The Democratic advocate., 1878-07-06
The Next Presidency.

Some Of our Democratic contemporaries in
the South and West are disposed to speak
slightly of Samuel j. Tilden, our noble stand
ard bearer for President in 1876. Tilden
and the State of New York are power in
the land. Il will not do to ignore the En-
pire State Some crazy zaneys in the Dem
ocratic party chiefly from the South and
West, in 1913 at the Baltimore Convention,
undertook to say that they could do without
the vote Of the State Of New York. They
could elect General Cass, let New York vote
as she pleased. Had they listened to the
words Of wisdom uttered by the Honorable
Churchill c. Cambreling, New York's COM
mercial representative, backed up by William
Cullen Bryant and Benjamin +. Butler, aud
nominated William o. Butler, of Kentucky,
for President, instead Of Gen. Lewis Cass,
he wouId have beaten General Taylor for
President. They are not going to tfeat New
York, or Samuel J. 1ilden, without due re-
spect in 1880. The party has grown wiser
since 184S. 1t can't succeed if it attempts to
ignore Samuel ]. Tilden, ClarksOn y. Potter
and Horatio Seymour.
We think better of Mr.. Tilden, since
the fact has been made known that he was
opposed to the Electoral Commission, and
We could support him in 1880 as cordially
as 10 1876, but he IS not our choice. We
do not think It would be wisdom in the
Democratic party 10 renominate him in
1880. Why not, say his friends and ad-
mirers; Gen. Jackson was cheated out Of
the Presidency in 1928, aud in 1882 he
swept the field, and again in 1886. True
enough; but Mr.. Tilden is not General
jackson. He does not possess the power
of Old Hickory to inspire his followers
with an enthusiasm beyond repression.
He seems to be rather negative than q
positive man, and to lack the essential re-
quisites Of great leader. Mr.. Tilden is
conceded to be n great lawyer, but he
seems to be little else. His acquaintance
with the principles of jurisprudence does
not qualify him as popular leader, and
the notion that he is entitled to prestige
and preference on account of living in the
great State of New York, rests upon no
substantial basis. Indeed, there seems to
be fatality hanging over New YOrkmen,
of late, in so far as relates to the Presi-
dency Gen. Mcclellan hailed from New
York, when he was nominated in 1864
HOratio Seymour was the next Democratic
candidate from New York, in 1868 Fol
lowing Seymour came Horace Greeley, in
1872, if it be not misnomer to call him
q Democratic candidate. He was at least
the candidate Of TIE Democrats. And,
lastly, Samuel J. Tilden, iu 1876, all of
whom we're defeated, except Mr.. Tilden,
who was cheated out of the election by
the Electoral Commission, although he
had u popular majority of over a quarter
of million Of votes. Would it be wise
to make fifth trial for the Presidency
under the lead of New York man, in
1880, with the probabilities of encounter
ing a fifth failure? Would the Demo
cratic party be likely to enter the field
under Mr.. Tilden's leadership, in 1880,
with anything like the enthusiasm it would
under some new candidate? We think
not, and the party at large must share this
opinion. A reasonable amount Of forecast,
the plainest dictate Of sound policy, a
modicum Of prudence, would suggest to
the Democratic party to look elsewhere for
a candidate In 1880. And where would
it be more likely to find one, filling all the
requirements of the times, than to the
great aud growing West? To the West,
then, let us look for the man destined to
fill the next Presidency, and who would
have been the President to-day, had the
first place, instead of the second, been as
signed him on the Democratic ticket in
1876, THOMAS A. HENDRICKS, of Indi-
anna. With this favorite son and popular
representative of the great West in the
forefront of the battle in 1880, the De
mocracy, as IN the days of Old Hickory,
would rally around him with an enthusiasm
that would bear down all opposition, and
with certainty that no Returning Boards
and no Electoral Commission would be
permitted to cheat them out of the fruits
Of their victory a second time.