Middletown transcript., 1876-06-17
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D.. c., June s, 1876.

caroIul Scauutuk VI tno PiiuoiPoi De"
ocratic journals from every State. has
forced upon me the conviction that there
has not-been. for many years, SO great
a determination to succeed in Presi-
Dental election, as exists now in the
Democratic party The necessity fol-
success was never more keenly felt; nor
has there been for years SO much reason
to expect success. Upon these points
we are agreed; it is only upon the
questions Of policy that we are divided:
But even then, the willingness to yield
preferences to what shall seem to be the
wisest course is almost unanimous; and
it only remains to determine what the
wisest course is. The fact is not dis
puted, l believe, that neither party can
win without the State Of New York.
And it is also agreed that Administra-
tive Reform is to be the chief issue oi
the campaign. 1t was, therefore, to be
expected that Governor Tilden should
be selected as the man most certain to
become the next President Of the United
States, if nominated by the Democratic
party. Believing him to be SO, l have
from time to time, frankly stated the
facts of his career, as the leader Of a
Reform movement that has relieved the
Democracy of the great State of New
York Of q blighting disgrace and made
him the most popular man within Its
borders.
AN ARIsTocRATIC RoBBER CONVICTED.
The ideas in the preceding paragraph
we're suggested to me by reading in the
New York Herald and Tribune of to-day
(ths World is strangely silent) editorials
on the conviction Of George D. Lord, at
Buffalo, of frauds in the management
of the Canals. The Lord family have
been to the State Of New York what
Tweed was to the city; with the differ
ence that while Tweed was plebeian and
vulgar, the Lords were aristocratic and
respectable" When Governor Tilden
commenced war upon the Canal Ring,
this family and their wealthy and pow
erful connections defed him, precisely
as did the Tweed Ring. But the peo-
pie were on the side Of justice and hon
est government they have sustained
Governor Tilden at every step, and.
yesterday, the chief member of the
Canal Ring was convicted Of crimes
that. may send him to prison for five
years. Is it strange that Governor
Tilden is opposed, when many Of those
fighting against him are struggling to
save themselves from the penitentiary
But, for every thief that rises against
him, five honest men come to his sup
port. The Tribune says Of Lords con-
viction: Among the people at large
this evidence Of the practically Of the
Governors reforms will make deep
impression" and thinks that the ques-
ton of Governor Tilden's strength and
popularity is settled. The Herald takes
. similar view of the matter.
COMPROMISE CANDIDATES
are beginning to loom up in both par
ties, in view Of the possibility that the
friends Of the gentlemen most promi-
nently mentioned in connection with the
Presidency will become SO embittered
against each other that the nomination
Of none of the rivals is possible. OF
the Republicans, Wheeler Of New York,
Washburne, of Illinois, now Minister to
France. and Governor Hartranft, Of
Pennsylvania, are most spoken Of
Wheeler, perhaps, ahead. Among the
Democrats. if neither Bayard, Tilden,
Hancock. Hendricks, Thurman or
Parker can be nominated, Governor
Thomas Swami, Of Maryland. will be
strongly urged as candidate. Mr..
Swann's public career is unspotted, and
his private character is without blemish.
And, in speaking Of Governor Swami.
l am reminded of fact that compare
lively few persons consider. when dis
cussing the capacity Of public men. 1t
is this: The Government official who
has all the help he requires, who is pro-
vided from the Public Treasury with all
the money be requires for the payment
of expenses which he may deem neces-
sary, has fine time Of it compared
with the conductor Of large private en-
whose duties require Of him
that be shall not only prosecute them to
success, but shall also provide the means
for doing 50. George Law. Cornelius
Vanderbilt, A. T. Stewart. Thomas
Swami, and a score of other able and
wealthy railroad men, projectors Of
steamship lines, inventors, and others,
whose pursuits in private life have con-
tributed to the wealth of the country,
and to give it high place among the
nations Of the earth, have not only per-
formed duties through life similar to
those of our best Cabinet officers, and
equally beneficial to the people, but have
been obliged also, and at the same time
to perform the incomparably more diff
icult task Of raising the means for the
payment Of expenses. Of Mr.. Swami
it may be said that he has never touched
any enterprise, Of either public or pri-
vate character, in which he has not &C.
complished his purpose to the satisfac-
ton of all Observation-Disclosures as Gov.
ernor of his State, Mayor of Baltimore,
a Representative in Congress, President
Of q railroad, or in any other Of the va
rious enterprises Of private life Of which
he has been the director.
MR.. BLAINE.
The excitement occasioned by the
sudden illness Of Mr.. Blaine was very
intense here, and is hardly abated a,
the time write. 1t is not possible te
foresee what the effect will be upon his
chances for the nomination at Cincin.
natl but it would seem hardly safe te
nominate a man for President whose
brain may have been seriously affected
by apoplectic effusion. Still there car
be no doubt that Blaine's illness ha.
had the effect to create great sympathy
for him, even among his political enc
mics, and the kilograms from Cincin'