Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-03-27
A MorfEaged Party.

road mortgages has been generally con.
ceded. But the Democrats are begin
ming to suspect that he can clap as ugly
a mortgage on a party as he ever did upon
railroad, and that he possesses equal
skill as wrecker of bankrupt roads and
of embarrassed parties. The old man is
heartily detested, as "grasping" creditors
usually are by impecunious debtors.
But the Democratic citizen of the Wild
West and Sunny South, who have de-
vised means to repudiate State and coun-
ty debts without number, have legislated
cities out of existence in order to cancel
mortgages upon them, and passed acts of
State legislatures in Arkansas and Wis
consin to wipe out mortgages ON much
indebted counties, gnash their teeth with
rage at the thought that Mr.. Tilden has
mortgage on the Democratic party
which they have not yet found means to
repudiate.
In bygone years, when Mr.. Tilden was
managing campaigns for the Democratic
party in the State of New York, he loan
ed to the party great deal of his valua-
BILE time and services. Railroad corpora
tiOns have been obliged to pay great
many thousand dollars for less work than
he gave to the Democrats in political
campaigns. 1t was not very clean work,
either. Mr.. Tilden may not be ultra-fas-
tidious, but it probably CALLED him not
little to have on his hands the conduct of
campaigns in which Tweed was Boss
and Hoffman was fgurehead, and fraud
ulent naturalization were as plenty as
repeaters. But he bore everything with
the patience of a Shylock, and bided his
time. He was engaged in putting a
mortgage on the National Democratic
party. If there was an unclean or un-
scrupulous Democratic worker any,
where in this State, Mr.. Tilden found
him out, and discover ed what he could
do. His services were unpaid; for re-
ward he had only a debt of gratitude
and his little mortgage. Debts of graft |
tude political parties do not often pay.
But Mr.. Tilden's mortgage is quite an
other matter.
The party tried to pay him off by
electing him Governor, but presently |
discovered that it had not only recog-
nized thereby his claim to larger pay
ment. There was some struggling and |
kicking at st. Louis in 1875, but the un-
happy debtor who is in default, and re-
sists foreclosure, generally gets the
worst of it. The nomination was de-
cree of foreclosure, and Mr.. Tilden has
since been trying to realize on his prop
erty. AT the present moment the wild
Western Democrat, who would very
much like to repudiate this debt as well
Is every other, fails to see exactly how
TO do it.
For there the old man sits, with his
mortgage in his hand. Nominate me-"
le says, cor my perfect knowledge of all
hat is rotten in the Democratic party of
New York will be used, and not for you.
4 you think you carry New York for |
any candidate against the will of S. J.
ilden, proceed to try it. Perhaps you
,hink you can elect a President without
he help of New York; if so, try it. But
think the mortgage valid, and if any
'ody wants the Democratic party for any
uture use, let him pay me one Presi- :
lential term for it" The Sage of Cipher i
Alley has strong position, as his enc l
MES begin to discover. Whether they
an elect him or not, be can make it J
cry certain that they cannot elect any a
ody else. II
The Republican party has excellent I
eason for regarding this situation with :
satisfaction. 1t is quite ready
} submit to the people full history of
ne contest of 1875, and to see whether a
ne free white voters of the North will 7
ield to the Copenhagen" of Russia" t
which the poor and recently enfran-
hised black voters of certain Southern /,
tates were too proud to be bought Mr.. :
ilden's peculiar skill in New York is a