The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-11
Mr.. TILDEN's TESTIMONY.

mirer OF the Hon. Samuel j. Tilden since he
failed to make the effort which we believe he
should have made to secure the Office to
which the people had elected him. Our dissat-
isfaction was promptly and freely expressed at
the time, and there is no reason to doubt the
correctness Of the view that with candidate
of more tirmness the Democratic party would
have been In full control OF the executive de-
partment OF the government on the fourth OF
March, 1877. But while the DEMOCRAT doubt
ed Mr.. Tilden's courage In great emergency,
Ii is free to confess that his course would
have been followed by nine men In every ten.
1t would have required extraordinary nerve
to have assumed the leadership OF the Demo
cratic party at that juncture: but we con-
ceived that Mr. Tilden would be equal to the
utmost requirements of the occasion, and
confess to d keen disappointment at our
mistake
While the nerve OF the Democratic candi-
date was doubted, the DEMOCRAT never can
yassed his ability or his honesty. When the
cipher kilograms were first published, this
journals confidence In his integrity was I'M
shaken and when his letter was written, In
which he calmly swept aside the calumny
reputation, and exposed the true authors OF the
presidential theft, the DEMOCRAT fastened
to express an utter belief In Its truth. The
latest developments Of this attack upon his
reputation, and through him, as It's trusted
leader. upon the Democratic party, amply
sustain us In that belief. Every witness con-
nected with the now famous cipher dispatches
has testified that Mr.. Tilden was not
even remotely acquainted with the ef-
forts made by indiscreet friends
to buy an e1ector in South Carolina and Flor
ida to vote for the man whom the people OF
those States had chosen for their President
In other words, to buy what already belonged
to him. They also have testified that the
matter was kept from his ears because they
knew he would spurn such a means of ac-
auiring the office. Colonel Pelton, the chief
mover In this matter, and the nephew of Mr..
Tilden, ventured to hint from Baltimore his
intentions, when he was ordered back to New
York and sternly rebuked for his officlous in
termeddling, Mr.. Tilden taking occasion to
say that he would rather die than to be
put In the presidential chair under false
pretenses.'
This concurrent testimony of course dis
posed Of the charge that Mr.. Tilden had any
thing to do with the attempt to secure an
elector, and his own evidence was not re-
quired to vindicate him. But he insisted upon
going on the stand, and his testimony was 80
clear and positive that he now stands before
the country not only as fully indicated,
but as a fouly aspersed and prosecuted man,
whose position at the head OF the Democratic
party has made him the aim OF every ma
licious Radical scrihbler In the country.
And, now, how does the man who occupies
the presidential chair contrast with the man
who was elected to It It has been shown
that electoral votes were sold It Ia well
known that Mr.. Tilden had ample means,
and yet Hayes got the votes. It has been
shown that both Republicans and Democrats
were engaged In the attempt to secure presi-
dentlal electors In the disputed States. 1t Is
known that Mr.. Tilden denounced the Demo-
Gratis thus engaged, while every Republican
who was concerned In the theft Of the Presi-
dency has been rewarded by the beneficiary,
all of them getting fat offices, and many Of
them the best positions in the gift of the
executive. In all moral qualities the two men
are as wide apart as they are In political
IhItU. All vi Ullb TO iuhhC aShih5t I'LL
Tilden have been swept away, while those
against Hayes are openly confessed by his
party friends, who, in the insolence OF their
power, coolly inquire, What do you propose
TO do about it ?"
1t ls not strange that the visit Of the Potter
committee to New York has resulted greatly
to the advantage of Mr.. Tilden as probable
presidential candidate In 1880. He has been
SO viely traduced and has borne 1t with such
dignified patience that many mistook his 81
lence for guilt. The reaction in his favor has
naturally been great. and his friends may be
expected to make the most Of it. That Is their
legitimate province, and will not be inter-
fered with. The DEMOCRAT does not look to
| 1880 at the present time. 1t Is content to look
back to 1876 and to congratulate the party
upon its selection at that time Of candidate
In every way creditable to It, Mr.. Tilden's
present triumph Is the triumph Of the Ma
tional Democratic party.
|