Year: 1875

CURIOUS VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENT.
"A Washington correspondent OF the
St. Louis Republican has discovered
that President Grant was greatly pleased
with the result of the Fall elections.
The views which this correspondent
presents are curious and interesting,
but the sagacious editors of that journal
do not vouch for them as correct. Both
the journal and correspondent are
strongly anti Grant. and some allowance
must be made for prejudice. According
to this authority, General Grant reasons
in this way: During last year the Re-
publican party showed indications of a
purpose to get along without him. Some
of the leaders openly took ground
against third term. Some joined with
the Democrats in instituting investiga-
tions into matters that were in the hands
of General Grants particular friends.
In many respects the party fal:ered in
its de-otion and seemed to be preparing
to serve Grant as other Presidents had
been served--that is, to place him on a
shelf when his second term should ex>
pire. The correspondent goes ON to
say that Grant objects strongly to this
method of disposal. He determined.
therefore, to teach the refractory leaders
a lesson. As part of this policy he
withdrew his active supper. from Con-
gressional candidates, and they fell in
numbers. The greater the fall the bet.
ter, the correspondent thinks, Grant
liked it. 1t was not precisely his funer-
al. 1t was a side show in which he
had little more than spectators inter-
est. The Republicans would be made
to understand by these defeats that they
had no certainty of electing President
in 1876, and what chance thsy had was
with Grant as q candidate. With him
they might succeed, but with any other
candidate they could have little chance.
The correspondent is Of the opinion
that Grant expects now to succeed in
his projects. The measures he has
forced through Congress will enable
him to control the Conventions in all
the Southern States. These leave him
in q minority of 42. Then there is
Conkling. Of New York. who wants to
be President in 1880, and Ben. Butler.
of Massachusetts,, who always wants
something and is ready to earn'it. The
votes in Convention of New York and
Massachusetts, added to u SOLID South
would nominate Grant. Once nomina-
ten he thinks himself safe. He believes
in his destiny. 1t will be tremendous
political revolution that " ill put the cleo
ton out of the reach ofExecutive supervi-
sion. especially in the present disturbed
condition of some the Southern States.
These are speculations more curious,
probably. than correct. That President
Grant regards himself as the strongest
candidate the Republicans can nominate
is quite probable. but we give him credit
for too much sagacity to contemplate
making himself his own successor by
any other means than fair vote of the
people. He kno W. enough Of the tenn
per of the American people to know
that the day he should exercise uh awful
powers in behalf of himself he would
be left without a corporal's guard oi
supporters. 1t is quite possible, how
ever, that Grant does not care to have
the Republican majority too large. Il
is equally certain that he does not want
the majority the other way. If the
majority is large. a nomination will be
regarded as equivalent to an election,
and some o,her leader will do as we'll al
Grant. If the majority is the otbel
way, there is a chance that Grant with
all its patronage will secure the number
of electoral votes necessary for an elec'
ton. This, however. depends very
much upon who shall be the opposing
candidate on the Democratic ticket.