Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-05-18
THE SITUATION.

Dental elect OIL since the begin
mug of the GovcInm"n III which
cubic opinion la, been NJ apa.
tietic in regard tn candidates ~
81 the eve oftlIe approaching tam
pIgn. In all preceding INSTANCES
sle choice ot candidates has Ln eli
sharply defined months previous
This appliss equally ~ the Repui 4.
..can and Democratic parties. IL
Ia the natural result of the states.
man attempting to follow. instead
OF to lead, public opinion. The
person. least obnoxious tU this crit
ism seems to be TILDEH, and il
= because he is u OF tue few
old fashionrd Democrats who rep
resent a principle. The most
salient point Of his strength is that
he has not only dared TO he a re
former, but has been successful.
BRfsrow is trying the same career,
but will probably be thrown over
10y his party. The expulsion Of
TWEED from the country and the
suppression of the canal ring attest
the vigor of TILDEN, but the con
cessions of BRlsTow in regard to
HENDERSON aud BABcocK show
that he is not vet established in
power as a reformer. Reform is
the true question, and in fact, the
only necessary issue in the ap.
preaching election, and a%ssuredly
TILDEN is its most prominent and
powerful representative. The
sleat danger to TILDEN's success
il the paper-money heresy in the
West.
TlLDEN is too sagacious to be.
iievc that either he or a thousand
stronger men can reverse the fixed
principles of finance and political
economy bv the clamorous assev-
GRAFTON that g~reenbacks are as
good as gold. He leaves such
nonsense to the Cincinnati En-.
quircr and the semi-civilized finan-
clers of class. But as a compensa-
ton he will have the undivided
support of the Northern Democra-
~ and sonnd thinkers throughout
the South. This probably is his
weakness with the impecunious
people of the country, and as they
are now largely IN the majority,
he will he exposed to an unusual
ordeal.
THURMAN approaches closely to
TiLDEN both in good sense and
~sasacity, and is rather more popu
lar with the soft money men be-
canse he is not so decided.
In the East, BAYARD has culture,
grace and capacity. He would
make an excellent president; but
his State is small, his birth patri-
clan, and his followers rather gift
Ell than n lmerous. Among these
Democratic chiefs there has been
no preponderating expression Of
opinion in Kentucky. The only
settled idea in that Kentucky
wants a straight-out Democrat,
and will tolerate no further at
tempt at compromise in the party.
Under these circumstances the
policy Of the Democracy Is clear.
Reform is the only issue that ought
80 be presented. and the currency
question should be suhordinatcd
or stiled. THIS view Is shared Ivy
some of the most prominent men oi
the State. They naturally want a
Western man, but they are not will
ling TO abandon a tried Democrat
and the reform issue for any
cquivOcal' andidate or whimsical
theories Of finance.
A .icket composed Of TILDEN
and THURMAN would be the most
powerful in America, If the amhi-
lion Of friends could make the
necessary concessions. 1t is clear
that New York, with her five mil
lions of people, is indispensably
necessary to a Democratic victory.
and if Ohio should aid with THUR
MAN, or Missouri with BRoADHEAD,
Ior second place, the nomination.