New-York tribune., 1876-07-13
TILE M1TlER WITR HANNA.

THE NJI IEb OJIH H1'-'-l'
let us for moment contemplate Hanna
In spirit of reverent inquiry let us
approach the probem-for problem 1t Is,
and not by any means mere connn-
drum-"Is anyibiRg the matter with llama r
And if there is, we hardly need say
the logic of the situation invites Us ana
the demands of the hour challenge us to Il
thoughtful and philosophic investigation OF
the consecutive inquiry, ~ lat Is the matter
"wth Hanna ~ Let us unsandal ana pursue
the theme. In various forms the subject has
heretofore been largely and earnestly discussed.
The condition of Hanna, physical, mental, and
moral. has long agitated the thinking world.
II is only within a few years that attempts
have been made to Offer serious solutions Of
the problem. Within that time the discussion
has been greatly extended. The perpatetc
pul-vendcr, the wandering knile-grnder, the
paticnt bOot-black and the mcrcurial ncwsboy
have wrcstled with it; the negro minstrel
has discourscd of it, the politician has en-
larged upon il, the stump orator has pro-
claimed his diagnosis; everybody In short has
been saying with the emphasis OF discovery, at
brief intervals, and upon widely differing occa-
sions. That's what's the matter rith Hanna"
But ali. not so, not sO That WAS not Ill any
case what was the matter with Ii;filna. The
answers were too varied, the solutions too
wide of the actual condition Of Hanna; and
there was a degree of levity in the treatment
of the subject by the general public which did
not inspire confidence. Hanna still eluded in
vestigation and bafed inquiry. Men might
come and men might 90 and men
might pcrpctually acccntuGtc their busi-
ness transactions with the remark. That 5
"what's the matter with Hanna" but Hanna
flowed on, mystery forever and forever. The
hour and the man at last met. Met at the
residence of Gov. Tilden AT Gramcrcy Park in
this city on the night of July IL, with the
mercury up i'll the nineucS, Il good deal oil
thunder and lightning performing outside
Tildcn 1T the front and center, and commit
tee surrounding him, with oratOry and love OF
country oozng from il at every pore. Tilden
was representing administrative reform III
black clothes, and seemed calm. The commit
tee represented The American Democracy, IN
thin wearing appd'el, and pcrspired profuscly.
II was n great occasion. And there was
Hanna. Hanna at last And so 70 speak, III
our midst. There were some few preliminary
forma,itics. Gen. McClernand Of Illinois
embraced the opportunity afforded by lull
in the tempest To address some remarks to
Gov. Tildcm concerning the rising and hos
"ptable city" OF st. Louis, which he said Is
"cnthroncd upon the banks of the Mississippi
''worthily typifying the growing grandeur OF
"thc mighty valley of that river lie said
there had been a Convention there which was
" large in numbers, august III character, and
"patriotic in sentiment" Pursuing the theme
u moment longer. he said, with great precision
81 statement, that the Convention counted
CHS delegates, representing 50 States, form
.'ing an bound republic Gov. Tildcn
received this information with emotions Of
profound gratitude. He seemed pcrplexed a
single instant at tbc remark that the Convention
was august III character but it occurred to him
at once that the allusIon might be thermo-
mctrical, and he. resumed his attitude of
patient listener. Gen. McClernand SAID many
other things about :" the foundations of govern
"ment and society,"" and "gaunt famine dog
"ging the heels of the laborlng clasSts," and
"tho whole country wrthing and groaning in
"eytrcmity,r and the necessity for bringing
the Government "back to its constitutional
"moorings," which Gov. Tildcn listened 10
witll-considoIing the wcather-apparcnt grail
fcation and interest. He seemed in Tact to
cniOy il. We doubt if he ever heard speech
which pleased him more. Aitcrward letter
was read asking Gov. Tildcn to be - stand
card bearer And then stepped out into the
arena Hanna.
At once there Wild n yell
As all the nends from Heaven that fel
Had raised the bancr-cry of Hell,
Now, what's the matter with Hannaf
Then Hanna umollcd his manuscript and
broke forth. He sad he was from Indiana, the
home of Gov Tildcn's "illnstrous associate,
"lhomas A. Hendricks" The Governor was
interested Immediately. The name OF Hendricks
seemed to sound familiar and he appeared
anxious to know more about him. Hanna did
his best to cniglten him. He said Mr.. Hen
dricks was Indiana's lavorite son, that he was
illustri0us, that he had led blamclcss life,
that he had a long career of faithful public
service, that he had fearlcssly espousad the
peoples cause at time when UsurpatiOn was
scowlng iercely, that he was the very idol
of the Democratic party of Indiana, and that
they aspired to make him President of the United
States. Some of these things we believe had
been intimated to Gov. Tildcn before ; we are
quite sure that hc had heard in an indirect
way the statement concerning the aspiration
to make him prcsidcni. But he seemed pleased
to hear it stated authCIitatiyciy from manu-
script by Hanna. He probably never enjoyed
apytling half so much rs he did hearing
Hanna tell in his eloquent way how illustrious
Hendricks is. Indiana, according 10 Hanna,
GLADLY. ioyfully accents the situation, and