New-York tribune., 1876-08-07
THE crEIou11rs or COMMENTARY.


All the newspapers have something to say of
the letter of GOV. Tildcn--thc long-waitcd-ior
lcttcr-aud really the impression which We re-
ceive i, that the long waiting quite un-
necessary. 1t is mortfying fact that We
know before reading pretty nearly what cach
of these commentators will say. Upon ono
side we are told that the writer is ~ charla-
"tan," "a pcttifogCcr,' "an old traitor
"a Sophist," "a prctcndcr" "a costiyc wri'er,'
"ahollow rcformer,n scf-conCctcd cgoilSt :
the letter itself "a stump speech oi average
"dullncss." "a long, labored, and feeble eX-
"cuse" On the other hand, We need not say
that the Democratic press is onrapturcd, and
salvcs its editorials with the most buttcry OF
adirctivcS--" able" careful "wisc,' can
"did," moderate "practical,' sagacions.'
Nothing could be more amusing than the
contemptuous indifference which declares
the letter to be "unproductiye OF
good or eyil-a perfectly harmless
document ''-notlling more prctti!y turned
than the sentence in which We are told that
in this mis,iye " the wisdom Of the statesman
and the candid simplicity of private citizen
:" ship are blended" The funniest gentlemen
are those who write after tins fashion: I'VE
"must confess with regret that y" are dis
appointed. From the reputation of Gov.
''Tlldcn we had expected at least an able
"documcnt, which we might respect although
eve might not agree with its doctrines; but
ain this letter there is m utter lack OF hcait-
"noss AMI spontancity. II is not the inNpir-
"ing call 10 arms which we anticipatcd.' :"
sorry, So swell the clamor of abuse anu the
chorus of faut-ndng
1t need hardly bc asserted that whether they
condemn or whether they applaud him, such
notices as these do Gov. gilGcn Il great in
iustice. His letter shows for Itself, that what
ever may be its merits, he wrote 1t very care
fully. He is a Slncwd man hc c0mprrhcndcd
pcricctly that his letter would be universally
read: and he knew also just beforehand what
"A majority Of the newspapers would say of If.
In one respect it appears TO Us that he has
been unusually successful. There are no care
less chance words or sentences which will give
the other side ga good cry'-there Is nothing
which they can print against him IN italics OF
in big type. The whole letter may be one
general mistake, but there are in ii no petty,
particular ones, no stupid blundcrs. no mad
ycrtences incapable of explanation. Upon
the whole, We are inclined to regard
it as rather an appeal to the pco-
ple than the press. II is compliment not
perhaps to the perspicacity of the masses, but
to their desire for good government and wise
| legislation. There is sharp aud sufficiently
clear recognition of the evils which bad gov
crnment and unwIse legislation have brought
upop the country. Gov. 1Idcn sees clearly
enough the holes in the Republican coat. lie
doesn't say without understanding just what
he is saying: "lhe proiigatc expenditure
(which increased taxation from 50 per capita
Gin 1850 to :SlS in 1870 tells its own stoIy
"of our need OF fiscal reforms" He clearly
understands too "the incGicicncy, pecuation,
fraud, and malycrSation of the public funds,
"from the high places of power to the lowest,
(which have OyerSpIcad the whole (ciylD
"servicc like n lcprosy" Here are only
two points in the lcttcr, but We
might produce many like them. Instead or
telling us that the said letter is ''wlSc
| vigorous" "ablc,' &c, &c, it wOnld he
much more to the purpose If the Democratic
NEWSPAPERS would tell us whether, if
their party has another opportunity. with
another majority in the House OF Repre-
scntativeS, we may expect 1t To act upon
Gov. TiIdcns best suggestions. There are
many faults, there is much that j. unsatISfac-
tory in the letter. as we shall take occasion
to show; but the newspapers which are bittcre>t
against il do not seem tO have found them
out How should they, when one of them sets
the fashion OF declaring that Mr.. Hondrci,s's
"etter IS the better of the two AID that "he is
"less verbose ard talks more practically than
Mr.. Tildrn ?" We question whether loose COM
ment of this kind either saves votes or makes
converts, for manifest partisanohipis more likely
to disgust or to rcpel than TO attract, upon
which side sOevcr it may be exhibited.
TIE PROCTOR KNOTT REPORT.
The renort OF the JndiciarY Committee de-