Year: 1872

| reputation and man who commands very largo
influence in Chemung county. The district Is COM
| posed OF Chemung, Steuben and Allegheny the
two latter being republican str0ngholds. found
Mr.. Smith at his cosey residence tout on the plank
road the other side Of the rvern to use the words
OF the hack driver, who told me how he would have
to get me there. The only dif1culty found about
reaching the ''plank road" was that the
bridge over the river was in rckety
condition and that the horses had to
ford the stream, greatly to the disgust of the
driver, who complained bitterly for the sake of a
higher rate OF fare than he had barpained for
about the "extry warshr he would be compelled To
give his shaky vehicle on his return. The day was
intensely hot, and Mr.. Smith, when met him. was
like sensible man, sitting on the shady side of the
piazza OF the house, enjoying the breeze which
swept with delicious GOODNESS through the gardens
On learning that was travelling about to find out
how the political situation looked in the interior
he remarked that he would gladly give me all the
information in his power.


''This is


DEMOCRATIC COUNTY,
said he, "and the Greeley men are very naturally
met with In greater numbers here than in other
portions of the district"


"Are they not strong in the district as a general
tnings"


"They are not to an extent that gives us cause
for any alarm"


"You are Grant man, believe ?"


eyes, sir, and do not propose to be taken for
anything else so long as am able to show by word
and deed that am heartily in favor of Grants re-


~ understand that the Greeley republicans ara
quite numerous in Allegheny county.n
strength ana are working hard but they do 'He5t not
make much headway, 80 far as can learn. think
that during the past week or so, especially since
the North Carolina election, the Greeley men have
been losing ground. Many who were inclined to go
with them have become weakened, and now re-
fuse to join them."


"As general thing how do the farmers and the
country people look upon the liberal movement s'


THE GREAT REPUBLICAN HEART
of the State Is as sound ever, far as I know,
not only in this district, but In every other one.
You hear great deal about this and that proml-
p m ars
to everybody and naturally people are led to be-
lieve that with each one goes large body Of fol-
tiOn of principles at stake, and the local leaders
take sides in contest there Is always large fol-
tics But such has not been the case in this Gree
ley movement. The great mass Of the people are
true to the republican party. They seem to be


ANGRY WITH THEIR LEADERS.
who have abandoned them, and they, In their turn,
have abandoned the leaders, and now the latter
find themselves almost alone In the eneny's camp.
This, assure you, is a most noticeable feature of
the campaign thus far, so you can readily see that
when well known republican politician goes over
to the Greeley side he does not carry much OF a
backing with him. rhe masses who formerly be-
lieyed In these leaders refuse to be sold out like
sheep, and apparently have determined to think
and act for themselves"


"Does this not apply in your district and the
State with equal force to the local democratic lead
ers who declare for GrantY"


II have no doubt 1t does but the balance Is all the
time in favor OF the Grant party"


'Have all the Greeley republicans in the district
been good republicans heretofOre?"


"There are many well-meanng men among them
who have acted zealously in times past with the
republican party, but the greater portion OF them
are mon who have some personal grievance to
vent on the party, who are sore over


POLITICAL DISAPPOINTMENTS,
or who In times past were always threatening bolts
when matters here and there did not suit their
whims or Wishes"


"Now, what do you think about the actual result
in the three counties in your districts"


81 think there Is no reason to doubt large major
go democratic, of course, but think that the regu-
lar republican vote even IN 1t will be largely In
suspect that the democratic vote will not
be much heavier than that OF '6S. even
with the accession of the Greeley republicans for
Gratis who will vote for Grant, and a large number
again who prefer, rather than to sustain either,
not to vote at ALL Here in Elmira there are at least
hundred men of this stamp, all


FORMERLY GOOD DEMOCRATS,
and in the interior the numbers are very large,
there being scarcely village that has not It's stay
at-hOme or Grant democrat"


"Judging, then, from all you know of the situa-
tion in this county and the other two you believe
that Grant will carry the district beyond dOubtY"
believe the inroads of the Greeley republicans upon
the old majorites all things considered, win be in
significant"


This brought the conversation to close.