The Indiana State sentinel., 1885-09-09
DID GRANT BELIEVE THAT TIL
DEN WAS ELECTED?
MIR. George Washington ChiIds Says SO.
IMr. Childs in New York Tribune

Mr.. Childs in New York Tribune
General Grant was staying with me during
the canvass of the election between Tilden
and Hayes, and on the morning of the mo-
mentOus day he accompanied me to my Of
flee In few moments an eminent Repub-
lican Senator and one or two other leading
Republicans walked in, and they went over
the returns. These leaders said "Hayes is
elected" an opinion in which the others CO.
incided General Grant listened, but said
nothing. After they had settled the matter
in their own minds he said: Gentlemen,
elected" He afterward sent for me in
Washington and said This matter is very
complicated, and the people will not be sat
isged unless something Is done i'm regard to
il which will look like Justice" Now"
be continued, Il have spoken OF an Electoral
Commission, and the leaders OF the party
are opposed to it, which am sorry 10 see
They say that If an Electoral Commission is
appointed you might as well count in Mr..
Tiiden. | would sooner have Tilden than
that the Republicans should have Presi-
dent who could be stigmatiZed rs a fraud. III
/ were Mr.. Hayes l would not have il unless
il was settled in some way outside of the
Senate. This matter is opposed by the lead
inc Republicans in the House and Senate
and throughout the country.
President Grant invited the leading Sena-
tors to dine with hIm that day TO get their
sentiment He said to me: "Nou see the
feeling here. / find them almost universally
opposed to anything like an Electoral Com
mission" / named a leading Democrat in
the House. who was, perhaps, one of the
most prominent men in the country. a man
OF great influence and of great integrity of
character, whom it would be well for Gen.
cral Grant TO see in the matter, and the sug-
geStion was acted on. I sent for this gentle
man and put the dilemma to him in Presi-
dent Grants name as follows: at Is very
hard for the President and very embarrassing
as to men on his own side that this matter
| does not seem to find favor with them as
well as To have Democratic opposition.
Republicans think you might as well count
| 1ilden in. but as the feeling throughout the
| country demands as honest a count OF the
| thing as possible this Electoral Commission
| ought to be appointed" The answer at once
| WIS that the Democrats would favor ii. and
il was through that gentleman and General
| Grant that the matter was carried throusa
| Grant was the originator OF the plan. He
sent for Mr. Conkling, and said with deep
| earnt stness: This matter is serious one,
| and the people feel it very deeply. | think
| this Electoral Commission ought to be APP
| pointed Conkling answered, Mr.. PreSi-
| dent. Senator Morton lwhO was then the ac-
| lnowledeed leader of the Senatel is opposed
| to it. and opposed To your efforts; but ii you
| wish the Commission carried, ! can do it.
He said. 81 wish il DONE"
Mr. Conlzling took hold of the matter and
Put il through. The leading Democrat
| have spoken OF took the initiative in the
House and Mr. Conkling in the Senate. Cen
| eral Patterson, of Philadelphia, who was an
| intimate friend of General Jackson, and a
| lifelong Democrat, was also sent for. He
| had large estates in the South and a great
| deal of influence with the Democrats, and
| particularly with Southern Democrats. Cen
| eral Patterson was upward of eighty, but he
1 came down there and remained one or two
| weeks working hard 10 accomplish the pur-
| pose in view. After the bill had passed and
] waiting for signature. General Grant
i went TO a State fair in Maryland the day il
should have been signed, and there was much
| perturbation about il.
| General Grant acted in good faith through
| out the whole business. 1t has been said
| that the changing complexion of the court
| threw the matter into Hayes hands and il
| the court had remained as it was, Tilden
would have been declared President. Gen
| eral Grant was the soul of honor in thi:
| matter, and no one ever accused him or even
| limited that he was untruthful in any way
| l. for one, don't believe that he could tell 4
lie OF act deceitfully.