The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-23

TcCoIu- ne was named Tor Governor III 1919,
when the chances were two TO one that DIX
would be reelected. II any body had pre-
dicted then land IL was only six weeks before
efection) that Tiden would have majority
OF more than $4,000 he would have been con-
sidsred crazy But ne had the majority.
When he entered on his duties his enemies
said that he was old and paralysed, and c0uld
never raise q hand against the corruption that
then ran riot in Albany. The canal ring was
never so bold or insolent as on the first day
OF January, 1875. The amendments to the
constitution forbade appropriations through
special legislation, This was held by some to
cut off the jobs In the way OF extraordinary
repairs. But the canal ring interpreted 1t In
lump their pickings after the manner
in a solemn eonclave with the best legal talent
In the State to advise them, they decided that
the amendments bad improved their pros
poets of plumber. But within three months
Tiden slew the Canal Ring, taught the Dem
ocratic Assembly and the Republican Senate
their duties, and put In full operation his
policy OF reform. During his two years
term he reduced the taxes by nearly one-haif,
and he purified the whole atmosphere Of poll
ties. He called around him the best men In
the State-HoratioS Seymour, Charles O'Conor,
William Cullen Bryant-men Of both parties,
who, knowing him intimately, trusted him
implicitly He ceansed every department Of
the Government. In case OF q Canal Auditor
who had been shaving the claims which the
law required trim to pay, he appointed man
whose honesty and vigilance are unyielding
county quickly saw that he was the man for
the Presidency. Few of the politicians liked
him, but the people wanted him, and they had
their way, as they usually do"
"But did not Mr.. Tilden weaken himself by
his failure to:assert his rightto the Presidency
after the election Of 1872
HE did assert his right. He believes In
the force Of law and not in the law of force
He is almost the only man In the Democratic
party who did not lose his head during the
electoral conspiracy. He saw that the Re
publicans were powerless to carry out their
plot unless they could fool the Democrats
| with some trick Of compromise or could en-
force their absurd doctrine that the presiding
officer OF the Senate is the sole Judge OF the
returns. To guard against the latter con-
tingency, Mr.. Tilden caused to be prepared an
elaborate pamphlet, citing all the precedentS
OF the government, and demonstrating con-
clusiveIy that the two houses of Congress
must pass upon the electoral vote OF each
State. This was made so plain that large
number Of Republican Senators, headed by
Mr.. Conkling, adopted Mr.. Tilden's view Of
the question, and put 1t out Of the power Of
Ferry, OF Michigan, to usurp functions which
did not belong to him. But when that danger
was ayerted another arose. The Electoral
Commission trap was set, and as 1t was baited
with an appearance Of fairness, nine tenths
of the Democratic party fell into 1t. Tilden
saw what the outcome OF 1t would be from the
first, and he warned his friends against it.
He knew that when a step was taken outside
the limits of the constitution the wrong and
not the right would triumph. But the other
Democratic leaders were blind, and while
they charged him with delay they rushed
madly forward to their own destruction. 1t
would puzzle Tilden's severest critic to tell
what he did In that controversy which he
ought to have omitted, or what he omitted
which he ought to have DONE"
.How will the investigation Of the cipher
kilograms affect his chances?"
That investigation will benefit him, with
out doubt. Senator Conkling was shrewd
enough to see 1t before the committee began
Its work. When the dispatches were first
printed they seemed to imDlicate Tilden. 1t
was hard to understand how his nephew and
while he was kept In ignorance OF 1t. The tes-
tmony not only clears up this apparent mys-
terry, but 1t makes other points clear. The
people understand now that Tilden could have
had the. Presidency If he had chosen to buy it.,
or. to use his own words, TO ransom 1t from
the felons.' But he would not participate In
an action where the great Office to which he
was elected WAS knocked down to the highest
bidder. Nobody can read the testimony taken
before the Potter committee without thinking
better Of Tilden than before"
HAS Tilden many enemies In the Demo
cratic partyP
Eyes. All positive men make enemies. Poll
cies which attract the people and promote the
general welfare are always carried out at the
sacrifice OF individuals. But Mr.. Iilden has
fewer enemies now than he had In 1876. he
carried the convention then on the second
ballot by n two-thirds vote. In the next con-
vention, in addition to his former strength,
he will probably command the support of two
most important States which opposed him at
st. Louis-Pennsylvania and Indiana. In
Pennsylvania the feeling In his favor Is very
strong. The Tilden party there not only en-
braces the men who followed the lead OF
Speaker Randall ia the last State cor vention
land who were minority them, but 1t also
counts among its most active workers scores
pended for support. II you care to make in
Quiries at Pittsburg you will get further light
on this subject.
"In Indiana the feeling is not so much In
favor Of Tilden as OF the old ticket Tilden
and Hendricks. Gov. Hendricks Is wise in
his day and generation. He sees that II a
Western man is nominated, or even voted for
In the convention, it will not be he. 1t will be
Thurman more likely. He wants to be Pres
ident of course, but failing that be wants to
be Vice President. He is no longer to be
counted In the list OF Tilden's rivals. He met
that gentleman for the first time at Saratoga
Ia July, 1876 few weeks after the conven-
ton. He approached him In no very friendly
spirit, for he looked upon him as the one man
who had stood between him and the fulfill
ment OF his highest ambition. But in the
course of protracted conversation, extend
ing over more than four hours, Gov. Hen
0r1ck s Ie6llDR bOWdIu [TOp. lllucH uuueEWeuL
{, noticeable change. He saw revealed those
high qualities OF a great mind, which made
Tllden the legitimate leader Of the Democ
.racy. He began to see what thousands OF
others have seen, that whosoever casts his
fortunes with Tilden is safe; that he was
serving with a leader who will never be d.
yerted from his purpose by the flattery Of his
friends, or driven off by the threats of his
enemies. In brief, Hendricks who had come
liz a somewhat unhappy frame OF nina
to meet rival, went away reasonably well
satisfied with the work of the convention.
After that TiIden and Hendricks labored har-
moriously, and the election returns In New
York ana Indiana showed that they labored
to some purpose. They will not be enemies
hereafter Occupying the second place On the
old ticket, Hendricks will stiR keep his name
before the public, and al the same time crafty
his long standing grudge against Ohio. in
1868, when Pendleton's friends found that ne
was virtually out of the race If they had
turned in and given Hendricks hearty sup
port, he might have been nominated for Presi-
dent Exen in 1876. Il it had notbeen for the
od Bill Allen diversion, he would have stood