New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-11
MR.. TILDEY'S CAMPAIGN.

II is unfortunate for Mr.. Tilden that his new
campaign of reform is begun at time when
the sincerity of any attempt of Democratic
politicians to break up old abuses and purify
administrative methods is exposed TO univer-
sal suspicion. A few years ago he had large
majority of the people of the State with him
in what seemed to be sincere and earnest
effort to renOvate his own party. lie attacked
the Ring Democracy of the metropolis and
the canals with a vigor which honest men APP
plauded with delight. The assault was so
well planned, so well timed, and so gallantly
carried out that the public watched 1t In
wonder and admiration, and thousands who
had never put much faith in Mr.. Tilden before
accepted him rs the proyidential leader. The
campaign against the Canal conspiratOrs forced
Mr. Tilden upon an unwilling Democracy as
its candidate for the Presidency, and even
won over to his support a certain faction oil
independents and rovers, who made the com
mon mistake of trusting too much to the man
whose name led the ticket, and forgetting too
much about the party organization which
would certainly control him IN case Of his
election. Even some Of the staunchest sup
porters of Mr.. Hayes-THE TRIBUNE among
them-feictated the country upon the nom
nation of n Democratic candidate whose
personal repute was so good. AT least, SAID
we. the United States will have clean Adj
ministration whoever may be chosen.
Tire disclosures of the electoral controversy
were a rude awakening. They showed us the
great refOrmer implicated in the very tricks
against which his recent career had been so
loud protest. No sooner was it ascertained
that the Democrats had lost the Presidency
than q market for electoral votes was set mp
in Mr.. Tilden's own house. Secret agents were
sent out to Oregon, to South Carolina, to
Florida, 10 Louisiana, for aught we know to
every State where there seemed to be any
chance of capturing a yenal elcctor or a cor
ruptible returning board. Various systems of
communication in cipher were agreed upon
with these agents. They began telegraDhing
back and forth, BARGAINING, plotting,
trying to purchase a Republican elector"
in one place, dealing with State can
vassers, or possibly State courts, in an
other. So far as the Oregon case Is con-
cerncd, the whole plot has been laid bare and
the payment of the money traced, by the dis
covery of the key to the cipher kilograms.
SO far as some of the Southern States are
concerned, enough has been translated of the
ciphers TO indicate Enthusiastically an attempt
mt corruption, although the Interpretation Is
still incomplete. 1t is urged, OF course, by
Mr.. Tiden's friends that he bad nothing TO do
with these transactions But the work was
done in his house. IL was done by his private
secretary and near relation. Ii was secret,
crafty work for his benefit, done without the
interpOsitiOn, or even the knowledge, of the
chairman of the Democratic National Excel
tive Committee And somebody must have
furnished the money What difference does
it make to the public whether the hand that
played upon the wires was that of Illden
himself or only Of Tilden's nephew and pr-
vate secretary What difference did it make
in the reign of Tweed whether the share of
the Sweeny family was paid to Peter b. or to
James NJ
Now that Mr.. Tilden begins n new attack
upon corrupt practices in the Tammany DEM
ocracy, the world will not fail to remember
the Oregon dispatches, and to twit him with
the ciphers Of Pelton and Patrick. The course
of his campaign Will be watched with inter
est, but will be judged in a cold and eau
tious spirit very different from the enthu
siasm he kindled of old People cannot be-
Ieve in him any more. He can no longer
rally the ardent and patriotic by speech
full of mathematical calculations, or a mes
sage crowded with surveyors measurements.
His work will be scrutinized, and weighed,
and valued for exactly what 1t may accom-
plish. SO far as it may be directed toward a
genuine reformation of abuses it will receive
the hearty support of all good citizens. But
it will never lift up Mr. Tilden to the place
from which he fell when Peton deposited the
money for the purchase of Republican cleo
tor in Oregon. Never again will Mr.. Tiden
be acclaimed as the prophet of reform. He
must preach now in his own domestic circle
the lesson which he preached with so much
feeling to Tweed and Jarvis Lord, that Hon
esty is the best Policy.
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We print to-day our usual weekly summary Of the
movements of grain. The statement of the receipts