New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-30
p,.Arr GRANT AND GARFIELD.

A AOtN~-->~
OF POLITICAL HISTORY.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Thomas C. Piatt's letter to the Nepuo'n.s
Ieasue Of Monroe County read at the banquet u
honor OF General Grants birthday was the suo'ect
Of much discussion in political circles toosy.
il believed that he had Mckinley In mind wnen y
~soia rnat Gran, never 'stradded never waooiea,
and he never contended that any man or any GOV
=, men should either wabb,e or straddle' fos
him." .. -.
he resigned from the United States senate oecAuse
Roscoe Conkl.ng did as the result OF wna1 tney
chose 70 term the treachery Of Garfield to them N
Tho dsnos,r,on OF the Republican patronage OF New.
York State-bel,eve that he had In mind Sarne~
whom in his letter he said when he (GranV W.
a struggling officer IN the service he d'd not JON
any cabal 20 pull a feow-solder down. tns' ~
might profit by his comrades fall
Platt's antagonsm to Garfield wa exceedeo only
nv Conk,lne whose hatred was bitter. There had
,ono heen an iI-feeling between Conk.ing ana Car
field and II was only after the hardest work. ana
assurance that his influence was necessary tu.s
Conkling was prevailed upon to swaiio" oar"e~c
nomination for President and assist IN the campasn
NJ 1850 The managers Of that campaign vlewso
with alarm" Conkling's bellgerence. and II was meg
until the latter part OF September that they couS
prevail upon him to choke down his WRATH Sss
field as a politician realized the importance %
New-York in his campaign, and ne knew tnat eu'
less the party here. which was then neaoeo "
Conkling, and OF which Platt was an Important
factor, did not rally TO his support hahcocA GIN"
ton could not be prevented
Trusted representatives Of Garfield ana members
OF the National Committee came to New ioih :"
see Conkllng and agreement was reacheo ""e.s'
By II he would come to Garfelds district ana maze
a speech he should have control Of the patronage
of New-York State, in the event OF Garneios eec-
Ion General Grant. Conklns's warmest personal
friend was prevailed upon to 90 to ONO anu ~
Warren the capital Of the Western Reserve. the
greatest political meeting Of Ohio was held on sep
tember 2s 1880. General Grant presided In VIZ
wan. in which were crowded 20 900 people Conkl'ne
spoke for two hours. during which he made one q
the greatest oratorical efforts Of his hfe puS u
which he never once mentioned Garne.ds nsme.
However. the friends Of Garfield were well pieasA
They lead to believe that everything was naS-
mony. On that frosty autumnal night Conknne
and Grant were taken In a private car ana on
special train Mentor. where. in Garhelde country
seat. the terms OF peace were settled, ana ConkupS
should ssTe a on s tSn %
From Warren and Mentor was teesrapned S Sne
p fas party ar was rhs love
pictured BY keDuSc.n editorial writer. IN s'sv
and the voters elected Gsrheid ..
hi: pisases e csasiIas spss,as%;;HSs q kSS:ss
whom h eossSs aaS q as eS.s
given. the s"brquet OF Me too" Piatt ana os'
Platt when he "a. IN his letter that Grant Ye
not try to pull fellow soldier down, that -
been reading Don Piatt's life OF General George 81
Thomas. in which the author in his trenchant ~
received the promotion Of chief Of stan e c..
p Chase who was then Secretary Of the Treasury,
and who was friendly % both. set out to augmens
the hatred which SecrtAry Stanton had for Rose
Grams by writing TO Chase that Rosecrans We
incapable and derect in his duties as COMMANDING
officer.
Platt as the sole remaining colleague OF Conf.
ling evidently has not forgotten the promises -
Garfield IN that campaign. in which he would have
been sharer. and that was. there II little doubt
what he referred in the second quotation OF BE
letter to the Republican League Of Monroe County.
HAL p DENTON.
Brooklyn. April %. 1896