Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-24
Features of the Cam.
Daigu of 1876.


Suggestive Features of the Cam.
paign Of 1876.
Many things make this Centennial
year of more than ordinary interest to
every observing American. Indeed,
our times are ominous, not only In re-
gard to the state of our own beloved
country, but in regard to the state of
the civilized world. With our own
country we have most concern; and in
this year we have much in the political
aspect of our times to excite concern
in all rejecting minds. We stop here
to notice one feature only-the strange
contrast in the selection of candidates
by the rival political parties.
Before the meetings of the nomina-
ting Conventions, on each side many
names were suggested, and SO a long
list was presented to the public as
marks for political sharpshooters. The
blemishes of many characters were
brought before the gaze Of the public,
whose suffrages were solicited. IRE
proachable characters were assailed by
the professional slander-mongers. On
the Republican side, Mr.. Blaine had
very fair prospects for nomination; but
SANDER had marked him for its shafts,
though without the shadow of stain at
taehing by attested facts. Like ali6i
proof he disproved every charge, Still,
malice clamored-therefore his nomi-
nation failed. His party had material
in healthy abundance. 1t had, with
scores of others, Hayes and Wheeler,
against whom even partisan malice
dared not to move tongue. On these
all friends Of the other candidates could
unite without hypocrisy, or retraction,
or compromise Of principle. So, very
generally, of all nominated for either
National or State campaign. Even the
surmise Of the possibility of scandal
has caused changes after the nomina-
tions were made, as in the case of the
candidate for Governor in Indiana.
Now, how with the other party?
Had it such an abundance of honest
and capable men from which to nomi-
nate its eandidate?-candidates upon
whom the entire press and army OF
stumpers could not open their artillery
from vantage standpoint, and pour in
to exposed broadside one concentrated
and effective volley? Surely it would
have been advisable, if possible, to Sc
lect men above reproach by honorable
at lesst, who would feel re-
spect for virtue. But party differing
upon every other issue, but its single
battle-cry, 'Refoym'-'Reform first,
midst and last-'R Reform defiantly and
even exultingly proclaimed, should
present candidates of established char
acter, as long-tried and proved reform
ers-reformers beyond suspicion even,
at least by the nominating and repre-
sented party.
That opponents should oppose
should hold up to public scrutiny ques-
tionable character would be nothing
strange. But that friends battling in
the cause, shoulder to shoulder, should
have spread out before the world
charges which, if half true, should doom
10 perpetual disgrace and political infa-
my is feature of reformation cam
paigning without parallel in the his
tory of sharpers or pirates even-for
here is honor among there's!
We are not dealing in hypothesis.
Facts are now going upon the record
Of American history. By the score,
files of Democratic journals are being
aid up for reference, bearing bold, de-
iberate and Oft-repeated testimony to
he slippery character of Tilden, that
hould doom him to perpetual infamy,
md the party represented to oblivion.
Nor are the charges of slippery specu-
ations diminishing, but ON the other
land they are aecumulating. Almost
very week bring to the public some
lew or long-forgotten swindle. Even
lonest old Western Pennsylvania
las not escaped the blighting counsel
# the Slippery Samuel. The Brady
Send Iron Works loom up with the
moke of its crash and the one million
f its absconded bonds, and is bank,
upt hundreds of suffering swindled
peratives and stockholders.
To talk of the Tammany viuaia
weed, and his comrade, the honest
,smmany refo'maer, Tilden, is to ex-
ibit q startling feature of strange and
esperate political campaigning. Have
onest Democrats turned dupes as will
ng allies of embezzling swindlers?
Are they blind to the prospective enor- {
nous swindle of millions in the pay {
1ent of rebel war claims, and the dis
of millions of freedmen? :
'or such ends Tammany Tilden is the
lost accomplished candidate that reb- t
ls and a rebel sympathizing party !
onld have selected. Bad as the party !
,aders may be, their candidate is a
'orse, just as he is the most slippery OF e
lem all.
And here, let candor ascertain, if by :
,rutiny it can, what is the import of I
le motto, 'Tilden and Reform? Is q
ne particle of reform pledged beyond l
he turning out of Republican officials, =
nd the placing Of Democrats in their \
cad? ITO the victors belong the o
ooilsv This is the sum of Tildep Re o
,rm, Pretty slippery is trained slip. .