Year: 1874

LONG BRANCH, August 3, 1874.


Write down General Frank Blair rs also among
the prophets. 1t is and will yet long be remem.
bered that in the opening Of the Presidential cam
pagn OF 1868 General Blair, with all the emphasis
OF an earnest conviction, declared that, in his
Judgment, If General Grant were put into the
White House he would never be put Ou. while he
lived. or In words to this effect. That we are on
the Way to the fulf1lment OF this remarkable
prophecy will presently appear. The absorbing
and most perplexing question which you can now
put to regular republican who believes first in
his party and next in the national administration,
IL the fearful question, "Does General Grant desire
and expect to be nominated aud elected for third
Presidential termW You cannot from any repub
hcan who still believes in the loyalty of General
Grant to the republican party get an Ineligible
answer to this question. Mr. Thomas Murphy,
hitherto known to be and still widely sup
posed to be among the highest in the confidence
Of General Grant, cannot answer 1t. Nor can Sem
ator Conkling or Mr.. Speaker Blaine, OF Senator
Norton or Senator Logan nor can any republican
apostle or disciple who believes first In his party
and next in the administration They cannot
answer, because General Grant no longer confides
In them. His interests and his condolences hence
forth, as 1t now appears. lie IN another direction.
and for this simple and all sufficient reason: he
has resolved, nay, he has entered upon a new de-
parture. We can tell our republican aspirants for
the succession who are impatienty looking for
some sign from the silent man at Long Brancn-
who are still hoping that he VIII retire from the
Presidential field, under cover OF powerful broad
side IN favor OF the perpetuation OF the republican
party, that they are all adrt-we can tell them,
and from an intelligent source, that General Grant
does desire snd expect nomination and an elec-
tion Tor o third term; but not as the candidate
and standard bearer OF the republican party. We
say that he has entered upon new departure,
and here as given to u.s. is


HIS NEW PLAN OF OPERATIONS.


General Grant has discovered that the idea OF q
third term Is exceedingly distasteful to the
publican leaders, for 1t sets them all back and
breaks up all their calculations and expectations.
He has discovered that the idea OF a third term
even to General Grant is dtstasteful to the great
body OF the republicans throughout the country,
and that they do not entertain u serions thought
Of being called upon to vote third time for
him for the Presidency. More than this the Presi-
dent has discovered that II nominated for q third
serm by the republicans he will, In all probability,
not only be beaten, but disastrously defeated.
Still intent then, upon another election, how Is he
20 secure it9 The plan said to be adopted dis
closes something Of the admirable strategy and
tactics of his Chattanooga campaign. He will first
deceive the enemy as to his movements and then
crush him in detail. In plain terms General Grant
has entered upon the daring enterprise Of an elec-
ton for third term by the anti-republican and
anti administration forces Of the country,
and upon the liberal republican and democratic
platform Of 1872. including, particularly, gener-
GUS policy Of reconciliation towards the Southern
States and of absolute non-intervention in their
local AFFAIRS, and including the new plank, full
length, Of cheap transportation. The argument
submitted in favor Of this new departure Is as fol-
l0ws:-0u the platform Indicated, as an inde-
pendent candidate, General Grant will be sup
ported not only by the combined opposition forces
bat by the grand army Of of1ce-hoders, five
legtons strong; by the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie and BY the still grander and more powerful
political army of capitalists, bankers, brokers and
bondholders. This is the calculation, and that
General Grants thoughts have, since last fall, been
running in this direction, may be reasonably in
ferred from his alusion in his annual message Of
December last to the breaking up OF party lines OF
distinction In the recent elections; from his de-
ctsive reputation OF the republican would.be Gov
ernOr Davis. OF Texas; from his snubbing Of the
wouid-be Governor Brooks, OF Arkansas,
and from his unexpected veto OF the pet
Currency bill OF Senator G1rton and OF the
innatlon majorities Of tie two Houses supporting
him. Nor can 1t be doubted now that in that i'm
portant matter OF the appointment OF Chief JUS
tlce last winter the Presidents purposes and the
purposes OF tne republican magnates of the SEN
ate were widely different. These are but pre-.
Sumptions and inferences touching the new de-
parture suggested; but they will 60 far to
strengthen the evidence directly to the point
which follows


THE EVIDENCE.


few days ago leading liberal republican of
the West, encouraged by instructions that Presi-
dent Grant was strongly inclined TO new political
movement for a third term, came TO Long Branch
and called upon the President at his cottage to
obtain his views upon the subject. The results OF
this conference as given to the writer from third
party, an intelligent and responsible man. were
these After the usual Introductory formal.
ties the liberal republican ambassador hav-
ing stated the object OF his visit and
his desire for free Interchange of thought and
suggestions. the President said that the country
had manifestiy had enough OF the rule OF the re-
publican party; that the party had fulfilled its
mission and outlived its usefulness, and that the
people, tired OF the corruptions and demoraliza-
tions of the republican party In Congress, ana
tired OF Its extreme sectional measures, were
ready ana anxious for change. Next In the
course OF the conversation, the President sug-
Rested that II the liberal republican party would
take the lead in nominating him upon the plat
Sorm we have indicated he had no doubt of the
success OF the movement. The liberal repubh can
aegotiator submitted. however, that his party was
Dut handful OF men, and that Of the mselves, as
party they could do nothing


THE PRESIDENT REPLIED


that they were respectable body OF indepe ndent
men, that their principles were acce ptape 70 the
people. and that in moving for his reelection in
opposition to the regular republican rarty they
would first bring over the democratic party. and
that in the next place all the Southern States