Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1876-04-22

advanced the money tn carry the
elections, could not be reimbursed by
c Congressional Involvement of the
Northern Pacific Railroad bonds, and
therefore failed. The so-called in
vestigating committees, organized not
tn convict, were expert in finding out
how not to do it, and the Departments
helped them assiduously; but the
Independent Press did the work m
effectually that q large Democratic
majority was returned to the present
Hcnse of Representatives. Unfortu-
nateiy this tide of success, which
assured the reformers of the Govern
ment, this year has been arrested and
turned back by the intrusion into the
canvass, last fall, of another issue, Of
which the Radicals have eagerly and
successfully availed themselves. And
their effort 10 to hold on to that issue,
and make the Presidential election
turn on the question of resumption,
upon which they have won, instead
Of upon the question of reform, upon
which .hry have lost the day. Ifthey
succeed IN. this, the result will in
variably lie unfortunate for us. Onr
friends having been beaten on this
issue, last fall, In the States where
a1ti-resumption was strongest, our
vote in New York, even (without
which success for rs would be hope
less, having been largely affected by
the attitude of our friends In those
States, no rational mind can fail to
80 that such sn issus would defeat
%.
1t IL plain, from this brief statement
of the situation, that our success de-
pepds upon our ability to reinstate
the issue Of reform ~ the issne of the
canvass; and II is equally plain that
this IL not - be done by resolution,
but by such action a. will not only
proclaim it, but will of itself verify It
~ the issue TO al men.
The nomination of Tilden will, of
itself, force this issue, and make the
election tnrn upon it. The friends of
other candidates object to the nomina-
tion for the West. Bnt jackson was
not sclsct~d l,ecanse he VIVA 4 citizen
Of Tcnkessec, or Jefferson because he
was citizen of Virginia, Or Grant
because he was for q short time In
Illinois. Selection on such ground
has no political significancs, and ig.
nOres altogcther the only considera-
tion upop which 4 candidate oueht to
be advanced. My preference for Tildcn
il only because his nomination would
Of itself force on the isaue of reform,
which il our aure card in the pending
canvass. I do not doubt that the
other gentlercn spoken Of would
prove vigorous ref0rmers. and have
personal preference fir Tilden over
any one Of them; but neither ofthcm
il 40 identified with ''reform" In the
public mind ~ Tilden. They have
either not had the opportunity, or
have not availed themselves Of il. to
manifeat the reeolute purposc be haa
shown to purgo the State Of ffraud and
jcbbing. They have not Joined hands
with political adversaries to over
throw and arraign and convict n
criminals the master spirits of their
own party whilst they seemed to be
iimprsGnsbly intrenched In the con-
troll OF ito organization, and have not
by snch conduct been lifted into power
BY the support Of largo bodies OF poll
teal oppOncnts. even against . re-
publican 4whoae integrity was not
questioned, but who had not mani
tested the same zeal IN the cause of
reform. Nor have they, after reach
INK power, 40 signsliscd their admi-
nistration by uDspsring war On job
bery. Z
BY this coume Tilden has made
himaelf, moro than anyDther man oi
our day, the rsQrese( Iative man Of
the idea to x(Sch De Democratic
party 10 enphatically pledged itself
IN 1872, and his nominstios wonld he
accepted, not ouly by the Liberal
R<pu blicana, who then acted with no,
bat by thousands who then held back,
~ . snre GUARANTEES that the pledge
would b. faithfully redeemed; and
his war record and his financial views
would s6ectnaily prevent diversion
by false issucs.
4 The aetive enmity which Tildeu
has provoked, In hia own party, serves
only to attest his fitness for the occa.
sion. No man ever drove moro meu
out Of the Democratic party than
Jaclksou but no man ever recruited
Il ~ rapidly from the true men IN the
ranka Of his opponents It the Aams
time. And thk vitalisipg proceal
must b renewed. The curse Of the
Democratic party he's been IT. Twseds
The streDgth Of it opponsnts, who
nse the 00vsrnnent for class aggran.
disenSnt, II derived from vast ex.
lpcuditure. by corrupting the people
ID one form 0r another with their owr
nabsy, and by misiesding them Will
fAlae isanes. But Old Bullion nevs,
said anything moro true than thst
Tho democratic party, 70 b strong
| must b clean"
| Tildse i tho type Of the men VIII
wsCo bonovedD6y the party il ~
Geys e IT. Strsukth and nj ponips
A{nvS A~2AA . s~~~( A~,S1 a. -k.~- A.