Year: 1871

| Tho Auti-Grant Republican Movemens-
General Butler, Senator Wilson and
Thurlew Woed ON she Stand.


The report from Washington, which We


published the other day, OF conspiracy
among certain prominent anti-Grant repnbll-
cans for the defeat Of General Grant In 1872,


through coalition with tho democrats, includ-


ing the rumor Of o projected secret council on


tho subject, at Harrisburg, of republican


soreheads, has created q great sensation


among the politicians far and wide, and fear
full futtering among the pigeons. A HERALD


reporter at Boston, from an interview with


General Butler and Senator Wilson, each on


the subject, brings them out into bold relief
touching this alleged conspiracy.


General Butler, ON tho call Of our reporter
upon him for Information on the subject,
burst into hearty laugh. He thought the
whole affair very funny and q clever joke
which had been played upon some fresh cor
respondent at Washington; but finding that
some Of the papers and portion Of the public
were swallowing the story he had set himself
right in letter to the press. He says In this
letter, in regard to this reported anti-Grant
conspiracy, Il have neither said, thought, nor
dreamed Of such thing. which We accept as
full acquittal Of General Butler. But hs is
wide Of the mark in pronouncing this anti
Grant republican movement as nothing moro
than joke.


Senator Wilson, we are sorry to say, has


un< hoH mo lot fn no
and they have got little ahead Of him; but,
touching this Harrisburg scheme, he does not
believe th.ro is . word Of truth in the whole
story. He believes that General Grant will
be renominated and reelected, that he is an
honest man and at the head of an honest ad-
George Wilkes twas far from enthusiastic
over tho administration Of General Grant,"
and thinks that Wilkes may be working for
the zone term principle" In reference to his
colleague, Senator Wilson says that, notwith-
standing the fact that General Grant and Mr..
Sumner are personally hostile to each other,
81 am quite confident that the Senator would
not degrade himself or his party by such .
conspiracy as that which the papers allude
to-" General J. D. Cox, ex-Secretary Of the
Interior, who is supposed to be among the
disaffected by reason Of his enforced with
drawal from the Cabinet, has also been ques-
toned as to the matter, way out in Cincinnati,
and he says that SO far as he is concerned
the reported conspiracy is without foundation
In fact. So far so good.


f0 hn Thur1
Weed and his remarks to another HERALD
reporter in search Of information. On the
matter Of this aforesaid conspiracy, 81 declare
to you, candidly," he said, ''this is the first
have beard Of such . movement. The story
Is made out Of whole cloth, 80 far as am
but I cannot say anything as to
the other gentlemen" and then. as knowing
smile crept over his face, he bade our unsatis-
fied reporter ''Goodby, sir" and went up Fifth
avenue. Full as he must be Of the subject he
had not word to say about General Grant or
Mr.. Greeley or the democratic situation. As the
venerable President maker, however, has not
been to Long Branch or Washington for some
time, it is possible that he Is preparing mani
festo with which to startls the world one of
these fine mornings on ew departure.


We shall get at this projected coalition
between the ant-Grant republicans and the
democracy by and by. There is q good deal
of it visible upon the surface, but there is
more in 1t than has yet appeared above water.
We expect some very interesting develop
ments on the subject at Washington with the
reassembling of Congress and the gathering
there Of the leading inside and outside poll
ticiaus Of the democracy and the anti Grant
republicans. Coalition or no coalition, tho
necessities Of their case will compel the
Democratic National Committee Of Congress,
as soon as possible, to define their position.
The case admits Of no delay.