The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-27
What L. II All About,

What Is II All About,
1t seems queer that a clear, calm, dispas-
sionatc statement can make confusion worse
COMPOUNDED: but SUCH il must be confessed,
is one effect OF the cool elaborate letter Of
Mr.. HEWITT, which we print in to-day
Sun. After reading IL carefully through ono
cannot refrain from asking What is this all
about What real reason has there been
for any quarrel or any unpleasant feeling
between Mcssrs. HEWITT and WArTERsoN -?
Mr.. WATrERsoN believed Mr.. HEWITT to
have suppressed information In his possess
sion about the views of Mr.. TILDEN touch
ing the Electoral till. This suspicion would
now seem to have been unfounded. Why
could not the two gentlemen have talked
the matter over between themselves frank
ly, at the time. and have come TO correct
understanding. and thus preserved their
friendly relations
II has been a causelcss, improbable quar-
rel.
We regard IL as extremely unfortunate
that Mr.. HEWITT took 80 readily to the
Electoral bill. He is not the only man who
committed the same error; but his rela-
tons to Mr.. TILpES gave peculiar and
that injudicious and institutional device
The course Of Mr.. TILDES In the prem
ises will bear the fullest investigation. The
measure was sprung suddenly upon him.
1t was sustained by almost every one OF his
professcd political friends in both Houses Of
Congress- He did not resolutely set his
own will against the combined forces Of the
Democratic party. We are not prepared to
say that II would not have been better had
lie done so. We have always thought II
would have been. For ourselves. we never
experienced any msglving a. to the course
to be pursued. At the same time we can
well understand how Mr. TIL DEN may have
felt n peculiar dclicacy, in his situation,
about opposing his individual conviction
against what passed at the time for the ag-
grcgatc wisdom Of the Democracy-thc
party that had just supported and elected
him.
What remains to be said for Mr.. TILDEN
IS a great deal Mr.. HEWITT has now flashed
the concentrated rays from his dark lantern
upon Mr.. TILDEN's conduct at the time 1t
consists with his interest To- show Mr.. TIL
DIN favorable TO the Electoral bill II he pos
siby can. And yet this truthful witness.
WIFI al MS uNN'iHt Interest uH'pu~'lpuNlI
to bias him, does not pretend or intimate
that ever for one moment. did Mr. TILDEN
give expression. in any manner, to any sen
timent in favor of the hill. To ask for any
thing moro than delay II Is altogether prob
able that Mr.. TILDEN believed would be In
vain, for almost to a man the leading mem
bers OF his party in the national Legisa-
ture were committed to the bill. For delay
he did ask earnestly; but he could not get
even that.
Mr.. WATTERsoN and Mr.. HEWITT have
done Mr.. TILDEN an important service by
bringing out clearly the fact that he never,
in any way, sanctioned a most dangerous
infracton Of the Constitution.
Their next duty, it seems to us, Is to set
tie their own uncalled-for difference Mr.
HEWITT may sometimes be unwise. In this
city, where he is so we'll known, it will not
be believed that he Is ever Intentionally UNI
truthful. mans character for whole
lifetime justly goes for a good deal ON a
question OF veracity. Mr.. WATTERsoN should
take this into account. II he is sometimes
imnetuous, il can be no part of his nature to
be deliberately unfair. In n political party
generosity is better than a too exacting dis
position. Mr.. WArTERsoS can well afford
to initiate the magnanimity of the first of
Kentuckans, and, in the noble spirit OF
HENRY CLAY, now pour oil upon the waters
which he himself has troubled