Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-08-15
TIE LETTERS OF HUUEPTANOB.

The letters of acceptance of the Democratic
Standard-bcarers are before the country aud
speak for themselves. They are all we can
desire them to be. Mr.. Tilden's letter is a
magnificent plea for practical administrative
Craftsmanship in the Federal Government.
Mr.. Hendricks letter is a bold and unan-
swerable arrsignmcnt of the party in power
for Its thousand crimes against liberty, both
IN its constitutional authority and in its inssi-
t%utiOnal framework. Compared with the let
tiers of acceptance of the Republican candi>
dates, the letters of the Democratic candi>
dates are stamped by all the evidences of SUI
periOrity-
Three characteristics are found in Mr.. Til
den's letter which will please three classes Of
the people, It's literary style, the arrangement
of its topics, ard the thorough mastery of the
laws of finance which its author shows.
Some of the sentences can be made watch
words and msxims to run through the CAM
psign like threads of gold. The compression
and sentcntiousness of thought are shown by
the weighty ideas sometimes found in a sem
tence only a line or two in length. We hard
ly know which to admire most the nervous
masculine style or the singularly lucid ar
rangemeut of subjects treated in the letter.
One topic seems to develop the next. The
whole of them are consentaneous, rhetorical
and full of rcmorzeless logic. Even the par>
donab!e anger with which Mr.. Ti!den speaks
of the Ofco,holders as an ''army of political
mercenaries' makes for his argument rather
than against Its cOmpactness and force. In
England, whore craftsmanship is more allied
to the cultures of the schools than among US.
this letter of Mr. Tilden will clutter the
dOvecots' by its remarkable ele of tone,
purity of English and clear treatment of the
vexed problems of finance, and commerce,
and the laws of trade. Mr.. Tilden is a free
trader in doctrine and practice. In regard
to his financial views never was man more
happy in pleasing the obdurate, far-seeing, in
flexible h~aEd,Ironey people of the East, and
at the same time in not displeasing the green>
back advocates and thrifty fair-pIay econo>
mists of the West and South. The letter is
carried safely and beautifully past both the
Eastern Seylla and Western Charybidis, with
the applause of Charles Francis Adams and
General Sigel on the one hand, and the Gin,
clnnAti Enquirer and George II. Pcndleton
on the other. Merchants, manufactu rers and
the business circles generally are entirely sat,
lsned with it; while in our opinion the farm
eFs' who are equally satisfied with it, have
even more reason to be.
Mr. Hendricks letter is less didactic in
form, but not less effective or acceptable.
de shows, perhaps. more familiarity with
public affairs from a Federal staudpoint nnnc.
turing Radical R~epublicanism in some of lie
most vulnerable points and arraigpino the loo.
lslative branch Of the government for tho mas,
fifteen years as more responsible for the ills
OF the country than the Executive has boon
Mr.. Hendricks letter is an admirable com,
panion piece for Mr.. Tilden's. The circnm.
stance of the delay in publishing them has
perhaps secured for both letters a more ms
nal reading by the people.