Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-10
Written for The Evening Star.
GRANT AND CONKLIN0.
The Great General Not Controlled by the
New York senator.

The Great General Not Controlled by the
New York senator.
Al INCIDENT OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1880 BROUGHT
TO LIGHT WHICH ILLUSTRATES THAT FACT
TIE GALL UPON aARFrELD At MHSroR--Two
WAYS OF TaxArINo An xxxxY.
TT WAS COMMON TALK WHILE GEN.
Il Grant was President that certain political
leaders controlled him; that he was in fact not
the real head Of his administration. Senator
Roscoe Conkling was set down IS the one man
who, above all others, controlled the destinies
OF the nation at that time. Great a. was the
Senator and conspicuous as were his abilities
he did not influence the soldier President to
the extent popularity believed; indeed, Grant
was ever his own master.
The writer recalls the visit made by Gen.
Grant in company with Conkling and other
weii-known republican leaders to Mentor dur
ing the presidential campaign of 1880. Grant
had come from Illinois to fire the first gun Of
that campaign for the republicans at Warren.
Ohio, the capital OF Gen. Garfield's con-
gressional district. There was much doubt at
first that the ex-President would take part in the
meeting, since there was much soreness among
his friends over his defeat for the nomination,
but the editor Of Cleveland paper telegraphed
MIN and the answer came back from Galena rs
swiftly as the electric current could bring It,
II VIII be at Warren" To those who recalled
his laconic dispatches from the seat Of war
during the late rebellion this message was all
suf1icient and the result was that the Warren
meeting attracted one of the greatest multi
tudes ever known in Ohio. Gen. Grant pre-
sided and read his short speech from manu-
script and the original copy il now in the pos
session Of well-known Ohio business man and
politician, treasured the more as being the
only prepared speech on q political subject
Gen. Grant ever delivered.
THE GREAT MEETING AT WARREN.
This great gathering was designed to show
that the stalwarts. rs those who advocated the
nomination Of Gen. Grant were called, had
pocketed their disappointment and would
henceforth do all in their power to promote the
election OF their chosen leader in the November
following There is little doubt that Gen.
Grant himself inspired that Warren meeting
With him were assembled Senator Conkiing, the
venerable Simon Cameron, Gen. John A. Lo-
gan and Levi P. Morton, as well as number Of
party leaders of local fame. This was on the
26th Of September. and the campaign up to
that time had scarcely been opened, though the
that time, was scarcely three weeks away. But
from that time forth republicans everywhere
buried their differences and worked with Q
unanimity that only such a demonstration as
that at Warren could inspire. 1t is doubtful
II full credit has ever been given Gen. Grant
for what he did in that campaign.
Gen. Garfield lived at Mentor, only about
two hours ride from Warren, but q visit TO the
republican standard bearer was not upon the
program a: first Senator Conkling. who was
hardly yet reconciled to the nomination o, the
Ohio Congressman, passed through Mentor on
Ia e" l. L., - - \
1nd 1t convenient TO stop over even one train.
Simon Cameron, however, called a. the Mentor
farm and spent considerable time there. Gen.
Grant, as well as Logan and Morton, came to
Warren by other routes. and so could not be
criticised If they failed TO call upon the repubh
can nominee.
GRANT AND coyKLING.
Grant and Conkling had not seen each other
since the former returned from his tour around
the world, and there was most cordial greet
ing as the two met in the door ward OF State
Senator Perkins residence in Warren. where
the New York Senator had ALREADY arrived. The
two we're together most Of the day when it was
possible for them to withdraw from the great
number Of guests in the house. The subject Of
visit to Mentor that evening was preached.
but nothing decided. Simon Cameron, who
had already visited Garfield, added his voice to
those who advocated the step, but Senator
ConklnS uiu not RELISH the proposition. ne
Pennsylvania Company had placed special
train Mt the disposal of the distinguished party.
should they care to make the trip, but late in
tho afternoon there was as much uncertainty as
ever. Grant and Conkling fingered at the table
chatting after the others had betaken them
selves to adjoining apartments or the veranda.
The time had come when it must be decided il
the party were going to Mentor. 1t was neces-
sorry TO bring the special train from distance
and the railroad company desired to make ar
rangements for clearing the track. The gentle
man representing the railroad company ap-
preached the ex-President and the Senator as
they sat at the table to ask what decision had
been reached. Conkling still demurred. but
his manner indicated that he was hating in his
determination. Grant said nothing for a
moment; then he quietly settled the question
by saying: Senator, we go to Mentor" The
train arrived the party started on the ride for
Mentor. 1t has always been given out that the
visit, which excited much comment in political
circles, WAS prearranged and for the purpose of
making bargain with the party candinnte.
The writer is inclined to very much doubt any
such assertion, for many times while on the
way Senator Conkling expressed his dislike to
the visit, and as the little cavalcade and car
riages left the station at Mentor to proceed TO
the Garfield farm he said with evident feelings
OF uneasiness. LET US not stop long"
THE TRIP TO MENTOR
There were many incidents during that trip
to Mentor which served to reveal traits in Gen.
Grants character. He was always termed the
"Silent Man." and generally proved himself
good listener. Nevertheless he could talk rs
glibly as u girl when among those who enjoyed
his confidence. He did more talking during
this little trip than almost all the others put
together. Conkhng was a good second. for
Logan and Morton seemed to have but little to
say. Grant talked on a number of subjects.
specializing as to the possibilities of protract-
ing the war il the confederacy had aot lost this
or that battle or had done this or that way in
certain emergencies, reciting some OF the songs
sung to him by his grandchild, the little
daughter Of Col. Fred. Grant; discussed politics
and the probable attitude of certain newspapers
who were given to independent movements Of
their own. well-known Chicago paper Sem
ator Conkling, Ginning in. was especially severe
upon. Continuing in this line of thought
Senator Conkling paid his respects to a New
York paper noted for the same characteristics.
Said he: "There came to me the other day in
New York newspaper man representing him
self as having been sent by the editor of q GER
tain journal to obtain my views on subject of
some local interest. You go back 1 replied,
to the man who sent YOU to me and tell him
that Mr. Conkling has nothing to say to the
representative Of paper founded on plunder,
fattened on robbery and edited by thief"
As the Senator repeated this remark he
stretched forth his arm in his dramatic wav as
If repelling an unwelcome guest. Ali wanted to
know what papee was meant, and Mr.. Conkling
pr0rnpfly named IL