but the Republican party can't DE-
that to-day. They must nominate man IL
elect him."
You haven't asked me about Lincoln, -
added Mr. Beecher. Il think Lincoln
could probably he the adjunct ou any
ticket on which an Eastern man was the
principal, and very possibly would be tie
leading man in the West if the West gave
the principal. doubt about Logan
don't think Logan is going to be strong.
see some symptoms Of General Sherman be
ing persuaded by his wrath to accept the
nomination. General Sherman is loya
man in his wife's behalf, and if anybody
axes up the cudgels against her because she
is Catholic think very likely he would be
willing to put her in the White House to
vindicate her. quite admire the loyalty OF
the old fellow. General Sherman has always
been one Of my special admirations, and II
he were to be nominated aud agree to il
there wouldn't need to be any mole talk.
think he would sweep the country, North and
and South. Southern people love good
fighter"
| There has been some little talk of nomin.
ating General Grant p
| II have never heard a hint OF 1t, and sup
posed that was thing settled and gone by.
VI course If General Grant should be nomin-
ated and became candidate l should take
the greatest pleasure in advocating him with
all my heart l have always been a Grant
man-hrst, middle and last-and l dcride
and scott at the notion hat this great people
haven't the right TO put man in tor the third
term if they want to-"
You speak of General Sherman sweeping
the South is the alleged Republican effort
to divide the Democratic South likely to be
successful Z"
1T is very doubtful. There is one of the
dangerous things. The Democratic party is
InetfabIy cowardy party. 1t has no fun
damenal convictions, aud the few that it
Coiilts near naVlnp IL mas not tne pluck 10
stand by. regard the Democratic party rs
having only one element in advance Of the
Republican parly-it is great deal more
cowardly"
"More cowardy? Do you think the Re
publican party afflicted that way tooi"
81 do not. A large section of the Repub.
lican party really believe in high tariff. ard
act according to that belief. They are going
to fight it out on that line. While
a large part Of the Democratic party
40 not believe in it, yet for political
reasons they are afraid to fight on that line
The application comes in, He that shall
save his life will lose it, and he that shall
lose his life will save it, If the Democracy
dred to organize this year they might lose
the next Presidency, but they would have
the Presidency following, with long term
of service, But they don't dare to do ii.
They are too hungry"
Then you think there's no hope for the
| Democracy p
| "Well, as say responded Mr.. Rcechcr
humorously, ''if they let me put up their
Candidates and lay out their campaign for
them they might stand some show"