The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-01
GRANT a PEOPLES CANDIDATE.
TIE EFFORT 10 MAKE HIM SUCH
- NOW RECALLED.

Can diuatc-h uFiE Ihnt was Done
i'm Behalf of Grnnt-Grant Was a
Democrat. but Accepted the sup
port OF the RepUblicnDs-sDec uIa-
tiOns as TO Dewey and Wheeler.
Pine Crest villa, Maitland, Fla. Sept. 30.
The attempt 90 make Admiral Dewey a
popular candidate for President reminds
me OF my own Efforts with other parties,
to make Gen Grant the Peoples Candi-
date" for President. Grant was then a
Democrat, but like Dewey, out Of politics.
I had just left President And ew johnson
at West Point Military Academy, having
been one of the party that escorted him on
his famous swinging round the circle
tour. Our special New York escort came
back TO that city on small steamer after
the close Of the reception a West Point.
Mr.. A. T. Stewart the great dry goods
merchant, requested a few of US 70 meet
him privately in the cabin, which we did
There were present, as well as 1 can re-
member. Gen. Stewart Van Vlect, L.. S.
A., then chief quartermaster in New York
and Gen. Dan Butterfeld, and one other
gentleman. whose name 1 do not recall,
and myself
Mr.. Stewart acted as chairman and stat
ed the object OF the conference. He was a
warm admirer of Gen. Grant, and express
Cd his opinion that it was an opportune
time to put him forward as the Peoples
candidate" for President. In his opinion
we all agreed. and Chairman Stewart was
authorized to go ahead and perfect ar
Iangements FOR carrying olt the project.
But before any great Roadway could be
made The Republicans caught on" to our
movement and promptly gobb,ed up Grant
as their own candidate.
Although really a Democrat at the time,
as Mrs. Grant says he accepted the sup
port Of the Republicans, and thus defeated
our purpose. That he fully appreciated
Chairman Stewards action in the matter
he being the first to start the bail in mo-
ton. Gen. Grant in selecting his first cab
iret, chose Mr.. Stewart for his Secretary
of the Treasury, but his business interests
prevented his acceptance. However, he
and Grant remained the warmest of
friends.
The last report from Admiral Dewey
says he prefers to stick to the sea" and
not run for President, so 1 suppose that
neither party nor a peoples movement
viii be able to win him over. AS to Gen.
Joe Wheeler for his running mate" the
idea is absurd. l have known the general
intimately for thirty years. and know that
he would not accept a vice presidential
nomination. The first eminent politician
I knew in my boyhood Hannibal Hamln
of Maine unfortunately became Vice Pres
ident with President Lincoln In 1862 1
had occasion to call on him in Washington
with two volunteer officers from Maine
- he
President. Mr.. Hamlin said TO me: 'Why,
my dear old friend, I can't do a thing
for these gentlemen, for the senator's and
representatives from Maine control all
such matters. l am merely the fifth
wheel to the government wagon, repre-
senting nothing outside the Senate cham
ber" I also have a letter, written years
ago. from Senator Joseph e. Brown, in
which he uses about the same language,
and assures me that he would not, under
any circumstances be a candidate for
Vice President. Gen. Wheeler told me that
al the Charleston reunion that he did not
want the Office.
I know it has been a popular move to
select military heroes for presidential can
didates. from George Washington down
to William Mckinley. And when I in
clude the latter I mean that while he was
simply q major at the close of the war,
he made a fine record in the army and
has a strong hold upon the affections OF
some four hundred thousand Grand Army
voters. Harrison. Taylor, Pierce, Grant,
Garfield, Hayes and Harrison owed their
elections wholly or in part to their mill
tary careers. But Gen. Scott and Gen.
Hancock, like the gallant Little Mac"
the idol of the army of the Potomac, fail
ed TO secure the longed-for prize. AS TO
Gen. Sherman, a six OK team could not
have pulled him into the White House at
a chi nj 40 sNff
ling traits in the old hero's character. He
despised political intrigues. and profess
siOnal politicians. / was three times in
terested in movements TO persuade Sher-
man to become a presidential candidate,
and the last time he swore a big oath
that ended any further attempts 20 win
his consent.
There is this much in Admiral Dewey's
favor. that cannot be said of all our mil
itary heroes he is a very modest man. not
a seeker after notoriety or public office
When I recall Commodore TattnaEl AMI
Admiral Farragut this fact is pres sed
deeply upon my mind. Like Dewey. they
were grand naval commanders, and as yet
modest as a woman, though brave as a
lion. Among all the heroes on land and
sea in my minds eye, one of the dearest
and tenderest memories is of Commodore
Tattnan. l stood by his side in 1861. in
the depot of a Connecticut city, as he took
lcHNC OF MS pOIlNtt non. kueu6-
ger Jackson, to board the train south for
Georgia TO espouse the Confederate cause.
Two finer looking, more accomplished
gentlemen, l never knew. and the parting
scene was pathetic in the extreme. Look
ing up at the Stars and Stripes floating in
the air. Commodore Tattnall, with fearful
eyes and trembling voice, said: Under
that old flag l have seen long and honor
able service; and 1 love il still; but my ma
tive state calls for my services, and I
must go to her" What II cost the old
hero TO take this step is known only to the
God above, whom he so devoutly worship
ped
It is to Admiral Dewey's credit that he
has brought the navy more prominently to
the front than any previous naval hero has
been able TO do. 1 cannot understand why.
in all the history of this republic. so much
has been given 10 military heroes, and so
much withheld from naval heroes. Take,
for example, the Grand Army of the Re
public. composed alike of sailors and SOL
diers, in all the years of its existence, not
a single naval hero has been honored as
ffe commander In chief The I.ONal Tp-