Year: 1879

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


WAsHIxGToN. Dec. 10. 1879.
THE. GRANT MovEMENT-FACTs AND OPINIONS


DEVELOPED DURING THE MEETING OF THE


NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.


The assemblage of the National Republican Com
mitee here during the past week brought here at the
same time a considerable number Of prominent re-
publican politicians from different States, mostly
from the West and Northwest, some Of whom came
to influence the choice Of the place where the Con-
vention should be held and others to talk tho
party prospects. There good deal of Quiet
consultation aud interchange Of opinion, and
since the committee completed its work the opin-
ions to the future of the party. expressed by
various members and other leading men during
their visit here. have been the subject Of
ton in republican circles. Some Of these express
sions. especially Of leading Western men. shed
new light upon the prospects of candidates. It
turns out that. as was reported to you some days
ago by your correspondent in this column. there
is no such general desire for sentiment favorable
to the denomination of General Grant for third
term has been industriously given out by the
leaders Of the so-called Grant movement.


Mr.. Keyes. who is one Of the leading republicans
Of Wisconsin. and who will probably be to the
Senate from that State by his party, was supposed
to be strong Grant man; but he expressed himself
very frankly here to his friends as by no means of
that mind He regards the denomination Of General
Grant hazardous experiment for the party;
thinks him by . strong candi-
date. and would regret his nomination
ss exposing the party to risks Of defeat
which it would avoid by the nomination Of some
other man. Mr.. Enos, the member of the National
Committee from Wisconsin, agrees with Mr.. Keyes
in opinion. Friends with whom he spoke say, and
both these gentlemen and other Wisconsin men are
reported saying. that the Germans in that State
are strongly opposed to the Grant movement and
that they would probably refuse to support him.
There is also among Americans strong feeling that
Grants denomination would violate an important
political tradition and open the door to great
and dangerous abuses aud to interruptions
bitions.


Mr.. James P. Root. the Illinois member of the
committee. agrees with the Wisconsin men and re-
CARDS the denomination of General Grant hazard
step. likely to lose the republican party some IN
dispensable States. and several Illinois men who
were here with the committee joined In this belief
and remarked that there was such general
desire among the people for Grant as is
commonly given out by the Grant movement
people. but that. on the contrary. while Grant
everywhere received and welcomed "a great soldier
and an eminent citizen it was very plain that COM
paratvely few. and those not the best most inu-
ential members Of the party. wished him to be
nominated; that. in fact that question there was
. remarkable ooldness and aversion among tho
people.
+ DANGEROUS TO THE PARTY.


Mr.. Martin. Of Kansas; Mr.. Stone. of Iowa. among
the Western members Of tho committee. and num-
Der OF Northwestern political leaders who here
are quoted as of the same mind with the gentlemen
mentioned above. and regard the project to renomi-
nate General Grant as dangerous to the party.
likely to offend the voters. exposing the party
TO injurious suspicious among the epeople,
and as, in short. not . strong but . weak
nomination. The very general impression seems to
have been among the Western and Northwestern
men that while General Grant q private citizen
engaged in some conspicuous work like the
interoceanic canal would remain q great popular
favorite. his consent to become once more Presi-
Dental candidate would make him an object of
suspicion. would cause him to lose his hold upon
the people and would expose the party to the loss of
more States, like Ohio. which arc indispensa-
bic to its success.


RICHARD SMITHS OPINION.


Mr.. Richard Smith, Of the Cincinnati Gazette. who
has been her, for q week, and leading republi-
can of Ohio las had the best opportunities to learn
the opinions of the republicans from other States
who have been gathered here said to your CORE
spondent this afternoons


II have found very little Grant sentiment here
among our politicians. People have great respect
for General Grant; that is universal They would
do great deal for him out of regard and gratitude
for his military services but found very general
feeling prevailing that it would be a mistake to
ronominate him because It would endanger the cleo
tion. Several republican members of Congress have
said to me since have been here that this Grant
movement has awakened them to q real danger In
our system of government and forces them to favor
Six years term. with no reelection


"The opposition to General Grant as o canddate'
continued Mr.. Smith. "is not on personal grounds
It does not arse FAR have secn, either out of
personal dislike of him or out Of a desire
for the OF some other candidate
1t arises out of o belief. which 1 found
very general among our people assembled here that
General Grant would not be strong candidate. 1t
seems to mo settled fact that General Grant
caunot get the nomination with anything like unan-
unity II he becomes q candidate he will, it is clear
have to go into tho Convention with others and like
others. There is o strong and growing feeling
against his denomination. SO strong even now that
II is my belief that IL the Convention to be held
In the next thirty daysit is very doubtful IL hecoud
get the nomination. and there would have to bo q
struggle for It, and tins feeling is growing and do
veloping all the time."


POSITION OF THE PRESS


Mr.. Smith continued :-'Another point has struck
me. In talking with tho edit RS of republican jour
mails who have not taken public position on the ques-
tion of candidates hnd that they are. almost IL
not quite without exception. opposed to General
Grants denomination. but kindly feeling toward
tho General prevents them from at this
time taking ground against Grant They express
tho hope that he will presently sec the mpropriety
of his present position aud the painful enbarrass
ment to which it exposes many who like him as .
general and as man. aud that this will cause him
to publicly decline q denomination and deHnitely