The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-07-01
ST. LOUIS.
MONEY AND MUSCLE WIN.

MIR. Samuel j. Tilden, 4 Skillful and sue
cessful railroad lawyer, Il shrewd and cum
ming political manipulation, whom the tidal
wave of 1874 landed in the gubernatorial
chair of New York, has been nominated
for the Presidency by the st. Louis Con
vention. While very considerable differ
cnce of opinion exists among intelligent
Democrats as to the "party' wisdom of
the choice, the selection of Mr.. Tilden can,
in no sense, be regarded as the result of
the spontaneous and authoritative demand
of the great mass of Democratic voters,
but is rather Il tribute to his own skill and
ability i'll the management Of the party
machine. Recognizing early i'll the con
test the Importance of system Of extern
sive personal advertising, like his recent
friend and party associate, Mr.. VIM Tweed,
he called to his aid the "power of the
press in singing his praises. Through
this well-paid medium, he has succeeded in
securing fictitious national reputation as
a Reformer, with the display probably of
less moral courage or genuine personal
superiority than any man Of equal polti-
cal prominence in the country. While 1t
would be travesty upon craftsmanship to
discuss his claims to the honor of the nomi
nation upon his supposed possession Of the
high attachments and antecedents usually
recognized as indispensable in candidate
for the highest elective position known
among civilized governments; yet he has,
in his previous political career, shown him.
self to be possessed of commanding ability
as an organizer and politician, and which
he has taken care to turn to the best indi-
vidual and pecuniary account With an
immense fortune gathered from the spoils
of bankrupt railroads, he has purchased
following that has compelled his recogni-
ton at the hands OF his party as the
claimant of its highest honors. This claim,
s'the preservers of the Republic" recently
assembled at St. Louis, have recognized,
but with little prospect of ratification by
the vote of the majority of the American
people. Such glance at Mr.. Tilden's
public career, as present space allows, will
amply demonstrate the fact that his repu-
tation as Reformer is purely fictitious,
and that he does not fill the measure of the
man, to whom, in the present sensitive
condition of public opinion, the American
voter of average discrimination and intel
ligence would see contided the responsible
ties of the Presidency.
That g owl Recommendations cOrruut GOOD
Manners is an axiom more frequently
verified now than ever before in the polit-
cal history of the country, and applies with
striking force to Mr.. Tilden. Identified
intimately with the infamous Tweed dur
ing the whole period of his undiscovered
villainies," it was only when he recognized
the Boss as tottering to his ruin that he
denounced his former friend and associate,
and lent his aid in bringing to justice the
modern thief of modern times. So long as
Tweed's crimes promised concealment, Til
den was his friend, and not until the war
upon the infamous Ring was fairly inaugu-
rated by the New York Times, and the
work of detection and prosecution well
under way, could be be prevailed upon by
the famous Citizens Reform Committee of
10 to identify himself with it, in the war
upon the world renowned Democratic Ring
of New York. Forced, at last, by the
pressure OF public sentiment, and a careful
regard for his own political interests, he
identified himself with the Swallow tails
as promising greater prospective honors
than his short haired brethren, in whose
fallen chieftain he saw no longer the victor,
but only the criminal, in the struggle for
local reform. Part and parcel of the same
class Of reform was his loudly heralded
crusade upon the New York Canal Ring,
the net result of which is one man semi
convict, and he in bail, awaiting new
trial, which he doubtless will get, and be
released. 1t may not prove uninstructive
to know how this gentleman is really re-
garded at home by prominent Democrats.
The following document, one of Il number
of its kind, was industriously circulated at
St. Louis, but Mr.. Tilden's money bags
were too potential, and honest John Nor
rlSSey KNOCK uOWn argument TOO unan-
swerable for the weaker brethren in their
contest with money and muscle:
1--WE earnestly believe that the salvation of
our country impcrativcly demands that Re
publican administration of national affairs
should cease to exist and we do not believe thai
result can he obtained by the nomination of
Gov. TIldcn for President.
AS the friends of Gov. Tildcn from New
| York are induStriouSly circulating IL report
among the delegates in the Convention from
other States that the opposition in the State of
| New York to his nomination cmanatcS from
parties either without personal character or
| having little political influence, il is proper
that the facts should be laid before the delegates
assembled, that they may be enabled To judge
| in an intelligent and impartial manner of the
| truth OF these statements, and shape their
action accordingly. The following partial and
very incomplete list OF prominent New York
| Democrats who oppose Mr.. Tildcn'S nomin;,-
| ton, ON the ground that he cannot carry his
| own State or the country, is the best answer
| to these statements, and is all the evidence it
| is deemed necessary To furnish, viz lrhiS is
| signed by nearly hundred prominent Demo-
| Gratis Of New York, among whom are Augustus
~cheil John Kelly, August Belmont, William
| K. TraverS, Henry W. Slucum. Judge Gilbert
| J. V. l.. Pruyn, Daniel Pratt. EraStuS Corning.
=. :. Cox, Gov Holman, Chief Justice Allen,
| Justice Miller, -. G. Ilttcjohn. Allen e. Beach,
| Charles DpnDhnp W ilIian FARGO l