Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-09-14
From the New York Times.l
PeEiurer and Presidential Can.
didate.

utSAhtCs
We have had incapable and un.
worthy Presidents, but never dis
honest one. The Democratic Party
has more than once supplied the
country with an Executive who has
been influenced more by partisan
ship than by patriotism. 1t has
dived into obscurlty for President,
as In the case of Pierce, and has
trusted with power a man so weak
and vacillating that he was unable to
distinguish between loyalty and
treason, or the line of his duty in re-
gard to either, as in the case of
Buchanan. But even the Democratic
Party has not hitherto outraged the
national sense of delicacy, and made
our form of government byword
and reproach in the estimation of
other nations, by placing at the head
of the Republic man tainted with
well-grounded imputations upon his
personal integrity. AS a rule, the
Office has been elevated by the puri
ty of its occupant, and the country
turns with pride to the spotless repu-
tation of its early Presidents as
among the causes of the success
which has attended the operation of
its administrative system.
Happily, Mr.. Tilden is not Presi-
dent, and is not likely to be. For
that deliverance, however, no thanks
will be due to the Democratic Party.
We shall be under no obligation to
its managers when Mr.. Tilden stands
pilloried, disgraced as well as de-
feated candidate. His nomination
was made with full knowledge that
he was then a defendant in a suit
which proceeds on the allegation that
he betrayed an important financial
trust and plundered clients whose
interests he was bound to protect.
That suit is pending still. Mr.. Til
denis course in regard to it has from
the outset been one of procrastina-
tion. Instead of facing the ordeal
promptly, with the courage of con-
scious integrity, he has availed him
self of all possible delays. But there
are limits to delay even in law, as
Mr.. Tilden ought to know. The
case will come on for trial. Let US,
then, stretch imagination so far as to
suppose Mr.. Tilden elected to the
Presidency. What should we wit
ness2 A President of the United
States on his defense in a court of
law, charged with misappropriating
stocks and bonds of the st. Louis,
Alton and Terre Haute Railroad,
and required to meet evidence, which,
to the lay mind at least, seems con-
elusive. The charge is specific and
sweeping. He was retained as coun
sci and agent. He had unlimited
authority, and he repaid the conf
dence that had been reposed in him
by issuing, taking, and with certain
"pals" dividing very large amount
Of bonds, for which the company got
no equivalent, and, by issuing and
disposing in some unknown way, of a
very large amount of shares. Such,
in brief is the accusation preferred
against Mr.. Tilden. 1t implies con-
duct so scandalous and dishonest
that it would destroy faith in the up
rightness of any man, as lawyer or
citizen. What language can ade-
quately describe its bearing upon q
man occupying the highest office
within the gift of the American peo-
ple3 Who can look with patience
upon the bare possibility of the
President of the United States fgur-
ing in a law court, quibbling to evade
the cause of justice, resorting to
every possible device to prevent a
trial of the case on its merits-liter-
ally hiding behind technicalities to
avert condemnation as common
rogue2 /.
Let us keep up the supposition of
Mr.. Tilden's election a little longer.
If the legal officers Of the Govern
ment now do their duty, another
suit will be brought against Mr.. Til
den. He will be proceeded against for