Middletown transcript., 1876-04-15
THE PRESIDENCY.
senator Bayard as the Democratic Can.
didate.

Having done good stroke of work
in putting Senator Conkling ahead Of
his rivals for the Republican nomina-
ton, we now turn to the Democratic
side in the hope of rendering it simi-
lar service. We began the Conkling
campaign under less encouraging cir
cumstances.
There can be no doubt on whom Gov
eruor Tilden's choice ought to fall if he
aims to control the St. Louis Conven-
ton. The elements of the new combi-
nation are similar to those which make
Ccnkling so strong competitor for the
Republican nomination at Cincinnati
namely, the State of New York acting
in concert with all the Southern States.
If Governor Tilden will give his in6u-
ence to Senator Bayard this combina-
tion becomes not only possible but an
assured fact. 1t is precisely this COM
bination which renders Senator Conk-
ling SO strong a candidate, the support
of Pennsylvania being the consequence
of Senator Cameron's shrewd perception
that the Southern delegates would act
with those of New York. There is,
however, this difference, that on the
Republican side the personal strength
of the candidate IS in New York and
his borrowed strength in the South,
whereas iu Mr.. Bayard's case his per-
sopal support would come from the
South and the borrowed support from
New York But, however derived, the
result would be the same-namely, the
whole South and the largest State Of
the North united on one candidate.
This powerless nucleus would attract
other support, for it holds true in poll
tics, as in better domain, that "to
him that hath shall be given and he
shall have more abundantly, and from
him that hath not shall be taken away
even what he hath" This is what hap
pened to Blaine in Pennsylvania, as
soon as it was seen that Conkling would
have the solid support of New York
duu tue OOututIu otoeOo, ohu ~ VIA
equally happen to Bayard as soon as
the same powerful combination shall
have been perfected in his favor.
We must dwell moment longer on
the case with which this combination
will be effected when Governor Tilden
assents to it. If it were once UNDER
stood in the South that Bayard is the
candidate of New York, neither Davis,
nor Hendricks, nor Thurman would get
the vote of single delegate from any
Southern State. This is so obvious to
every person at all acquainted with the
political situation that it is needless to
argue it. But if Governor Tilden re-
mains in the field the Southern dele
gates will be divided between Davis and
Hendricks, both of whom will in that
case receive also a considerable support
from the Northwest. Hendricks is a
contemplate trimmer; Davis is not
Democratic. Governor Tilden, as a
Democrat and man of steady princi-
Piles, should prefer Bayard to either of
TEEN. Mr.. Bayard is consistent Dem
ocrat who has never finched nor wav-
cred. He alone, of all the men Of his
party, had the political courage and
manly sincerity to stand up in the Bal
timore Convention in 1872 against the
disastrous blunder of tying the Demo-
cratic party as a tail to the Greeley
kite. The result of the election vindi-
Gated his forecast and wisdom Not
only did he keep his head level
on that critical occasion, but he has
been equally firm, self-poised and clear
sighted on every occasion. Senator
Bayard has never made political mis-
take or calculation in relation to any
important subject. On the currency
question he stands almost alone in never
having exhibited the slightest symp-
tom of weakness or vacillation either
in the Senate or on the stump. He did
not wait to consult with friends before
deciding whether he would receive the
back pay, but spurned and refused it
at once. He is gentleman Of such
high honor and robust integrity that he
is quite incapable of hesitation in any
point of conduct which has a moral
side A man whose whole nature thus
recoils from trimming expediepcies COM
mands the respect of his political adver-
saries. His character is shield which
blunts the weapons of partisan attack,
and his chances Of election would be
decidedly better than those of any other
Democratic candidate.
There is no other way in which Gov
ernor Tilden can SO strongly intrench
himself in public confidence, or so fully
establish bis political influence, as by
Withdrawing bis claims in favor Of Sen
ator Bayard. He will thereby clear
himself of the suspicious and aspersions
which have been cast on bis motives.
1t will then be apparent that he has not
wooed Reform for her DOVER 1t will
then be acknowledged that he values
honest government above his political
advancement. Besides acquiring an
enviable reputation for disinterested-
ness and public spirit he will be re-
garded as power behind the Presi-
dcncy greater than the Presidency it.
self. Even without the hint recently
given him by Governor Seymour, that
the highest political influence may be
exerted by citizen in private station,
Mr. Tilden should know from his own
personal experience and political obser-
vation thai this opinion of Governor
Seymour is we'll founded. The exam
Piles Dean Richmond, Thurlow Weed !,
Francis P Blair, and that of Mr.. Til
den himself are cases in point. He
exerted as much real power when he
was the mere adviser of the Democratic
party in this State as be does as Gov
ernor and at that time he escaped the
irksome labors of official detail and had
the credit of acting from unsel6sh mo-
t;u,s Tn toE;pr Tho Govornorship 4 a