New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-13
Is mr.. TJLDFY REALLYA HERoI

be such deprivation TO pOsterlty; but 1t Is
real comfort to have people who are sup
posed TO know all about Mr.. Tilden's actual
behavior during the progress of the electoral
struggle, talk about it and write about it, and
keep talking and writing, just as though
it were possible to reach a conclusion
and fix definitely and finally upon the
attitude in which the eminent defrauded
shall be handed over to history. 1t is es-
pecially grateful TO the worn and discouraged
journalist at this particular juncture, when
the Butler Gate Potter Committee has sus-
pended operations, and new Liar hasn't been
discovered for fortnight; when Glover
has ceased his unique and fruitful fish
ing and left us nothing more inspIr-
ing than an outbreak among his experts /;
when even Mr.. Hewitt's committee has
exhausted the humorous features of his strange
menagene, and there is nothing stirring in
politics except KearRey, whose eOarseness and
profanity are without variety and have even
now become stale by repetition ;--at such a
time it is especially pleasing 60 the journalist
TO have the exhaustless theme of Mr.. Tilden's
behavior In the crisis reopencd by the men
who know all about 1T, aud 20 see the bali OF
discussion passed back and forth between
WaltersOn, the pitcher-which in this case
goeth not often to the well-and Marble, ON the
home, base, with an occasional plumpeT
into the stomach of Mr.. Hewitt, who seems
to be playing "shOTt STOP" In a dull time
there is nothing so refreshing, so yiyifying
so well calculated TO wake up everybody
excepting Mr.. Tllden himself, as this high
debate among these high and distinguished
people. 1t viii probably never be known
what the astute old gentleman actually said
and did during al those stupendous golngs
on; no one knows precisely except him
self, and he has remained III de
cidedly uncommunicatiYe mood upon the sub
ject ever since the calamity occurred, with the
exception of that inspired moment when, be-
ing fired up by brass band, he expressed a
Willingness TO take an oath two feet in di-
ameter that he would never consent that fraud
should be condoned.
There being nothing definite within the
knowledge of anybody which is not contra
dicted point blank by somebody else with
equally trustworthy sources of information,
there is left rich field for conjecture and
opportunities for intermlnable discussion.
Aud nothing could more delight the soul
athirst for knowledge than the manner
in which several of Mr.. Tildeu's most
intimate frialds-the men who stood by
him during the campaign and bore the brunt
of drinking with visiting delegations and ex-
changing views with them Oh the subject of
reforIn-prance into the arena whenever
there's lull in current topics, and begin to
agitate the question whether Dir. Tilden did,
as claimed on the one side, buy broad
sword and endanger the legs of several COM
mittees in learning to practice and after ac-
duiring skin in the use of the weapon,
demand to be led at the head of 100, 900
KentHckians against the same number
Of mixed drinks in any part of the country, at
the same time bracing himself against the
door and declaring that =" this rock should fly
from its firm base" and all that sort of thing
or whether, as is asserted by some, he
clothed himself in drab. raised a hospital
flag in Gramerey Park. proclaimed himself
non-eombatant, and sent word to the
military authorities that he was anx1ous
10 make an unconditional surrender of himself
as prisoner of war and be sent Immediately
to the Dry Tortugas. To hear this old but
ever fresh discussion break out whenever
there falls lull is constantly recurring JOY.
1t has happened during the sporadic out
breaks of this debate in the past year that
pretty much every one who had any rela-
tons with the subject matter, or any &C.
quaintance with the eminent persons COM
cerned, has found it necessary or convenient
to call everybody else who had anything 10
do with it by all sorts Of pet names ranging
in fondness from dam clam" up to " dam
" seoundrel." These interchanges have greatly
enliyened the entertainment without endanger-
ing the safety of the disputants or the harmony
of the great and patriotic organization to
which they all belong. Only two people, so
far as we can now remember. who have I'M
dertaken to throw light upon this business
are now on any kind of terms with ANYBODY
else, MT. Watterson and Mr. Marble We be-
lieve are at one. 1t was Mr.. Watterson who,
taking advantage of a momentary pause i'm
other proceedings a little while ago
punched Mr.. Hewitt in the stomach and
began the discussion afresh, with the casual
remark, "This is the cuss who gave Til
/" den away" There was rapid exchange
of vegetables in various stages of decom-
position, and then a pause, which shortly
afterward WattersOn broke with cali on
Mr.. Marble to tell all he knew about it.
Mr.. Marble complied in polyelot and with
polysyllables to an extent that made the
average reader think he had been TAX
ing an overdose of quinine or something.
This gave Watterson an opportunity to adj
vance another view of the question, and pose
the great defrauded for a historical picture.
lie says that Mr.. Thden was the one man
"whO took in the whole case and provided u