The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-08
The Country Enjoying Fair Degree of Pros
perity at Present, with Great
Future Plainly in Sight.
He Suggests Several Important Amend
ments to the Constitution.
A Seven Years Term for the President and
Higher Qualifications for Citizenship
Logan His FavOrite Candidate.

d2y publishes a two column interview with ten.
Grant on the political situation. The interview
was held yesterday, before the news of the inan-
cial difficulties in Wall street reached him. Gen.
Grant was found in his office, at the corner of
Broadway and Wall street, where he makes tri-
weekly visits using crutch. He looks some
what thin, having lost flesh since his accident,
but his complexion is clear and ruddy, and he is
in fine spirits. The inevitable cigar was in his
mouth, as he rapidly and freely answered the
.queries of the reporter.
"How do you regard the present condition of
the country, Generall' was asked,
well, suppose the country is generally pros
porous outside Wall street True, pro
ducers are not getting very high prices
for their products, but their supplies
are abundant and manufacturers are busy in all
directions, and think the condition of the coun-
try, on the whole, quite satisfactory"
'''Do you look for much progress in the future,
and would you care to venture prediction as
regards the increase of our populaton2'
Il think our population will increase right
along and at the ratio of increase of the past
fifteen years the country at the end of the pres
ent century-that is, sixteen years hence-ought
I'm what particular portion do you look for
the greatest changes within that periodp
II think the changes will occur in all direc-
tions; they will be uniform New York city
WILL of course, retain its ascendency over all
other places in the country, and [ expect the
people living at the end of the present century
will see New York the financial center of the
world. The entire Western country is be
ing rapidly built up now For grazing
and agricultural purposes the great West is far
ahead of what people imagine. In fact they
never dreamed of its great fertility. Then the
whole country along the northern borders of the
United States to 300 miles south of the
British possessions as far the valley
Stretches, is wonderfully productive. The
Southern States have developed wonderfully in
the last fifteen years. see no reason why the
Southern States, at the end of the century,
should not be the leading manufacturing section,
particularly in cotton fabrics and iron in all
forms. 1 have doubt the development that
will take place in Mexico will be as rapid in the
future as it was on our own Pacific coast when
we first acquired it. 1 want to see the relations
between that country and ours the
they are not so it will be- our own fault We
should do everything to secure the confidence
of the people of Mexico. The more prosperous
the Mexican people are, the better pleased we
shall be and the more it ill add to our individ
ua, interest"
''What do you think Of t'4e Mormon question:
II think the surest and best remedy will be to
take away from Utah it's present territorial gov
ernment and govern the Territory by commits
sioners, rs they do in the District of Columbia,
then enforce the anti-polygamy laws and such
laws as Congress may prescribe
CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTION.
''Can you point out any existing defects in our
Constitution and suggest remediesP
Yes there are several amendments that
would be of advantage + the country if they
were adopted, although l don't believe in
monkeying with that instrument, and am
opposed to innovation except in cases
of great necessity. There is one amendment
I consider of great benefit, and that is
one that would make the presidential term one
of seven years instead of four, with provision
that the President, after holding Office seven
years, thereafter be ineligible. / would suggest
another amendment, such as 1 recommended
when occupied the executive chair, which was
to the effect that, in the event of failure by Con
gress to pass any regular appropriations in one
year, then the appropriations corresponding
with those of the previous year be continued
until such time as appropriation may be passed.
Another amendment | favor is one also recon-
mended during my term Of Office, authorizing
the President to approve portion of any act of
Congress, and Withholding approval from all
portions of an act he does not approve, and re-
turn the same to the house in which the bill
originated, with his objections when it shall re
ceve two-th thirds of the votes of both houses be
fore becoming law"
THE HAYEs-TILDEN CONTEST
'In reference to the electoral commission,
General what truth is there in the stories that
you had massed troops in TIE Capitol at Wash
ington with a view to preventing any attempt to
inaugurate TildenP'
'None; there we're no troops massed there at
all. l intended to maintain peace and order
at all hazards, and proposed to see installed in
the presidential chair the man Congress decided
elected, whether Tifden or Hayes had no de-
sire or power to influence the question of decid-
ing who the people elected TO the presidency.
That was a matter entirely with Congress. 1t is
true l had directed General Sherman to have his
troops in Baltimore and other points near Wash
ington, so they could be brought there on tele-
graphic notice in case of riot or disturbance, but
his was step not in the interest of either of the
political parties either of the candidates for
the presidency There was not a soldier in arms
in Washington at the time
do you regard the annexation OF Canada as a
likely event in the course of timer
'If such an event ever does occur. 1t viii be in
the distant future. | think we have territory
enough$cr all our wants. All we require is good
friendso both sides of us. We certainly should