New-York tribune., 1879-04-12
THE uiY VINO DID NOT DARR.

! he that he had not pluck enough 10 'dh'
| the Presidency on the 1tl OF March, lo'1
| They believe that if he had clustered little
more at the time of the controversy about
the electoral count, sworn "by the Eternal
that he woud have the Office, called up Mr..
Wottersou's hundred thousand men, and
sworn himself in, the Republicans would have
welded, aud the Democratic party would have
been spared the aiilictiOns OF the last two
distressing years But, as The Ne'c- YORK mr.
press observes, "he let the Presidency slip
cont of his nerveess, cowardy hands, Inc
next time these gentlemen vote for PreSl-
dent, they prefer that it shall be somebody
who knows good thing when he sees IT, ana
has the courage and decision to grasp plize
when it is within his reach.
As it may be important to know what sort
of behavior the Democratic party expects OF
its candidates in case of q difference of opinion
as to the true result of a contested election,
LET ms see what it was that Mr. Tilden failed
to do. The eminent Mr. Marble has published
a history of the acts performed by Dir. Iilden
" in the primacy Of leadership to which he
chad been chosen" during those eventtul
days when the count was in dispute, or, as
Mr.. Marble expressed it III his ringing
sentences. "when the fagitious scheme to
"flch the Presidency and the Govern
"mcnt from the elect Of the people
"was fragrant in all its parts 1t
appears from this celebrated production
that after Smith Weeds failure to buy the
South Carolina Canyasaing Board, and Mr..
Marbles failure to corrupt one of the Return
ing Officers of Florida, and Colonel Peltons
failure 10 buy an elector IN Oregon, and the
failure likewise of the plot 10 throw the South
Carolina electors into jail, Mr.. Tilden assured
his friends that their proper course was to
stand fast IN the final citadel of power, the
keen, bright sunlight of publicity, and show
such bold front that threats must risk their
"lifc in acts-and threatcners too. For moth
"ing but such rank treason and red-handed
"vIolence could enthrone the beneficiary OF
"thcir crime. Nor keep him seated for a single
"hour unless indeed the AnRlo-Saxon blood
"of the founders of this Republic be mill, in
4" The veins of their sons" etc, etc. This at
least is the version of his counses furnished
by the eminent Marble. Ii does not sound
like Mr. Tildcn's language, and we confess
that we do not quite understand the whole OF
1t but il is clear that Mr.. liden was uncOm-
monty vigorous about that time and that he
advised his followers to - shriyel and consume
the conspiracy, root and branch to "con-
front usurDation,' and TO talk in the largest
and loudest possible manner about no Surren-
der As Mr.. Tilden shrewdly observed to Mr..
Hewitt, this would not prevent sur
render afterward if it became unayOda-
bic; "YOu can always surrender After
threats and oaths had been uttered
in great plenty, Congress devised a mode of
peaccable settlement by means OF the Elec-
to1al Commission. The bill prepared in Con-
ference Committee was promptly ratified by
Republicans and Democrats alike. Both par
ties agreed to abide by the arbitration thus
created. The question of the authority Of
this Commission TO so behind the returns
was expressly, and with the full understand
ing and consent of the Democratic leaders in
Congress, referred to the Commission itself.
I Then tho controversy was submitted to
Judgment; and we know the rest.
Now if Mr.. Tiden, at any point of the dis
putc. failed to seize the Presidency which
was within his grasp, it must have been after
the appointment of this Commi ssion, and its
determination not to go behind the returns
We have seen that the case had been man
aged SO far by the Democrats in the Senate
ana the House, ana III cOuIu not nave DePn con-
trolled in any way by the candidate. OF course
the Presidency was not within his grasp until
the electoral votes had been counted, and we
believe the most extreme Democrat does not
pretend that the authority to count them was
lodged at No. Is GramcrCy Park. 1t was
either in the House, or in the Sen ate or in
both. and until it had been exercised neither
candidate had any rights to assert. The Demo
cratic complaint against Mr. 1ilden, there
fore, comes to this that he lacked courage to
seize upon the Presidency after his party had
solemny submitted il TO arbitration and lost
that he did not get upon horseback and dissolve
the Commission as soon ~ IT ruled against
him; or that he did not join in the conspiracy
Of the revolutionsts to prevent the dcclara-
ton of the result and settle the dispute by a
civil war; This is an interesting disclosure Of
the Democratic state of mind. 1t shows how
much respect that party has for constitutions,
laws. promises, and honorable agreements;
1t shows TO what lengths it is prepared to go
in "graspmg" power; aud it shows how it
would settle disputes such as are always liza
| bic to arise over the correctness of election
returns, and the Interpretation of doubtful
statutes. namely: by brute violence rather
than the legitimate tribunals Of peace. The
Democrats want a man who dares. Well,
when they present him we shall know what
the selection means.
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"SURREXIT~