The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-30
HARRIsON's OPPONENTS.

They Are Neither So Bitter Nor Numerous
as Those Of Lincoln and Grant.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 29.-'There is no op.
position to Harrison worth mentioning"
says the old war Governor Of Iowa, w. N.
Stone, compared with the opposition en-
countered in their day by Lincoln and
Grant when up for denomination.
IL stopped at Washington on my way to
the Baltimore convention, III 1864. was
honored by Iowa by being named chair
man of the delegation to the Republican
convention that year. My position as
Governor secured me considerable atten-
tion from Senators and members of Con-
gress during my stay at the capital, and
distinctly remember that, outside of Sem
ator Harlan. there was scarcely q Senator
or Representative who was not bitterly
opposed to the denomination of Lincoln.
and the corridors of the Capitol swarmed
with politicians vociferously declaiming
against the Lincoln administration. 1t
was common for Senators 10 exclalm. in
substance. For heavens sake. Governor.
assist us in saving the country from the
disaster of this mans denomination. He
does not understand politics, ana has mad q
failure of the war 80 far. He Is weak,
vacillating and often frivolous
After remaining a day OF two in this
atmosphere, lt was refreshing to meet del
egates from the country. VINO assembled at
baltimore and renominated Lincoln by ac-
clamatlOn. 1t will be remembered that
seven days before the Baltimore cOnven-
tion a lot of dlscontented radical Repub-
licans assembled in Cleveland and noml-
mated John &. Fremont as their candidate
for President. After the nomination of
Lincoln Horace Greeley, Theodore TlltOn
and number of other prominent Repub-
lican editors of New York addressed a let
ter to the loyal Governors OF the North,
submitting. in substance, three PROPOSE
tions. as follows:
"First-Do you think we can carry your
State with Lincoln at the head of the
ticket7
"Second-If not. what means do You sug.
gest to indnce him TO withdraw
..Third-Assuming shat we induce LIN
coin TO withdraw, who should the national
committee submit as the candidate of the
partyY
II replied, IN behalf of Iowa, that be-
Iieved President Lincoln conld carry the
State, and it was therefore useless to paw
any attention TO the remaining questions.
Later | learned that all tho loyal Gov
ernors replied In the same strain. The re-
suit of the election which followed is q
matter of history.
"The opposition to General Grant was
equally pronounced and bitter. He was
charged with corruption in Office, the ap-
pointment of his relatives to I'LL positions
under the government.and with iDc8pacity,
TO administer the affairs OF the government.
This disaffectIon at that time manifested
itself in what was known as the liberal
movement headed by men who have been
accorded conspicuous places in the country.
"As compared with the opposition to
these great men, IL must be confessed that
the opposition to Harrison Is mere baGa-
telle. IL appears IN this case that the op-
ponents of the President have been swarm
ing for the past six months without being
able tn get any body TO consent TO be their
candidate for President No Republican
can offer any legitimate excuse for failing q
to support President Harrison at the polls,
il he Is renominated at Minneapolis on the
9TH of June"
Governor. do you think Harrison will be
nominated at Minneap0lisi'
Yes, most certainly do: and think so
because | know of no valid reason why he
should not be. To cast him aside now would
becontrary to the precedents and traditions
OF the Republican party. Ii Harrison is
renominated. 1t will be tho third instance
in which a Republican President has been
complImentcd W hen successfully serving
O term 10 which he was elected, and having
gwen the country an acceptable admins
tration. Naturally the minds of the people