New-York tribune., 1876-07-13
rdJsF rSSUES and REAL ONES.


paign, between two candidates of acknowl-
edged purity and ability, might be conducted
in manner decent, if not positively creditable.
Even those who know no other motive than
desire for success might find reason to refrain
from the ordinary brutalities in this contest.
Ii will do no good to accuse Gov. 1llden OF
stealing railroads. The insinuatiOn that Gov.
HAYES did not write his own letter OF accept
ance will have 10 other effect than to disgust
respectable Democrats When 1t Is asserted
that influential journals have been brlbed to
support Mr.. Tilden, or Mr.. Hayes is Il salary
grabber and a tool of the monopolies, the as
sertion is not only indecent but very apt to-
harm only those who make it. Is it not possi-
bic for both parties to agree upon one order
of the day: "Blackguards to the "rcar"
Misrepresentations are TO be expected. Intel
ligent and honest men, who differ i'll under
standing or knowledge Of facts, are apt to make
contradictory statements of which one or the
other is a misrepresentation. But there are
some assertions already made which are so
hostile to facts that it requires all ones charity
to attribute them to honest men, OF this sort
are the statements that "GOy. Illden never
"opposed the Tammany Ring until it was
" defeated; :" that "the military operations on
" the plains have been crippled by Democratic
" economy" that the reform which Gov.
HAYES proposes is "mercly to keep Grant 5
"apDointees in Office" and that bis letter
carefully avoids commitment respecting
the Resumption act" Let us assure the
heated paItisans on both sides that these and
other similar assertions are likely to do them
more harm than good Sensible men perceive
that they are untrue, and think the worse OF
cause which seems to need such defense.
Men who are not sensible ordinarily vote with
their party, are governed Ivy passion'or preju-
dice and are rarely hit by the missiles com
monty known as campaign lies" The better
class of voters have been watching events with
great interest for some time. He who would
win them must pay some respect to facts.
All intelligent voters know that Gov. Hayes,
though nominated last year on a weak and
evasive platform, made bold, manly, uncom-
promising fight for hard money; that he with
others who did the same forced tlmld party
to come forward TO that honorable position
and support him; that his recent reply to
pointed inquiry was equally brave and eX-
plicit and that his letter of acceptance not
only declares that he stands by his record III
the past, but contains this notable sentence:
al regard all the laws of the United States re-
"lating to the payment of the public lndebtes-
ness, the legal-tcnder notes included, as con-
stituting a pledge and moral obligation OF
" the Government which must III good falth
" be kept" This is incomparabiy more eX-
plicit than the Republican platform. 1t comes
from a man who has shown that he has the
courage and the ability to lead his party IN the
best sense BY these words he casts behind
him all the pitiful evasions of the Convention,
and takes his stand upon the position tnat the
act of 1875 is "a pledge OF the Government
(which must in good faith be kept" The
Democrats will gain nothing by any attempt
to misrcprescnt him III that matter. 1t be-
comes them, rather, to consider whether it is
possible for their candidate to take position
equally manly and honorable.
Their candidate for Nce-Presdcnt has
spoken. lie holds that the demand for re-
peal of the Resumption act is the vital part OF
the platform. VIII Gov. Tildcn accept the
same position, by positive declaration, by
silence, or by cva,iOnl Unless his language
is exceedingly explicit, he viii be thought
inclined to cyade the question, and his attitude
will contrast unfayordbly with that which
Gov. Hayes has boldly taken. If he is cX-
plcit. he must either accept as his own the
demand for repeal of solemn pledge, or re-
iect and spum it. We should be exceedingly
clad to see him do the latter. But those
members of the Convention who represented
and were in constant telcgraphic cOmmnnca-
ton with him did not fail to advise linn at
once of the language fOisted upon the plat
form against their protest. If, with such
knowledge he permitted his friends to secure
his nomination, can he with propriety repu-
diate at this late day any part OF that plat
| form
Finally, if he should do So and, in language
not less explicit than that of Gov. Hayes,
| should insist upon the performance of every
pledge of the Government, there would re-
main a wide difference between the opposing
uarties in the differing elements OF which they
are composed the tendencies they have shown,
the records they have left, and the use they
have made of their opportunities. In this field
there is not only room for the exercise Oi all
the ability which any cOmbatant may possess
but this comparison of parties Will control far
more votes than can be Influenced by amy coarse
abuse or impudent misrepresentation. Men
who know that tie prevailing tendency OF the
Democratic party is toward soft money and
repudiation will not be the less sure to vote
against it though everything be admitted that
can with truth be said in favor of Gov.
Tilden.
SCHUR/ IND HAILS