 | PRESIDENTIAL. Saratoga in 1901 |  |
PRESIDENTIAL.
“Your friends were a little disappointed when you refused to
have your name used Presidentially,” I remarked.
“No, not my friends. They want me to stay where I am.
General of the army for life is better than President for four
years. Grant regrets that he ever left the army now, and so do
I, except that he has done a good work as President.”
“Do you think it policy to elect Grant again?”
“Of course I do. Why not? He knows the ropes now—he
has become acquainted with the duties—acquainted with thousands
of public men, and ten thousand good-for-nothing White
House bummers who would do nothing but harass a new
President for the first year. He has just got where he can tell a
good man at sight. Humbug men always get the best credentials;
every Congressman signs their recommendation at sight,
and many of them deceive a new President. These party frauds
are now pretty much played out, and Grant is enabled to deal
squarely with true men. Experience and acquaintance is the
`stock in trade' of a good President.”
“Who will win in 72?”
“There is no question in my mind,” said the General, enthusiastically.
“I'll bet on Grant against the field—two to one.”
“Who will run against him?”
“There won't any body run; but, not being a politician, I
can't guess for a moment who will be nominated.”
“Hancock?”
“Well, he may be tempted to run. Hancock, you know,
dislikes Grant personally, and it would be an immense triumph
for him to get where he could rank him. Grant never showed
any dislike to Hancock. He went more than half-way to
conciliate him a year ago; but there is a clique in Washington,
a social clique, which manipulates Hancock and keeps up the
feud. Women have more to do with it than men.”
| PRESIDENTIAL. Saratoga in 1901 | |