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

close that had only ventured these opln
Ions because he had asked them; that If h,
had not asked them would have said moth
ing; but that between us at all events ther,
were other than political relations, and b.
was entitled to my thoughts as they hat
grown in my mind. Grant listened to wha
/ said with the kindest patience, and will
no shadow of annoyance. He went at length
into the reasons which had made him chang,
his mind from the opinions expressed a
Malaga Nothing could have swerved hin
from that purpose but two considerations
The one was the extreme personal hostility
shown by Blaine; literary bureaus charging
him with being 'fwhisky thief'-imputa
tions upon his personal integrity which
made it almost his duty to run, as the only
man who could defeat Blaine and save the
country from the perils of an administra-
tion which might be under such influences
as those so basely pursuing him.
Here, then, was the warrior instinct
aroused in the heart of the bravest and
boldest warrior of his time, the man who
never went out of his way either to give or
take blow. I told Grant that 1 knew
Blaine as well as I knew anyone in public
life; that in the war of politics no one could
strike hardensblows; that no one believed
more thoroughly in the duty of hitting;
| that he had never made political cam
palgn except upon warlike principles; that
he he'd no sentiment in such matters, but
that he was ever the most magnanimous of
men, even to an opponent. And that so
far from holding him in personal resent
ment because Of the vulgar fulminations of
some unspeakable knaves who had access
to Republican ink and paper, if were to
select the one public man as champion to
come to the front and defend him against
these scandals, would take Blaine. There
was the feeling, however. It had been
planted in his mind. It had awakened q
sentiment of personal antagonism. 1t was
fact-a potent fact in the controversy
potent and determining. In time it was to
die away, and the two men come to o bet
ter knowledge of one another. Then was
not the time
HIS DUTY TO THE SOUTH.
However, that was personal, and Grant
knew what was due to his party and the
nation not to let that sway him, unless
higher interests were apparent. Here was
the South-the sad, troubled South. And
nothing done to awaken the people to the
fact that their true friends were in the Re-
publican party. He could carry six or
more Southern States against whoever the
Democrats could nominate, and that ser
vice toward peace and reconstruction would
repay him for the burdens of another cam
paign.
General Badeau says that I induced Grant
to write q letter addressed to Senator
Cameron authorizing his friends, if they
saw fit, to withdraw his name from the con-
vention." As matter of fact, the sugges-
tion that he would write letter came from
Grant himself. He said in his firm, quiet
way: 81 will write Don Cameron"
After luncheon we were Joined In the
library by General Thomas L. Kane, of
Pennsylvania, well known in war days,
when he commanded the "Bucktails,"
brother to the famous Arctic explorer, an
indomitable, enthusiastic, original, brill
liant, wayward, almost eccentric man of
genius-fashes of strange, weird power
coming out of him; prolific in views on Gu
rious questions: Mormondom, the perils of
women, the value of pine wood from sani-
tary point of view, and an adorer of Grant,
who esteemed him. / had known Kane
well, and as we talked Grant wrote in his
swift, unpausing way. In time he turned
and said, as though it were part of our
morning talk: 81 have written to Don Cam
eron."
THE LETTER TO DON CAMERON.
He read the letter to General Kane and
myself 1t was addressed to Senator Cam
eron, giving at length his reasons for con-
senting to be candidate for denomination,
but saying that if, in the opinion of Mr..
Cameron and certain other friends, his |
was unadvisable, his name |
should be withdrawn. Without waiting our |
opinion he left the room with the letter to |
read it, as supposed, to Mrs Grant. She |
spoke to me with knowledge of it later, but |
apart from the interest natural to her hus- |
bands fortunes, L recall no expression of !
hers to show that her mind was not one |
with his own. This letter took to Chicago, |
and gave it to Colonel Grant, who handed |
it to Senator Cameron. Cameron spoke to |
me about it, and said he would make it q |
matter of conference. ] remember this con- !
versation, because Cameron in bit of anus |
ing invective. spoke of his odd position as |
leading convention fight without ever hav- |
ing had word with his chief.
"There have been," he said, "a dozen |
Cabinet Offices pledged this morning for |
votes. If any one of our boys would pledge |
a postoffice it would cost him the friendship |
Of Grant" Assuredly it would. In that, |
as in all matters, his honor was stainless and |
high.
coNKLING FORBADE PUBLICATION.
When the convention was over, remem-
bering this letter, asked the permission of |
L
much to show the nation the General in his
true colors; that what he had done was
patriotic Grant gave his consent. 1 saw
Senator Cameron and asked him for it. He
told me it had been given to Conkling.
When Conkling came to New York I called |
and told him that Grant was willing to have
his letter go to the nation. Conkling said
with dramatic emphasis: 81 forbid the bans.
Never with my consent. The letter should
never have been written. 1t was meant to
arrest movement the defeat of which has
.urned back the clock of history, turned it
pack as far as Waterloo
The Napoleon metaphor over againi
''Then the friends of Grant were wiser
han himself" and so on and so on.
repeated Conkling's objections to Grant,
Lud with a quiet smile the General said:
We'll, if it will please Roscoe let the matter
lrop."
have always regretted that did not re-
ain a copy of this letter, as Grant would
lave most readily permitted. was earnest
With Conkling in my opinion that its publi-
,ation was due to Grant, and if I had had a
;opy would have printed it. The matter,
however, rested. The impression made
lpon me by Conkling's objections was that
le meant to revive the third term move
nent at the close of the Garfield administra-
ion, and nothing should be in the way.
lie may have had other and deeper feel
ngs.
CoNKLING FIRM TO THE LAST.
When Badeau's book came from the
,ress, containing, as it did, the narrative
bove quoted, Mr.. Thorndyke Rice, the late
ditor of the North american Reuieou, asked me
o write the story as remembered it. I
scented, saying, however, that must have
he letter. Nearly eight years had passed
ince it had been written. 1 wrote
asking for it, few