The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-15
Governor TiIden's Recent Speeches.


Mr.. Tilden has since his Inauguration. AL
though he has been but little more than
seven months in Office he looms up as one Of
the two or three most distinguished leaders
of the democratic party and occupies larger
share Of favoring public attention than Sena-
tor Thurman, Governor Hendricks, Senator
Bayard or any of the trusted democratic
chiefs who have long held conspicuous pub
lie positions. The explanation of this rising
strength of our democratic Governor which
will be made by his personal admirers is
that he is not only politician but a states
man, and that he is shrewd and sagacious in
both lines of effort That he is a dexterous
politician is beyond question, but his title to
the higher character of statesman must
undergo further tests before it will be con-
coded by the country. His journey to Buff
falo and back is the calculated move
ment of an astute politician who
coveted an opportunity to deliver speeches
and make himself conspicuous. His
careful avoidance in these remarkable
speeches of every issue on which the demo-
cratic party is divided, and on which a cour-
ageous expression of opinion would injure
him with the democracy of the West is eau
tious and adroit, but betokens the politician.
He evinces the qualities of a statesman in
keeping clear of merely partisan issues and
in his strong appeal to that universal moral
sense which is shared by the honest men of
all parties. Instead of crying up his own
party, apologizing for its errors and claiming
for it o monopoly of public virtue, he makes
virtual confession that it has rotten men,
bers which need to be Topped of, and APP
peals to honest republicans to assist him in
his crusade against public plunderers and
robbers. This is level to which ordinary
politicians never rise, and although selfish
motive may Turk at the bottom it is a more
enlightened selfshness than is often ex-
hibited by ambitious men. Whether it will
ultimately strengthen his Presidential
chances or not, it is a line of effort which
time-serving politicians do not adopt, and
which deserves public encouragement Even
if Governor Tilden is disappointed in his
Presidential aspirations his mode of conduct
ing his canvass deserves high praise and
will exert wholesome influence upon our
politics.
Governor Tildens chief anxiety, as dis
closed in his late speeches. relates to the
choice of the next Legislature. He processes
comparative Indifference as to its party COM
plexion provided it consists of honest men
who will give him q vigorous support in his
measures of reform. He is willing to accept
republican allies in his warfare against the
thieves of both parties. He wishes the pub
lie plunderers stricken down in whatever
party livery they may appear. This is as
right in principle as it is sagacious in STRAIT
egg, but it is still method of playing q
Presidential game. If it should be the mis-
fortune of MI. Tilden to get at loggerheads
with the next Legislature his chances for
| the democratic nomination will be extin-
| guished. The democratic State Convention
for appointing delegates to the National Con-
vention will be held about the time of the
adjournment of the next Legislature and it
is Of supreme importance to Governor Til
den that his surprising popularity passes
undiminished through the great strain which
will be put upon it next winter. His expert
ence with the last Legislature gives him some
ground of apprehension, and his nervous
anxiety respecting its successor is perfectly
ineligible. All the corrupt rings in the State
which he has scotched but not killed" will
be active in the Assembly and Senatorial
districts in attempts to control the nominal
tions of both parties. If they succeed in
| electing Legislature which refuses to CO.
| operate with the Governor and defeats his
favorite measures the New York delegates
| to the National Convention will not be
unanimous for Tilden, and solid delegation
| in his favor from this State is an indispensa-
BILE condition of success He has sufficient
foresight TO perceive where his canvass hinges,
and his journey to Western New York and
| the vigorous speeches for which it furnished
the occasion have been adroitly planned to
promote his Presidential chances. His con-
slant exhortation in all these speeches to
elect an honest Legislature who will support
| his measures have an Interior view to the
maintenance of his popularity through the
next session, near the close of which his fate
as Presidential candidate will be decided
by the choice of delegates to the Democratic
| National Convention. If the democrats
should lose the State in the approaching can
vass, or if, carrying it, they should elect
Legislature hostile to the Governor, he would
be so thwarted and damaged in the course of
the session that his Presidential hopes would
go into total eclipse. He has sagaciously
taken time by the forelock in coming before
the public in those excellent speeches along
the line of the canal He has bearded the
Canal Ring in its chief dens, and boldly APP
pealed to the honest men Of the whole State
to support him in his war against public
robbers.
| Aristocracy i'm n New Phase.
/. e 1 IL IL. IL L.