The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-08-11
THOSE LETTERS.

Alter nearly SIX weekSt1 weary WALL
ing, Tilden and Hendricks have given
their letters of acceptance to the coun
try. Tilden especially bears evidence
of labored preparation, cautious ex
preston, and careful emendation, yet
after all the weary waiting of the
country, and the caution and care of
the composition-after the Sarat oga
conference and alI-it is more remarka.
ble for what it does not say than what
it does. Everybody expected him to
base his appeal upon the PROSTATE
business condition of the country, and
ascribe it to the Republican supremacy
in the councils of the nation. Every
body expected him to theorize upon
the currency and to eliminate some
policy of resumption, but the shallow
and indefinite policy outlined, based
upon ''ofiicial economies" the substi-
tuition of ''wise legislation" (of which
the present House furnishes an illus
tricus eXample) promoting prosperity
in all the industries of the people, and
at the same time pronounciny the re-
sumption clause of the Resumption act
'.s,aIn, which, by fixing time for re-
sumption really furnishes the act with
whatever vitality there is in it, is like a
man going into the money market and
offering his note of hand for sale, with
out specifying time of payment or even
furnishing any security that it will ever
be paid. Everyone expected him to
promise protection to citizens of all
classes, race or color, regardless of
their previous condition, and to treat
of the impoverished condition of the
South; but his failure to grapple with
the Hamburg massacre, and rise above
the petty politician into the grand
statesman by prompt condemnation
of such outrages, and an assurance
that the full powers of government re-
posed in him would be exercised to Sc
cure the supremacy of the laws and
the punishment of offenders, is lost
opportunity to give to the better class
of citizens promise that in voting for
him they would not be voting blindIy.
Everyone expected him to say some
thing about civil service reform; yet
not a word that he has said is any
guarantee that, if he is elected, the
policy of the present House will not
prevail, and the places of Union men
be absorbed by Confederates who are
"bigger men than old Grant" Every
one expected him to say something
upon the one-term principle, aud he
does it by the assertion that no reform
will be permanent, until the President
is constitutionally disqualified from
holding the Office more than one term.
AS that is an opinion we have long
held, and one which is growing up
rapidly among the people, it will be
received with qualification; but when
he speaks of the temptation to mis-
use the power and patronage with
which the Executive is necessarily
charged" and experience having re
peatdly exposed the futility of self
imposed restrictions by candidates or
incumbents, we see but little hope of
a pressure being brought to bear upon
Congress to secure the passage of an
act submitting to the States constitu-
tional amendment by which the Ex-
ecutive will be ''effectually delivered
from his greatest temptation.
Besides the omission of the GoveI-
nor to express himself upon the Ham
burg butchery, he has signally failed
to place himself on record upon the
School question. This is not an over
sight, but an omission, not an unin-
tended but an intended one, as any
one acquainted with his record will
realize. His signature to the Grey
Nuns" act. by which its graduates
were given precedence over other ap-
plicants for situations as teachers, in
the public schools, without examina-
ton. his relations with the Catholic
press of New York; his snbserviency to
Senator Kiernan, of that faith, and his
with Tammany, which pur-
chased its supremacy by subserviency
TO the Catholics and sealed its bargains
bv appropriationso of millions of money
from the School Funds of New York.
are sufficient reasons why he dared not
place himself on record against secta-
rian appropriations from the school
funds. On this subjec: his partner on
the ticket is not silent, though evident
" regarding the matter as already suf-
ficiently provided against.
Hendricks letter is written more trip
piDely. with less care, and as though
he was master of the situation. Ap-
parentIy in harmony with his chief. he
Is nevertheless an antagonist who hi
beaten him in the game for precedence
,n the currency question, and obliged