The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-03
From the NeIo York Tribune.
Tllden To the Front.

Tllden TO the Front.
The Utica convention has adjourned. 1t
chose a Tilden delegation throughout,
passed a most adroit and skillfully worded
Tildeu resolution, and instructed its dele
gates to work as a unit. The convention
was absolutely for Tilden There was not
enough opposition to him in the conven-
ton to make a decent show Of difference of
opinion; and none among those who strove
TO get in, until they were shut out What
the Tribune told its readers a month ago
was fulfilled to the letter, viz, that the
talk about Tilden's not being able to con-
troll his own state was the twaddle of idiots
or knaves.
1t will be idle for either Republicans or
Independents to underrate the significance
of this situation. Yesterdays work makes
Gov Tilden the most prominent candidate
of either party in the United States. 1t
places him out Of sight ahead Of anybody
in his own party, and gives him a better
show than anybody has yet been able to
make in the opposite party. For il may
be taken as reasonable basis of calcula-
ton that he can carry his own state. That
state is essential to Democratic success
With it, and with the two neighboring
states which almost invariably 60 as it
does. with the nearly sold vote of the
south, and with the Pacific slope, the
Democratic candidate may be elected
From this time until the meeting of the st.
Louis convention Democrats everywhere
will probably more and more come to be-
leve that Coy. Tilden is the one man in
their party who can unite this strength.
At present there is nobody who can be
named against him, excepting Judge
Davis. and favorable opinions Of Judge
Davis chances seem to arise solely in the
poisonous exhalatiOns of Washington.
There is no place in the United States
where 50 little Is known of the real temper
and tendency Of the people. and No place
from which the political horoscope cannot
be better cast.
There is nothing of the "iavorite son
in Mr.. Tilden's canddature New York
asks his nomination at st. Louis because
he is the conspicuous representative OF
whatever is best and most decent in
Democracy, and because, with any other
candidate, Democracy runs serious risk OF
defeat in this empire state. The feeling
here is strong, because men know the
facts. There are very few Democrats who
would have even chance to carry New
York this year against strong Republi-
can candidate. The name Of Mr.. Tilden,
and the popular appreciation OF his work
for reform, saved the state to Democracy
last fall. To the Democrats New York is
vital. Losing this state, they lose the
presidency. 1t will not be safe for the
Democratic party to attempt New Yorl
with any other candidate, for two reasons
This is essentially hard money state
The mere suspicion Of sympathy Will
regulators would kill any candidate here
But the position of Mr.. Tilden on tina
question has been such as TO excite tn
bitter opposition from infauOnists ant
repudiatOrs. Their determination to com
pass his defeat has not been disguised
A ''greenback' delegation is to be sen
from this state with the avowed purpos
of defeating Mr.. Tilden. Under thes
circumstances, his defeat in the Demo
cratic convention would be a triumph o
foes OF the public honor, and, no matte
how worthy the candidate might be in othe
respects, he would be looked upon witt
suspicion, as the choice Of those who hav
sworn, by the defeat of Mr.. Tildon, t
avenge the defeat Of Allen in Ohio las
fall.
Mr.. 1ilden il the one Democratic re
former. There are other Democratic gov
ernors. But not one of them has foun
opportunity TO signalize himself by wal
fare against corruption. Mr.. Tide
started the war against the Tammany rims
pulled the wires to which some Republi
cans answered like puppets, and contrib
uted the legal ability aud jealous industr
aud skill without which the ring woul
have escaped all punishment. He opene
the war against the canal ring, probed it
rascalities to the bottom, and, in spite @
the hostility of men called Democrats an
of other men called Republicans, won tn
support Of the people and has triumphed
1t is notorious that the creatures of tn,
ring hunger for vengeance. When MI
Tilden's name is mentioned in the 81
Louis convention, the question will b
whether the Democratic party intends t
make an example of reformers by punish
ing the only candidate who has made him
self hated by all tanner of knaves.
These questions will affect not the vot,
Of southern states, where the hunger 70
emancipation from Grantism may secur,
victory for any candidate, not the vote o
states which, knowing nothing of corrup
rings, their methods and works, are dis
posed to accept any candidate as thu
choice OF the Democratic party, not tn
vote OF hali-crazed western states wher
the lever OF reputation is so potent tina
Morton tramples upon Republican
pledges, and Thurman insalts Democratic
traditions. They affect the vote of New
York. This is hard money to the core
and will vote for no man because the re
pudators prefer him. 1t has known tn,
power of knavish rings, and will vote 70
no man whose nomination will be rebuk
to the one fearless and uncompromisinl
Democratic reformer. And the Demo
Gratis know that they can succeed withou
Ohio, or Indiana, or Pennsylvania; tina
they can safely abandon the whole ives
and northwest; but that they cannot sue
coed without New York