The Portland daily press., 1885-08-07
GEN. GRANT AS a pEAcEMAkEe.
Bringing About a Truce Between
Conklng and Garfield in the Cam
paign of 1880.



Grants last visit to Cleveland was during
the Garfield campaign. Garfield, alarmed
by Conkling's Indifferent, almost defiant at
titude, and fearing that the GOODNESS of his
faction might cost him New York in the
coming election, begged his managers to ar
range meeting between him and Conkling
and Grant. The meeting assumed the ma
ture of grand love feast and peace was de-
clared, but it was due to Grant and to Mrs.
Garfeld's matehless cooking. Grant and
Senator Conkling went to Warren, where a
great meeting was held during the day Sen
atof Conklmg was still Indifferent, and made
no allusion to Garfield in his speech. The
writer fastened to Mentor in advance of
the distinguished guests, who were to ar
rive in the evening. Garfield was hurrying
about the house, personally aiding Mrs Gar
field in preparing for the visitors When the
writer called him out on the piazza a moment
and told him that Conkling had ignored him
in his speech that day, Garfeld's face as
sumed look of deep trouble, but he refused
to discuss the matter. He could hardly be-
Geye the statement, and the moment that NJ
A. Hanna, chairman of the Cleveland re-
ception committee, arrived at Lawnfield
from Warren, Garfield pulled him aside and
said, Mark, is it true that Conkling made
no allusion to me N his speech to-day
Hanna said that it was, and Garfield re-
marked, Matters look very bad"
His hopes of compromise with Conkling
had been dashed to the ground. At that
Juncture the carriage containing Grant and
Conkllng drove up. Garfield opened the
carriage door, and Conkling extended his
hand and exclaimed, General, / am proud
to meet You at your home" There was a
lack Of heartiness in his voice. The Re-
publican managers had planned the meeting
with consummate skill, believing that the
sight OF the father and husband under his
own simple vine would impress Mr.. Conk-
ling 1t did win General Grants hearty
support. When Conkling had alighted Grant
stepped down from the carriage and grasped
Garfleld's hand. He uttered scarcely word,
but there was that in the firmness of his
grasp and in the long holding of the hand
that made Garfield's face light up with
pleasure. The light which streamed out from
the open door fell on those two men with
elasped hands, and illuminated a rare tab
leau.
Once Indoors, the party made itself at
home. Grant fingered long at the side of
Grandma Garfield, and Conkling, with the
grace Of gallant, delighted Mrs. Garfield
with his courtly attentions Good old DR..
Robinson, simple old man, who worshipped
Garfield, led COnkling aside to praise his he
no, as he called Garfield. Robinson belped
buy Lawnfield for Garfield, and he did not
hesitate to openly upbraid every man who
/ opposed HIM. In few moments Conkling
had frozen the. old gentleman out, but Gen.
Grant charmed the good doctor with his 81
lent cordiality, and assured him that Garfield
had nothing to fear.
An informal luncheon was served. The
little dining room at Lawnfield had never
contained so many distinguished men as
stood around its table that evening Grant.
Conkllng, Levi 7. Morton, Logan and score
| OF others were there and every man of them
ate heartily and praised Mrs. Garfield
splendid coffee. Eveu Senator Conlllin was
melted by it, and he fingered so long at the
table that Mrs. Garfield called his attention
to the fact that all the guests had repaired
to the parlor. He paid her a pretty compli-
ment about the excellence of the Luncheon
making him obliyious to all surroundings
put herseH, and escorted her into the parlor
Then she walked over to attend to some of
the less important guests, for she knew
what was coming. AT that juncture Gar
held invited Conkling and Grant to step up
stars INTO his sanctum. ostensibly to take a
smoke. DR.. Robinson and Mrs. Garfield
were preoccupied and anxious from the mo-
ment the celebrated trio assembled the stairs.
No one attempted to follow them. Perhaps
no one VIII ever know what TRANSFERRED but
II IS known that peace, at least during the
campaign was declared, and that Grant was
largely responsible for it, 1t is believed that
he won from Conkling promise to support
GARFIELD. The meeting was brief. Their ci-
CARS were not half burned when they de-
scended the stairs.
The anxious look had flown from Gar
fields face, and his wife's preoccupied man
ner gave way when she read the story in
her husbands features. Grant remarked that
he would go out on the piazza to finish his
cigar, but Garfield pleasantly exclaimed
Smoke in the house, General. Smoke any
where"
A terrific storm came up suddenly as the
guests We're, about to leave Lawnfield, and
all except Gen. Grant and score of rural
sightseerers hurried indoors. The general
remained on the piazza watching the storm.
AS he stood, with his cigar between his teeth
the mild mien that he had worn in society
departed under the fierce inspiration of the
battling elements and he looked a typical
warrior.
That the treaty Of peace between Garfield
and Conkling was sincere was proved on the
following evening when Senator Conkling
spoke in the armory at Cleveland, and eulo-
glzed Gen. Garfield so eloquently that the
immense crowd of hearers fairly shook the
roof timberS with continued cheerino