The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-28
Is Governor Tilden Aiming ut the
PresidencyG

party and out of it, that he is; and his friends
think he is playing dexterous game. But
there is something to be said against this
hypothesis Let Us say in the outset that we
do not think it in the slightest degree dis
creditable to Mr.. Tilden that he aspires to the
highest Office in the country. 1t is proper
and laudable ambition when the Office is
sought as a recognition of great public SER
vices. Clay, Webster Calhoun, Cass, Seward,
Chase and many other statesmen of eminence
who never attained that honor sought it; and
it is as legitimate an object of pursuit by
Governor Tilden ms by Senator Thur
man, Governor Hendricks, Judge Church or
any of the democratic competitors If Gov
ernor Tildens assault on the Canal Ring was
prompted by Presidential aspirations, that
kind of ambition never selected more legiti-
mate or more honorable path to the highest
honors of the Republic. But when public
man comes to be regarded as leading candi-
date tor Presidential nomination he must
expect his conduct to be scanned, and Gov
ernor Tilden can claim no exemption from
ordinary criticism.
We could easily, if so inclined, make o
strong argument against the universal DEM
ocratic and the universal republican opinion
that Governor Tilden has set his heart on the
Presidency. In the first place, il he is aiming
at the democratic nomination in 1876, he has
exposed his hand too soon. Every other DEM
ocratic aspirant looks upon him with jealousy,
and they have all common interest in his
defeat. AS none of them has any chance
npla he 1o g AL
early exposure of his aims will combine all his
democratic competitors and convert thefriends
of all other possible candidates into active
opponents. They will say, with great color
of plausibility, that local struggle in New
York has but slight connection with national
politics. and that the national canvass must
be conducted with reference to broad national
issues. They will contend that the manage
ment of the New York canal is o question
with which the national government has no
concern, and that it would be absurd to elect
President with reference to local New York
question.
The democracy of the country will also
look to Mr.. Tildens political consistency.
When they find that he claims for the State
executive powers which he will not consent to
have given to the city Executive they will be
apt to say that Governor Tilden has less
regard for principle than for personal objects.
This contemptuous neglect of Mayor Wick
hams removals will be set in contrast to
his own claims to remove State officers
and as both powers stand on the same
ground of principle the democracy will find
it difficult to discover Governor Tilden's con-
sistency. II the Governor is aiming at the
democratic nomination he should naturally
be more careful to keep himself in harmony
With the fundamental principles Of the demo-
cratic party. Moreover, the conspicuous
manner in which he has made the Tribune his
confidential organ, and given it information
which enabled it to eclipse democratic jour
nails which have always been devoted to his
interests, shows that he is looking outside
Of his own party for support-a
circumstance which will be turned against
him by his rivals for the democratic nominal
ton. His coquetting with newspapers which
deride the democratic party, making them his
favored vehicles for communicating with the
public, has no tendency to raise him in tho
estimation OF his party. The subscribers TO
the Tribune may not be represented in the
Democratic National Convention, and if Gov
ernor Tilden we're aiming at the democratic
nomination he would naturally refrain from
woundino the sensibilities Of democratic
newspapers. lie seems to think the demo-
cratic press viii support him in any
event, and that all the support he
can get outside the party is clear
gain. But he oyerlooks the handle which his
democratic rivals will make Of such circum-
stance lie is putting it in their power to
render his devotion to the party suspected,
when no such suspicion can be raised against
Senator Thurman or Governor Hendricks. If
Mr.. Tilden is aiming at the democratic nomi-
nation be is playing his game badly. If he
wishes to be liberal republican candidate,
like poor Mr.. Greeley, with a democratic in
dorsemcnt, his conduct is ineligible; but the
success Of the Greeley movement was not such
as to encourage q repetition Of that sort of
campaign.
Governor Tilden's vigorous onset against
the Canal Ring should help him. but when
be makes that pretext for grasping at power
never possessed by any former Governor of
this state, and not conceded to the Governor
OF any State in the Union the people natu-
rally pause. The authority he asks is incon-
sistent with the State constitution, because
the constitution does not make the State OIL
GERS his subordinates. His attempt to establish
q some man power is inconsistent with tho
whole spirit Of an instrument which makes
the heads of the State departments as indie
pendent Of the Governor as he is Of them,
and his gasping at absolute power cannot
help him with the democratic party at a time
when anti Cesarism is its most effective party
crv. II Governor Tilden we're really aiming