Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-09
Governor Tilden's Letter.

Tildeu has SPOKEN al last lie has incu-
bated for some weeks and the result is be-
fore the public. The time aud care used in
the preparation indicate the solicitude at
tending the labor.
When political leader goes into the fight
it is important his position should be well
aud carefully defined. Tilden was conscious
Of this and his letter is a srecious and in
genious attempt to adapt himself TO the
"ways of the hour"
II we did not know it was written by Til
den, we might suppose it was written by
Hayes, with the exception Of single posi-
tion-the resumption act. II is not the first
time democratic leaders have stolen Republi-
can thunder. In 1872 their platform was
one with which no good Republican could
find substantial fault. The people knew
it was a hollow and insincere pretence, that
the party who adopted it was made up Of the
rottenness Of the North combined with the
rebeldom Of the South and So by their bal.
lots ia the autumn Of that year, they con.
signed 1t 10 the tomb Of the Capulets.
Governor Tilden wants economy in the
administration of national affairs. SO d.
we. But Governor Tilden omits to tell the
country that from a recent tabular statement
from the records Of the Treasury Depart
ment it appears that al the losses from EN-
bezllements aud defalcatous under l,epub
lican administration, since lSGl, is only
sevenly-eight cents to a thousand dollars
while it was nine dollars aud two cents pei
thousand for the forty years previous 10 that
time, embracing the democratic administra
tions of Jackson, Van Buren,, Polk Pierce
and buchanan.
Tilden wants reform ia the civil service
SO do We But Governor 1ilden omits 70
| tell the country that the defect in the civil
service consists in the appointment Of ire
sponsible and incompetent politicians tc
places Of public trust and that this policy
originated in the democratic administration
of General jackson, aud has become part
of the history Of that party ever since
Governor Tilden deplores the hard times
and the pressure of need upon the working
classes. So do we. But Governor Tilder
omits to tell the country that the pres
ent pressure is the result of taxation Il
raise money to meet the honest obligations
Of the government, which obligations becam
necessary 10 save the country in time OF wal
which war was caused chiefly by those win
now call themselves democrats, aud notahl,
Governor 'rildm.
Governor Iildeu wants TO return 10 speci
payment. So do We The only diiierenc
is, we have said by an act OF Congress tina
we will return to it by 1870 while Goveno
Tilden tells the country we ought to return
to it when we are able, aud makes no pre-
tension that We shall be able before Isl!
la short, hc takes no definite position, an
so attempts to glide between the Sylla ana
Charybdis of the Western soft, aud the Eas
eru hard money men.
This letter of 1lden's is a sham. II
worse than that II is cheat and in entir
accord with the antecedcntso of the Slipper
Samuel" 1t won't pass in Vermont, We
mont remembers him aud the party whic
he leads ten years ago. Pretcnces Al
nothing. Promises are nothing,
The experience Of the past is the on
guide for the future. The people have tN
tickets before them. Each party HAY
adopted platforms enunciating substantial
the same principles. One is headed by Hay
aud Wheeler, about whom all the scayenge
of the democratic press are unable TO utter
word of scandal The other by Tilden IA
Hendricks, two of the most notorious co
pcrheads during the war. One party is COZ
posed of the education aud intelligence
the North and of those who We're loyal
their country in time Of war, The other
a united South except South Carolin
marching in solid phalanN to the beat of Il
democratic drum, and followed close in Il
wake 10y the cohorts OF John MorriSsey, Il
prince of faro gamblers and john Kelly, Il
prince of political gamblers, in New York.
with such platforms, such leaders aud !
ltical parties thus made up, can any VI
, monter doubt what his duty is ?