Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-08
GEN.GRANTINTERVIEWED
HE HAD TROOPS IN READINESS
TO MENACE WASHINGTON.

He Alleges. However. That They Would
Not Have Been Used to Keep Tilden
Out of His Seat. But Only to Suppress
RiOting-His Talk of Republican Pros
poets Not over Sanguine.
NEW YORK, May IA reporter Of the
| Nail and Express interviewed Gen. Grant
upon the political and industrial situation
| of this country yesterday morning, con-
Guiding only few minutes before the an
nOuncement of the suspension OF the Ma
rine Bank was made. Gen. Grant was in
good spirits and sanguine, notwithstand-
! ing that he has not yet gotten rid CT his
crutch. Among other things he said:
'The Southern States have developed
wonderfully in the last fifteen years, and
l see no reason why the Southern States
at the end of the century should not be
| the leading manufacturing section, par
| ticularly in cotton fabrics and iron in all
| its FORMS" Upon the Mormon question
Gen. Grant said: 81 think that the surest
and best remedy for the existing evils
would be to take away from Utah her
present Territorial form of government
and govern the Territory by commission
ers as they do in the District of Columbia,
and then enforce anti-pOiygamy laws and
such laws as Congress may prescribe"
IL NuGbllOu III reference TO lue eiHt-
tOral commission, the General was asked:
"What truth is there in the Oft published
stories that you had massed troops in the
capitol at Washington with a view of pre-
venting any attempt to inaugurate Mr..
Tilden?"
TROOPS ORDERED IN READINESS.
"NOne. There were no troops massed
there at all. | intended to maintain peace
and order at all hazards, and | proposed
to see installed in the Presidential chair
the man whom Congress decided was
elected, whether it was Tilden or HAYES.
had no desire or power to in
huence the question of deciding
who the people had elected to
entirely with Congress. 1t is true that /
had directed Gen. Sherman to have his
troops that We're in Baltimore and other
points near Washington so that they
could be brought there on telegraphic
notice in case of a riot or disturbance,
but this step was not in the benefit of
either of the political parties nor either of
the candidates for the Presidency. There
was not soldier under arms in Wash
ingtOn at the time.".
''What of the stability of the Repub-
lican party. Generaly'
"We will have always two parties in
this country. When one of them has full
filled its mission it is generally followed
by a shaking up and each of the new par
ties Will then find in their ranks men who
previously have been in the opposite par
ties, but to answer your question l don't
think that the mission of the Republican
party has yet been fulfilled, nor will il be
so long as the States lately in rebellion
are solidly with one party without regard
to platform or principle"
''NOw, General, / would like your views
on the pending Presidential campaign
and the claims Of the various gentlemen
whose names have been mentioned in con-
nection with the Republican ticket"
Gen. Grant here paused, took deep puffs,
held his cigar alOft, and after moments
thought replied: "Well, l don't care to
say much on that subject. If the Repub-
licans make a wise selection they will
carry the next election. l think our pros
poets are better than they were four and
eight years ago."
In the further course Of the interview
the General expressed preference for Lo-
gan as the Presidential candidate.