Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-20

give meen essuTance-such % I osn reccivs
In no other way-that General Grant Il
alive" I answered, very much alive wher
1 had seen him in California, and interested
in nothing so much as the fact that the
melon crop had not suffered while he wa:
gone. Oonkling said he asked because il
was an advantage, when you were pressing
the nomination of friend for the Presi
dency, to know that the friend was alive
that he had no word, no message from Grant
directly or indirectly; was not even aware
that he knew what his friends had been
doing.
CoNKLNG scoLDED GRANTS FRIENDS.
1 said what was very true, that had
never heard from Grant, either in speech or
correspondence, any other feeling than
aversion to the nomination. Conkling was,
he said, disappointed at the apathy of many
friends of Grant from whom he expected
support, and inveighed against them and
their ingratitude for what Grant had done,
and this the return for it, in his own old
fashioned way. ellis rich friends" as
Conkling denominated them with sneer,
chad not given dollar" And money was
needed to pay the expenses of poor dele
gates from the South and elsewhere, to
whom o convention fare meant everything.
There were other friends of Grant who were
too slow for his own fiery will. Logan had
a speech to deliver, was hobbling around in
a gestatory mood with that speech, and 'un-
til benefcent nature came to his aid and
blessed him with happy delivery, would
be of no use to any human being. Window,
whom Conkling was counting on for warm
support, had the bee in his own bonnet
bee deftly inserted By an insidious Blaine
man-and could hear only its own buzzing.
nj L or n 1
some academic public opinion in Vermont
hung upon him and weighed him down into
silence
CoNKJING's GREAT EAREEsrNEsS
recall this conversation as part of the
narrative and because it was when Conkling
appeared at his best He was nobly in
earnest. All the resources of his genius
were in play. The election of Grant was
his one purpose. "He cannot be defeated
he must not be defeated 1t would be like
the defeat Of Napoleon at Waterloo. The
sun of liberty would stand in its course,
the world go back for centuries. This was
a favorite phrase of Conkling's, as illustra-
tive of his political fervor at the time, and
1 think it came into his nominating speech
at Chicago. He went over the situation
with keenness and minute knowledge of the
the battle for every result. He had no COM
promise, no concession, no other candidate.
As for his own name, his hands would
wither ere he assented. He fouted the
discomfort in New York and Pennsylv ania.
The tide was with him-the tide and the
sea- 1t was the tide of the peoples conf
dence in Grant, their confidence and affec-
ton. As for these mere politicians, with
their mops and brooms, they were so many
Mrs. Partingtons essaying against the sea
I never saw Conkling more truly leader,
never saw him so abundant in courage, re-
source and will
1 ventured one illustration that I was
gratifed to see used at Chicago-"If Grant
is disfranchised, as some of the leaders hold
that he must be as regards this nomination,
then we have two disfranchised Americans,
the man who saved the Union and the man
who tried to destroy it-General Grant and
Jefferson Davis. j"
A TYPICAL TALK WITH SHERMAN.
An evening, likewise, with General Sher-
man, who was much in the Childs-Drexel
mood. Did not believe in politics; did not
.hink Grant had a dozen friends in the
party, anyhow, that we're not his friends for
what they could make out of him. Before
ne came to Washington was amazed and
.wed at the greatness of the men who ruled |
he nation. When he came near the city, |
ancied that the skies seemed heavier over |
he Capitol because of the wisdom held in |
ome vapory suspense, coming down in |
howers Of eloquence to frighten tyrants, |
md deluge the land with knowledge Re- |
nembered seeing old Andy jackson |
through the palings in front of the |
White House-yes, old Andy himself, |
nd thin that if a goat were to butt him at |
he waist he would break in two. Some |
low he had not been in Washington six |
months before he saw how small the states
nen were-like most men only good deal |
nore so. Never quite forgave his brother |
Tohn for going into politics. But then |
or that matter he had never quite forgiven |
himself for going into the army. But then |
leither John nor himself were the clever |
mes of the Sherman boys There was
iames-I think that was his name. If |
Tames had livedl To return and rule over
hese small men, to be hacked and hauled |
nd written about in the newspapers; but
fter all it was none of his business, and he
7as not talking politics. All in the vivid
sherman way, wit, mimicry, fun, badinage,
lways wisdom, deepest wisdom, rushing
ike volcanic stream with ashes and
THE MEETING AT GALENA.
So far, then, as appearing at Galena, as
Teneral Badeau writes, "as the spokesman
f others whose opinions backed his own,"
be only friends of Grant who in their con-
ersation with me were opposed to the third
erm were General Sherman, Mr.. Childs and
Ir. DrexeL 1 arrived in the evening and
rent to the Generals home. We sat to-
ether on the porch until late. The Presi-
entail question never arose. General Grant
7as more than cordial; affectionate and kind
S l ever found him, and we had much to
ay about men and things in far away lands.
n answer to some question about Wash
urne he spoke with stern, sharp words of
lienation; had been persuaded into the be-
ef that some recent political action on the
art-of Washburne could only be explained
pom theory of personal perfdy. 1 was
aimed over it. But could say nothing
seful, and noted it as an incident of the
trsnge business called politics.
In the morning Grant insisted that he
lust show me Galena and the lead mines.
We took long drive; pair of restless
orses, which Grant, with the wizard touch
herever the horse was concerned, handled
18th de1terity. He showed me the home
his honorable poverty; the warehouse
here, in silence over repellent heaps of
'ather, he awaited the mighty summons to
nmortal fame; and all that was worth
icing, the lead mines and the history of
he lead industry. 1t was on this drive
nat we had the talk referred to by General
adeau upon the third term.
YOUNG'S TALK WITH GRANT.
Grant inquired if had seen many of his
lends in the East. 1 told him in running
arrative what could recall Heasked nv
Tn judgment. 1 said that was disposed
agree with Drexel and Childs. I had not
'oken on the theme to anyone So long
his friends were in the movement, no
ord of mine should dishearten them. I
ad M foolish iI1peio,, olo |