The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-10
The Letters.

dates, with the advantage of the bargain on
Hendricks side. The consultations that had
been held between them, it was generally sup
posed, would result in the assertion of Mr..
Tllden's known views on the resumption act.
as against its repeal. The fact was we | known
that he had endorsed the principles involved in
this act in his messages to the New York Leg.
lslatlre and had approved Il bill passed BY the
same body providing for the resumption of spe-
Gle payment in that State on the LIST OF Janua.
ry, 1879, Che same day fixed by the act OF
Congress.) These distinct and emphatic COM
initials, with the attributes of firnaness, cour-
age and independence assigned to him by his
partzan wof shippers at this time, inclined the
popular mind to the conclusion that the dick.
erlng that was known To be progressing be-
tween Tilden and Hendricks would result in
the utter abandonment OF the reputation pol
! Icy embraced in the tactics OF the western dem
ocratic inflationsts. 1t seems however, that
this was not the case. Mr.. Tildet was COM
PEELED to relnquish his convictions, to compro-
mise his party III the eastern States, and to
yield to the persistent determination OF Hen
bricks and his western hackers, in forcing the
repeal OF the resumption act In the surren-
der OF his declared convictions, he also surren-
ders all expectation of carrying single east
ern or Pacific State, and virtually gives up the
contest. =. 5
T. We have not the time or the space this week
to enter into discussion of the various cues
| lions presented in the elaborate and carefully
prepared letter of the Democratic Presidential
Candidate. 1t is campaign document, and
will stand for criticism aud exposure from now
until the 7th day Of November. 1t is paper,
too, that has to be read and re-read to be fully
comprehended. 1t has nothing of the clear,
distinct, manly and honest frankness OF the
letter OF Gov. Hayes, and will not win the re-
spect and confidence of the general reader to
the degree that that Ct the Republican candi-
date has already done. -@i" sr,eegt=fi
The manner of the giving out of the letters
of both Tilden and Hendricks is a strong argll.
ment to show that they are studied pieces, pre-
pared not so much to reflect the earnest con-
victions Of the authors, as to reconcile, in some
way Or other, the conflicting views entertained
by the divergent clements that constitute the
party. ggsf 9l aal
Mr.. Tilden has forfeited all claims to respect
from fair men in the manner of his presenta-
ton OF grave questions of public concern. His
method of treating them is that Of a retained
attorney balancing with exactness his Ian
guage, so as to be capable of any construction,
and leaving the reader III doubt as to what he
really means. Where the evident purpose of
duplicity does not pervade, there is a palpable
design to- deceive and mislead. r34
| The following extracts. will show how the
letters of the two '1great reformers'' are re-
ceived.: The Washington correspondent of the
| Baltimore American says: -.5,sl
The long-winded letter of Tilden and the iucon-
impression here at all. Tildens verbosity has aed
ed to the perplexity of attempting to analyze the
read it over four or five times before passing an
opinion upon it. Even the Democrats are willing
the financial question is mere cIaptrap and reveals
the man OF character OF the policy politician rath
which both his friends and himself have arrogated
10 him. The soft money Democrats admit that
viewing The letter in the light OF policy, it is ingen
ous but still they do not believe the sentiments cou
tanned in it are the honest sentiments which would
possible to read it like a book. Hendricks letter
eXcltes but little comment, ard the two compared
IoOh very mucu as II ne QdQ, ny assuming the role
of arrant scold forced Tiden to give Expression
to views which his whole official life gives the lie
Inc Republicans do not regard either letter as
strong, and pronounce Hendricks particularly very
unsatisfactory,
Murat Halstead: in a letter to the Cincinnati
Commercial, says %-4 37
The letters are Characteristic of their authrs and
only advertise the fact that Tilden Hendricks do
not not belong tegether Either Of them might have
been strong candidate Together they are a fail
ure. Governor Tilden writes like a schoolmaster of
finance and says many good and instructive things,
and quotes his own utterances, that were OF value
in their day and still illustrative. But what is
all this fne-spun doctrine and laborous precept
good for alongside such fantastic financial middle
as appears in the Hendricks letter. unless point
moral by making contrast? The personal compli-
ment which Hendricks pays Tildsn is tie sugar
coating OF the bitter dose of soft-money heresy-
Gov Hendricks takes advantage OF the soft spot in |
the platform, and there is no capacity in Tilden's
rhetoric to remove him or explain him away 1t |
was necessary, therefore, by implication to extenu
ate him. and this Gov. Tilden does by declaring tne
Resumption act sham, because, he asserts, there
are no practical preparations for Carrying the act
into effect In several portions OF the letter the
governors felicity in phrase making appears, and
he is happy in his last paragraph. But in assoea-
ton with the letter OF Hendricks it must fail to
make favorable impression upon the country COR
responding to and answering that produced, by the
dates. -l.tf. tBdat ,-- ~, ..,+,qeslt. -
The New York Tunes in an editorial review
of the financial feature of Tilden's letter, saws:
The Democratic candidate then assures us that he
said to the Secretary of the Treasury in 1866 live
W1uh1n your income But MS eyes closed to |
the fact that the Government has lived within its
income and has diminished that portion of the pub
lie debt bearing interest in coin in less than $4lO
0OU,000 since March, 1862 and in the same interval
has reduced the annual interest charge S29 6OOO00
He does not tell us this. He does not say to his |
model reformers that without single exception
Tor every year since 1868 the national Treasury has
shown surplus of income over expenditure. But
he drops the subectwith the base insinuation that
the Government has not lived within It's income |
and has disregarded his advice Of eleven years
ago. 'sfif {fr -sasH3 iluiss, !.443 7:gf4,st9 IA
We are accustomed to false statements Of a
nature from Mr.. Tilden, that content
ourselves with remarking that the total revenue of
the government from June 3d. 1854 to June 80, 1876
has been $4072 900 000 and not 0OO OF this
sum OF $402 100000 at least $780, 600 applied
to the payment OF Indebtedness contracted previous
to 1860 and 81 300 100000 was paid for interest onthe
dept, winch leaves governmental consumption"
of less than one-haf the amount given by te aI1th
or of the platform, the letter, and the Message
On the subject of the currency the candidate has 4
absolutely nothing new to say. 1t appears that the
denunclatlonS OF the act OF 1875 embodied in the
platform are entirely in accordance with the pres
devoted to foggy and ambiguous presentation OF
he specie payment problem and the methods to be
applied to its solution.
The Washington Republican disposes OF one fea-
ure af Tidens letter in the following pc inted and
,ungent paragraph :& :s'ssi-g r,iiQ b .c. g4.
Gov. Tilden complains of extravaganza in expen-
l1tureS by the Republicans and the granu scale of
axation that has been pursued. Buchanan's aver
ge annual expenses were, gold, So, 900. ~ =
srants expenses in 1875 were. $274 600 600
Deduct the interest on Democratic S
ueDt. $1O3, GOO, 600 .
lnklng 1und. acknowledgements. 25,000.000
,enslons. t.......,...-..... 29,O0 1000 y
Internal lns revenue expenses, -. 100000 .
Sefund OF war taxes. 100000 & S