Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-09-19
= r.,as Of History.


klon - to whether the Democratic
party In the last session Of Congress
dld right to plant itself on the prin-
elpls Of exposing the fraudulent
methods by which Hayes was
made President while conceding |
The inviolability Of his tenure of
the ONCE. There can be no doubt, |
howsver, Of the right and even duty |
of Democrats and, indeed, Of all
eltlxens, to discuss the enormity of
the sacrific Of right and Of popular |
sovereignty involved in the Flori-
d. and Louisiana frauds and the
Elsctoral Commission. Democrats
have experienced no little degree
Of embarrassment in doing this
through the supposed fact that Mr..
TIlden consented to waive his
rights and abide by the decision of
~ Unconstitutional Commission.
The sharp and acrimonious cores
poudence between Congress-
men Henry J. Watterson and
AbrAm s. Hewitt first sug-
Gogtsd . doubt as to whether
NJ. Tilden had ever been q party
70 the bargain. In Mr.. Watterson's
last and contemptuous letter de-
votsd 10 Mr.. Hewitt, he calls upon
M. Manton Marble, In the interest
o. the Democratic party and of
truth, to break the seal of silence
which had hitherto closed his
mouth, and give to the country
the real facts. AS result OF Mr..
Marbles opportune appearance in
ths controversy, we learn that Mr..
Tllden 1t no time consented to the
settlement precipitated by num-
bsr OF Democratic Senators, that
hs demanded the widest possible
public discussion of the issues in
volvsd and inflexibly maintained
hIs position to the last that the
whole controversy should be set
tied by constitutional methods.
We cannot forbear quoting the
following pregnant passages from
Mr.. Marbles pamphlet. They IL
lustrato perfectly an attitude which
Mr.. Tilden consistently maintained
from nrst to last, and from which
nsthing could swsrve him:
Mr.. Tilden, In his interview
with Mr.. Hewitt on the l4th, did
not withhold the grounds of his OBJ
lection to the bill, as policy, or in
It, detalls. Expressing some sur
prise At the fact, Of which he was
repeatedly assured by Mr.. Hewitt,
that the Democratic Senators had
already determined upon their
course whatever his advice or wish
% might be, and some surprise at
the secrecy which had shrouded the
CESSATION of their project, Mr.. Til
den observed that secrecy in re-
spect TO any plan duplicating the
rights and Interests of so many,
was mistaken and unfortunate
policy. He recommended the wild
est publicity, the fullest discussion,
the freest consultation. AS q Demo
cratic method always excellent iu
itself and contributing to the pros
perity aud stability ofail self-gov-
srnment, and in the present in
stance NO way hurtful, but advan-
- - tn fha int. .ota Of
the Democratic party.
To the argument of haste, Mr..
Tilden replied:
"rhere Is time enough. 1t is a
month before the count. 1t had
best be used, all Of it, in making
the people and their agents fully
acquainted with their rights and
duties."
To the statement that the Senate
Committee would not delay for
this to present their bill. with the
unanimous approval of its three
Democratic members, 10 the Re.
publican Senate, Mr.. Tilden re-
piled:
''It is panic Of pacificators.
They will act In haste and repent
at leisure"
To Mr.. Hewitps representations
of the danger Of a collision of force
with the Executive, Mr.. Tilden re-
piled:
"NevertheIess, this action is too
precipitate. The fears of collision
are exaggerated. And why surren-
der now? You can always surren-
der. That IL all YOU have to do
after being beaten. Why surren.
der before the battle, Tor fear of
having to surrender after the bat
tie 10 over?n
Mr.. Tilden's criticisms of the de-
tails Of the bill, of which In 10
shape could he approve either the
policy or the substance, exemplify
the poiitlcsl sagacity of the veteran
statesman.
ssIf an arbitration is to be adopt
led, the tribunal ought to be fixed
ssin the bill itself, snt not left TO
"chance or intrigue"
"If an arbitration is to be adopt
s'ed, the duty of the arbitrators to
''insestigate and decide the case on
ssits merits should he made man-
s'tiatory, and not left question OF
seonstruction."
with both the vital points left
Fat loose ends, you cannot succeed.
s'f0u cannot afford to concede, and
lyon cah Exact, ~ the selection OF
s'xood men 10 compose the tribu-
uAI, which is the controlling
point; and (2) the nature of the
junction to be performed by the
'.tribunal, which is next in i'm
''p0i Lance."
"FIx these two points, - good
ssnlen, explicit powefs,- aud you
"snJght po-sibiy get through
"LeAvs them doubtful, and it is
"happy-go- lucky the shake of a
ssdlcs- box.r
The scheme which Mr.. Hewitt had