Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-18

Mr.. Tiden'5 denial OF all knowledge of the
compromising cipher dispatches relating to the
canvass of votes in Florida and South Carolina
at the last presidential election, an abstract of
which was published in yesterdays STAR, is as
comprehensive and explicit as could be desired.
He asserts that he does not know of the exi5-
tence of such kilograms, and that all his inf0r-
nation on the subject has been obtained from
or since the Tribune publications. He says that
no offer to- give the certificates of any return
ing board or state canvassers of any state to
the democratic electors in consideration of pro-
misses OF office or money or property, no negotia-
ton OF any such member, or attempt to inilu-
ence the action of any electOr OF President and
Nice-PreSident by such motives, was ever enter
tanned, considered or tolerated by him, or by
anybody within his influence by his consent or
with his knowledge or acguiescence. Taking
up Florida and South Carolina separately he
denies positively and definitely al knowledge
of any kind whatsoever of the damaging cipher
dispatches sent to and from these states. None
OF them were he asserts seen by him, trans
lated TO him, or the contents OF them in any
way made known 10 him. Mr.. Tilden goes on
to show that though he did not buy electoral
votes they were for sale, and intimateS that the
actual purchase must have been made by the
republicans. He points out that to obtain the
presidency in this way would be 10 incapacitate
himself for the role OF reform president and to
abandon all that in his view made victory de-
Sirable. In conclusion he comments severely
on the course pursued by the electoral commits
sion.
Mr.. Tilden has now done all that can be ey-
pected In the way of meeting the charges which
have been made against him, in the form in
which they appear at present. He pleads not
guilty" personally, and the next step, the at
tempt to prove that the plea is false, must come
from the accuser. The decision at which an
Impartial Judge will arrive in the matter will no
doubt be determined somewhat by the exDlana-
lions OF the friends of Mr.. T1lden who are
directly implicated in the cipher correspond
enee. In the absence Of deIiialS Oh their part
except the unsatisfactory card OF Mr. MantOn
Nal bic, il will De assumed that the kilograms
did pass, as alleged. and that the Interpretation
put upon them Is essentially correct. In this
case, tie crime shifted from Mr. Tild2nS Shout
derS VIII, in tie opinion OF his supporters, fall
all the more heavily Oh tie cipher CORES
pondents. who dared TO compromise a Reform
presidential candidate By negotiating for the
purchase at high prices of electoral votes pre-
Sumably with his knowledge and consent.
From this standpoint Mr.. Tilde1 is perhaps
waiting to be convinced that these things were
actually done, before he expresses the ind:gna-
ton that such shabby treatment at the hands
OF his friends must arouse. Mr.. TiIdenS ODpo-
nents, on the other hand, will sheer at the as
sumption that Shrewd, active politician who
took vital interest In everything else pertain
Ing to his campaign should be ignorant of the
fact that relative, living in his own house. and
other confidential advisers We're constantly re-
ceiving and sending dispatches under his very
nose, touching upon the disposition of several :
hundred thousand dollars from the barrel of
money and closely affecting the Presidency for
which he was striving
AS matters now stand Mr. Tilden has de-
stroyed the argument against himself which
was based on his silence, and has left the al
legged ciphererS to shift for themselves.