The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-25
WAS IT A FORGERY?
The Grant Letter Agitating the
Minds Of the Politicians.
A Synopsis of John Russell YOung's Recent
Article on Grant and the Third Term
Opinion OF Grants Son.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatchl
New York, May 2A-The publication of
the alleged letter from General Grant to
Roscoe Conkling is being still talked of by
Republicans of this city. The widow of
Senator Conkling and his nephew doubt
the authenticity of the letter from General
Grant to Mr.. Conkling that has just ap-
peareG.
General Grants son, who is in the city,
and General Horace Porter are perplexed
and inclined to the Impression that the let
ter is not genuine
Mr.. John Russell Young was Grants
travelling companion when the general
took the trip around the world Mr. Young
recently wrote an article on Grant and
| His Third Term, u which the following is
compiled from:
1--WE were in Malace in the autumn of
1878. There had been labor troubles at
home, and | read an editorial which said
the country needed a strong arm like that
of Grant, and which advocated giving him
a third term in the presidency.
what q grotesque suggestion and what
a position should hold,' said Grant. 81
have been twice president, and on each &C.
casion the unanimous choice of the con-
yention and the heads of the party. The
man eminent in leadership the older men
who were in authority before L was
known, and the younger men who have
since won from the party its highest con-
sideratlen, all lowered their colorS and
followed mine. Where should / be in re-
gard TO them. | would have to antagonize
their hon orable ambition. At its best the
nomination would only come with strife.
Men who were and are my friends, but
who have as much right to the great
honor of the country as l could possibly
LII Il IeY \
the bitterest campaign in history.
1t would leave heartburnings that
years could not compose. l can only
conceive one contingency in which my
friends would consider me as am consid-
cred by the editor of that journal, ana that
is some widespread revolution or social up
heaval, when the strong hand and military
prestige would be required to save society.
J | should take that summons. But it will
never come in my time, nor in the United
States, whatever we may see in England
and Germany"
: Young goes on to say that he is satisfied
that General Grant did not change his
mind regarding third term till May, 1880.
Young was with him in Galena and in a
personal conversation it came out. Grant
! was determined to resent the imputations
of the Republican literary bureaus, which
charged him with being whisky thief. -
and which attacks he believed were in
: spired by Blaine and Blane's friends
Grant also thought he could carry six more
I southern states and thus bring peace &c
D that portion of the country.
: Grabt told Young he had written Dor
3 Cameron, and he read the letter TO Cen
eral Kane and Young the next day. In il
Grant gave fully the only conditions under
which he would consent to be a candidate
Tor denomination, but saying that if in the
opinion of Mr. Cameron and other friends
HI aTrae r4rrT, /,
should be withdrawn. Mrs. Grant wa:
also shown the letter. Young gave the
letter to Colonel Grant to handed it t
Cameron after the convention was over
: Young asked Grants permission to prin
I the letter. Grant gave his consent. Wher
d Cameron was asked for it he said Conk
s ling had it. When Young asked Conklinl
U for the letter so that it could be published
:. the reply ne received was:
Il forbid the bans. Never with my con.
sent. The letter should never have beer
written. II was meant to arrest move
ment, the defeat Of which has turned bacl
/ the clock of history; turned it back as "a
{ as Waterloo
/ When Grant was told of Conkling's OBJ
jectione the general said:
"Well, if it will please Roscoe, let tn
/, matter drop"
General Bussey, assistant to Secretar,
!, Tracy, in this city, speaking of the al
legged Grant letter to Conkling, said b
i had excellent reason for declaring the let
ter a forgery. He was in New Orleans il
), 1880 when Grant returned from his tri
around the world, and was with him
/, great deal for ten days. He encourage
the efforts looking to q choice of delegate
2, favorable to his nomination, saying tina
his experience as president and travels i
= the old world made him feel DESTROYS q
another term in the White House, in orde
that he might be enabled TO carry out Gel
tain plans he had in his mind. In all COZ
yersations he never uttered a word tbs
would harmonic with the sentiments col
h tanned in this letter. His visit to Ne,
:" Orleans was in 1880. just month befor
the letter is supposed TO have been writer