The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-08
rrLDEN's INTERVIEW WITH HEWITT.

| pertinent In which, without his concurrence and
against his counsel the rights, Interests and hopes
| of the Democracy from the elections OF 1876 had
become inextriCably involved.
TILDEN's INTERVIEW WITH HEWITT
Mr. Tllden, in his interview with Mr., Hewitt on
the 14th, did not withhold the grounds Of his OBJ
lection to the bill, as policy, or in Its details,
Expressing some surprise at the fact, oiwhich 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 In re-.
speCt TO any plan duplicating the rights and in.
teress of so many was mistaken and untOrtu-
nate policy, He recommended the widest pub.
lCity, the fullest discussion the freest COnsulta
tion, as Democratic method always excellent IN
Itself and contributing TO the prosperity and sta.
bility OF all self government, and In the present
instance no way hurtful, but advantageous, rath.
er to the interests Of the Democratic party,
To the argument Of haste, Mr.. Tilden replied
"There is time enough, It is q month before
the count (W II had best be used, all Of 1t, in
making the people and their agents fully ao
"quainted 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, to the Republican Senate, Mr. Tlden
replied;
ut is panic Of paCifcators, They will act In
haste and repent at leisure"
To Mr., Hewitt's representations of the danger
of collision of force with the Executive MI,
Tilden replied
Nevertheless, this action is too preclpitate
THE fears of collision are exaggerated And
why surrender now? You can always surIen-
der. That ia all you have to do after being
beaten, Why surrender before the ba tile for fear
"of having to surrender after the battle is over ?"
Mr. Tilden's criticisms of the details of the bill
OF which in no shape could he approve either the
policy or the substance, exemplify the political
sagacity Of the veteran statesman.
"Ifan arbitration is to be adopted the tribunal
Ought to be fixed in the bill itself and not left to
| "ChanCe or intrigue"
IF an arbitration is to be adopted, the duty of
the arbitlators TO investigate and decide the case
| ION its merits should be made mandatory and not
left question of construction"
with both the vital points left at loose ends,
| you can not succeed. You can not afford to con-
"cede, and you can not exact (a), the selection of
good men to compose the tribunal, which is the
controlling point; and (b) the nature OF the func.
"ton to be performed by the tribunal, which is
next in importance"
"Fix these two points-good men; explicit pow
"ers--' and you might possibly get through. Leave
them doubtful, and 1t is happy golucky 1.-The
| shake Of a dice box"
| Inv SSAOAhS "hASh NIL AACWllb uhu DIOuBuli
contained In its first draft provision by which
six judges were to be described in the act one of
them then to be eliminated by lot To this Mr..
Tilden's objection was perempory. Said he;
II may lose the Presidency but will not rattle
"for it,"
He was pressed to say that II the bill could be
modified 80 as to fix the FIVE judges by positive
provision he would give 1t his approval, and it
| Una Itruad that off IN F,{1
unless 1t were alleged that that would make the
bill acceptable to him. He firmly declined. Be-
sides its risks and impolicy, and besides all other
objections to it, the bill would still have left open
| the function and duty Of the tribunal itself upon
| which, atlerWard its own decision, (no evidence
OF the very truth dliunde) left its own existence
| political solecsm. But the authors of the bill
had negotiated themselves into leaving the pow.
ers of the tribunal to the decision of the tribunal
itself, as was apparent in the Senate debate on It's
passage.
TILDEN's SIGNIFICANT ADVICE TO NEGoTIAToRs
When Mr. Hewitt pressed upon Mr.. Tilden the
difficulty laid in the way of the House to carry out
any independent policy without the support Of
the Democratic Senators, as a reason for advising
acquiescence, neither argument nor persuasion
could extort 1t. But he gave his interoCutOr this
significant counsel of which the force will be ap.
preciated bestby those negOtlatOrs who in privacy
| and haste accept the main burden of working out
all agreement, and of making all the sacrifices
| necessary to obtain agreement, and Of feeling q
| necessity for compromise, where every advantage
OF fact law and right is wholly theirs and sufiC-
| lent power, and who thus may be driven to sur.
render one by one, every advantage and every
essential condition of a just agreement Said
| he:
| Ifyougo into conference with your adversary
| "aDd can't break off because you feel you must
t1 t,n al
Unless you are able TO break off, you are not fit
ITO negotiate. You will be beaten upon every
| detail"
It was obvious that Mr. Tilden was of this opIn-
ion, that not only fair constitution of the ribu.
nal fixed in the bill, but an express command to
the tribunal to decide the real controversy, not
sham issue might have been extorted had they
been insisted upon as absolute conditions Ofagree.
ment to the bill by the Democratic Senators unit.
ed with the Democratic House of Representatives
For, considering the small Republican majority
| in the Senate enough Republican Senators must
have given way when the choice became immi-
nent between making such equitable conclusions
| in q measure of proposed compromise and open.
ing career of usurpatiOn to their radical leaders,
| involving themselves, and invoking the employ
UGll Ol ullldEy lOICes DuJ III ltI lIB DeluOCIhJlC
| Senators began by dividing themselves off from
| their colleagues in the House, the lawful resi-
denCe of Constitutional right and the actual fort
ress of Democratic power, 1t was less probable
that they would succeed in dividing honest or
| timid Republican Senators from their reckless
| and revolutionary leaders,
negotiation pivoting on the House with its
Democratic majority and its Constitutional rights,
and reinforced by the Democrats of the Senate
minority; must have compassed success.
oivyofin0 40 n U
in the Senate, and excluding the Democratic
House with its major numbers and its latent pow
ers, could but dignity concession.
But the measure itself was not one as to which
Mr.. Tilden's action was or could be hestated for
| single instant And his practical objection dc.
serves as much weight as any argued objection
| then or since, namely, that
80 great stake as the government Of forty-iye
millions of people with an immense civil eXpen'
| Culture and hundred thousand OtfiCehOdeTs to
"be disposed of by a small body sitting in the
| capitol, the judge of Its own powers would
every time become the sport of intrigue or
fraud"
TILDENs WARNING TELEGRAMs.
The next day. January 18th, Mr.. Hewitt having
returned to Washington, telegraphed thence to
Mr.. Edward Cooper, in New York
Washington, Jan. Is, 1877
"ToEC.
The Senate Committee will probably reject five
land report six Judge plan Immediately.
"Our Senators feel committed to concur. House
Committee will not concur, and for present will
probably not report"
Mr.. Tilden's answer was as follows:
New York, Jan. is, 1877.
ITO A. s. H.
"Procrastinate to give few days for infOrma
"ton and consultation, The six judge proposition
| "inadmissible. ECn
The next day Mr.. Hewitt telegraphed again:
washington, January 16, 1877,
ITO E. c.,
AFTER protracted negotiations Senate Commit
"teel receded from six judge [schemel declined
five Judge and offered four senior associate jus
"tieeS, who are to choose the fifth judge, excud
"ing Chief Justice. Our Senate friends earnestly
favor acceptance, because they do not believe II
"nossible to pass over. The Democrats OF
"HOuse Committee believe this is the last chance
| "Of agreement We cannot postpone beyond elev
zen tomorrow, and if we decline, Senate Commit
"tee will report their original plan, to which oul
friends are committed. Telegraph your ad
I