The Portland daily press., 1879-09-23

VI ouCl d tuliiS " 0liolll
between two gentlemen, in which both might
be right as far as intention was concerned. All
we know for certain is that Mr.. Tilden sold his
stock in the Elevated Road after leaving on
Mr.. Fields mind the impression he wouldn't,
and that he thereby cleared million dol
lars, which is, say, third better than be
could do to-day. Uncharitable people intimate
that this increase of wealth will rather en-
hance the Democratic confidence in Mr.. Til
den's eligibility for denomination. Perhaps it is
not unreasonable to assume that the circum-
stances wouldn't impair his prospects if there
were no other disabilities in the way.
But there are. There is that awkward ac-
count with the Government about income tax
still unsettled. Mr.. Tilden now asks for bill
of particulars. This means that he wants the
prosecution to show its hand. The District
Attorney is in possession of facts which clearly
establish the proposition that for several years
Mr.. Tilden did not pay tenth nor twentieth
part of the income he was in the receipt Of
For most of this time he made no returns, but
submitted to the assessment of the revenue
officers. One of the points that will be raised,
if the suit ever gets to trial, is whether the
Government, after having rendered its bill,
and collected all it demanded can come in
afterwards and prove a claim for more. Judge
Blatchford rules that this can be done, but we
never know what the law is until we get de-
cision from the Court of last resort. The rul-
ing does not seem to be in accordance with
common sense, but I shouldn't venture to call
it in question on that account. Whatever the
final Judgment may be, it will be made to ap-
pear that Mr.. Tilden evaded the moral obliga-
tion he was under in common with all citizens
to bear his share of the burden of expense in
CURED in suppressing the rebellion. This Will
not tend to increase his popularity as Presi-
Dental candidate in the Northern States, from
which he must wrench forty-seven electoral
votes somewhere or other to win.
Then again, the maneuvres whereby Mr..
Tilden has contrived to keep control of the
Democratic organization in this State c'ma-
chine" is the slang term for it) are much more
suggestive of expertness in wire-pulling than
of the lofty disinterestedness which ought to
characterize genuine apostle OF Reform
There are elements of weakness as well as OF
strength in such modes of procedure. They
occasion dissensions within the party that can
not be healed easily if at all. The very
schemes which forced the nomination of Rob-
inson will prove fatal to his success at the polls,
and at this iuncture defeat is an irreparable
injury alike to agent and principal.
Take it altogether, it looks to me as II MI.
Tilden's chances of capturing another nomlna-
tion are destined to fade out entirely II, as
now seems inevitable, he is beaten on the Gov
ernor's vote on the 4th of November. Tam
many Hall is making its fight against him.
Every vote scored against Robinson is vote
against Tilden. If the result shows that he
cannot carry New York, what is there to in
duce the delegates to the National Convention
to Civ him their sutfrages? 1t is all very well
to say the party mast take him, but in the con-
tingency suggested, it is far more likely that
the conclusion will be reached that the party
Cannot take him. Other things being equal
his money would be potent factor in the
solution of the problem: but when the disfavor
in which he is held in his State becomes appar-
ent, and is thrown into the adverse scale, it
can hardly fail to weigh him down. hope
my calculation will prove mistaken one, for
I should greatly prefer to see him put on the
course again. have no doubt he would be as
easy candidate to beat as any that is at all
likely to be named, and inasmuch as the one
to put the Government under Republican
guidance, love of country prompts the wish
that the Democrats will select the man who
has the least prospect of success.
YARMOUTH.