Year: 1879

and will add to the esteem respect and confidence
also simplifies the contest of 1880 very much be-
cause 1t directs the minds of the people thus
early to the choice of some other distinguished
gentleman who may aspire to the Presidency,
ana VIII be Likely to stop all speculation as to Gem
eral Gr ants wishes in relation to denomination
nave always thought that at the proper time he
would give definite expression to his views respect
Ing this important matter. | think he has done so
IN ms Interview with the Viceroy. and believe the
country will accept what he says the expression
OF his deliberate purpose and intention not to again
permit the use OF his name in connection with the
presidency. do not think that any man has "a right
to question his honesty and sincerity certainly any
man who knows him well will not do so.'


GRANT-sENAToR GORDON DOUBTS HIS SIN


CEEITY.


ATLANTA. Ga. August 25, 1879.


Your correspondent called Senator Hill at his
home this morning and called his attention to the
interview between General Grant the viceroy of
Tientsin. in which General Grants possible
sion to President Hayes was discussed. Mr.. Hill
said


II have read the short conversation to which you
alude and can you that read it with great
interest. ! noted with pleasure General Grants
positive expressions of disinclination to another
Presidential term


what did you think Of the effect Of that interview
upon our politicsw


I am anxious to believe and will believe that Gen.
era Grant is sincere In these utterances desire to
believe that we have something decent and great
left in American politics and these words Of General
Grant, If they were uttered sincerely, and if he is
steadfast enough to act upon them, both decent
and great. Indeed it is not too much say that if
General Grant shall act upon the wso and patriotic
sentiment he has thus expressed will prove him.
self to be a far greater than ever his warmest
admirers have claimed him to be. But if it shall
turn out that he has uttered these words merely to
deceive d means of seeming to push aside the
Presidency, only that he may seize it the more
tainly, Us Caesar did the crown then he will prove
himself to be man of the lowest cunning and far
worse than his bitterest enemies have ever claimed
him to be-"


GENERAL GRANTS GREAT WORDS.


Do you think it possible that General Grant could
be using these words with view of deceiving the
publicY


IL say that desire to believe that he is sincere
and that will believe it until forced to opposite
conclusion. There are some curious points in Gen.
eral Grants character. doubt il he could make an
argument. He Is certainly not constitutional law
YER And yet he has frequently said great things.
He has uttered expressions equal to anything in his
tory. But it must be confessed that he has not
always lived up to the spirit Of his past sayings.
were fully equal to those of the greatest COM
manders in any age or country. But when he de-
scended into politics his actions took all the brighter
glory from the record he had made great gen.
eral. On celebrated occasion he said, No man
worthy to hold tho Presidential Office would take it
tainted Win NOtulug greater or DeCter tnan
this was ever said by any man. But 1t turns out
that at that very moment he was doing what the
constitution did not authorize and what no prece-
dent could excuse-appointing visiting statesmen.
who stimulated and encouraged the greatest fraud
ever known in the history of any people. No man
did half much General Grant to give this fraud
tnal consummation. But believe that In the in
stances noted and in similar instances General Grant
meant what he said. but that his meaning was de-
stroyed by the action of bad men who unfortunately
had his confidence and who cared nothing for Cen
eral Grants fame or for the countrys good.


sNnv Ar,tt, ra1 n1n -
men will try to nulfy General Grants grand
words to the viceroy. They will try to General
Grant so that they can make raid on the Offices If
they succeed with him in this instance as they have
In the past, they will ruin his fame irretrievably.
But if General Grant will only be firm enough to
patriotic utterances. he will live in history by the
side Of Washington"


HAPPY COUNTRY.


"If General Grant shall act what will be the
enect?"


The effect of General Grants declination will be
happy for the country in every respect and in
great degree. He Is the only man living-he is tho
only man that will live in many generations-who
history and our most sacred guarantee of repub-
lican government. No other man will attempt the
This question rises above party or party considera-
tions. Besides. I think that the republi-
cans might make much stronger nomination
than that of General Grant would be. They could
make u much better race under such man Evarts
Justice Miller in 1880 than with Grant. But Gen
eral Grapt could defeat either OF them nominat-
ing convention. And must confess, democrat as
am. that would regard the election OF Evarts
Miller as a less national calamity than the simple
nomination of General Grant. II Grant should be
nominated in 1880 we should have one Of the most
bitter and dangerous campaigns that this country
has ever seen. most heartily wish to avoid such .
campaign for the good of the country. am not
ashamed to say that hope-I sincerely hope-that
statesmen. In that event shall avoid the danger
and shame of bitter sectional campaign. and, what
ever the result may be- it will not be destructive"


SENATOR GoRDoNs VIEWS.


met General Gordon at the Capitol and asked him
what he thought of General Grants interview with


II cannot put much confidence" said he. Gin the
apparent motive OF General Grants words 1t
seems to me that he does not decline positively. but
rather puts himself i'll the attitude of being able to
say in Of the failure of his party to give him
the nomination. that he had declined it, and in
it is rendered him say that to him unsought
and over his protest. l must confess. therefore.
that cannot consider this decnation on the part
OF General Grant. 1t would be very easy for him
to speak positively upon the subject"


"Do you not think 1t will be accepted as positive
by the country


81 do not know l do think ths:-I do not be-
heve that General Grant could be elected il he
nominated. and think the party managers know
that to be true. The articles of the HERALD on
C9sarism of several years ago made ienffaceable
impression upon the American mind, and General
Grants nomination now or hereafter would be ha-
granty in violation OF the spirit that inspired those
articles and IN outrage upon tho sentiment OF tho
country. The example OF Washington has been
strengthened by continued examples that it has be-
come the unwritten law OF the country and ono OF
our most essential laws. The people will not it
violated, save In some tremendous emergency. No
emergency exists at present. except tha emergency
of few dispossesscd Office holders SO. say. this
feeling against third term would inevitably de-
feat General Grant IL there were Vulnerable
points III his record and weakness in his admins
traton.


ONLY CHANCE ron REPUBLICANS.


''In addition to this" continued General Gordon.
81 do not believe that any 'stalwart carry the
country in 1880. again. The only chance tor
the republican party. in my opinion, is to nominate
some man of liberal and patriotic views, who can
win back to the ranks the liberal men who have been
driven out of them. IL thought this country could
be carried on u sectional violent platform next
yearafter the has been closed for fifteen years
after the peace-oving. law-abiding record of the
South for the past six yearsI should almost despair
OF the Republic. should know to certainty that
we need never hope for complete national harmony
and reconciliation aud that the South would bo held
in continual and lasting subjecton to the North.
that some fearful disaster would befa or course
IL General Grant is sincere in his words they
very important. But whether he Is sincere or
cunning. do not think he could be elected Presi-
dent again; first because the American people will
give third term of the Presidency to any
living man. and secondly because he has represented
and still represents through his friends policy OF