The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-14
Tuden's Position.

sections of the Democratic party. General
McCLERNANp, OF Illinois, boldly took the
bull by the horns when he declared that
TnpEN was nominated for President ut a
time when hard money had been almost
banished from circulation by " vicious legis-
lation''; but the address OF Mr.. HANNA,
who in some degree represented Governor
HENDRICKS, and the letter or written ad-
dress OF the notifying committee, make no
mention OF this disturbing subject. In fact,
Governor TnDEN himself said nothing on
this point, in replying to the addresses
which had been made to him. But he did
remark that he did not desire on that occa-
sion 30 "anticipate any topics which might
be appropriate !" to his letter Of acceptance.
II he had not made this remark, however,
his well-known character would have been
a sufficient guarantee that he would dodge
no question and fail to meet no issue that
may be involved in the election.
The ST. Louis platform denounces one
clause OF the act OF Congress Of 1876 as ga
hindrance to resumption" Lieutenant
Governor DoRSnEIMER said in the Conven-
ton that he had yielded under protest to
this feature OF the platform. The trouble
with him, and with Governor TILDEN, and
with the New York Democrats generally, is
that the Democrats Of the New York Legis-
lature last year put themselves on the record
rs being opposed to the repeal Of the re-
sumption act, and Governor TILDEN az
L1,n;,
platform denounccs only one clause Of the
act OF 1875. We have always regarded that
act rs an unwisc and ill-considered
measure. 1t has had no good effects,
and can have none, in our opinion.
1t has tended to obstruct the channels OF
commerce and to paralyze trade and bust
ness, but has had no influence in bringing
about specie payments. Yet, as the New
York Democrats have pledged themselves
not g to take any steps backward" on this
question-a promise which Governor HAYES
reminds them OF by quoting their words in
his letter of acceptance-a as Governor
TILDEN will dislike either to criticisc the
platform upon which the st. Louis Conven-
ton placed him, or to profess to have changed
his opinions on the question, he must feel
some embarrassment in preparing his let
ter of acceptance. Besides all this, Governor
HENDRICKs's wishes are to be taken into
consideration. We had ourselves always
included Governor HENDRICKS amongst the
hard-moncy men Of the country; and we
know of no reason now for supposing that
- NJ pL 1I1f
perceive that the soft-money men in the
West. and particularly in Ohio, are giving
as a reason for their support OF the
ticket the statement that HENDRICKS
suits them much better than TILnEN.
Indeed, the Cincinnati Enquirer calls
upon Governor TILDEN to treat the Demo
Gratis OF Ohio and Indiana more tenderly
than the ST. Louis Convention treated them.
These are indications that the Democrats OF
those two States ut least look upon Cover
nor HENDRICKS as Il sympathizer in their
theories on the money question; and we
know from his last reported speech that he
is in favor of the repeal OF the resumption
act But rs the st. Louis platform dc
nounces that act rs ''hindrance to re-
sumption" whilst General EWING and his
Ohio friends oppose it rather because it at
tempts to provide for return to specie
payments than for any other reason, Gov
ernor HENDRlCKs's real position cannot be
inferred from anything that he has said
since his nomination. If, however, we can
safely infer his position from the facts here
hn, Will ha1-a to ha cntG
as rather leaning to the side OF what are
called "thc inflationistS" OF Ohio.
But there is another point to be con-
sidcred. Governor HAYEs's letter OF ac'
ceptance is claimed by his eastern sup,
porters as placing him before the people az
the champion OF hard money and early re-
sumption Of specie payments. We thoughi
his declarations upon these two points q
little obscure; but his eastern friends dc
not admit that such is the case. They scout
the idea that there can be any doubt as tc
bis opinions.
Under these circumstances, Governor
TILDEN will write his letter Of acceptance
What position will he take as to the resump-
ton act, as to hard money, and as to speedy
return to specie payments AS to the first
he might content himself with endorsing
the declaration Of the st. Louis platform
which denounces it only rs ga hindranct
to RESUMPTION" And this dcnunciation ht
might easily enough reconcile with the re
solution passed b. the New York Lesisla
Iature, seeing that that resolution was baset
upon the mistaken assumption that the ac
OF 1875 would prove an aid to resumption
instead OF hindrance. AS to the sccont
point-hard money-Governor T1LnES vii
doubtless declare rs clearly and decidedly il
its favor as he can. lie knows that the vote
of New York, as well as that OF New
jersey and that OF Connecticut, vii
never be given to any man who fail:
to come up to the mark on this cues
ton. In fact, from all that we coulG
learn at St. Louis, we could not but come
to the conclusion that TILDES would
strengthen himself in every section OF tht
country by the clearcst possible declaration
in favor OF gold and silver as the only true
basis OF the currency. Not only the State:
we have just named, but Oregon, Califor
MIA, Nevada, Colorado, and Wisconsin-al
being States which arc claimed for TILDEN-
are as strongly in favor OF hard money u
Massachusetts. Whether, however, thes
surmises be well founded or not, Governo
T1LDEN will almost certainly prepare al plan!