New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-03

ant for the SOIltn WHICH constitutes tnc ic"i
voting strength of the Democracy, and has
repeatedly shown its ability to fix the policy
of the party, to be treated as If 1t had no
will of its own in the matter OF the candl-
date. and no choice but to support the nonl-
nee picked out for il from another section OF
the country. Aud the most disagreeable
thing about the assumptions of the Northern
leaders Is that they are quite true. As a
matter of fact the South is not consulted
about the candidate; it will have no infiu-
ence upon the selection except so far as this,
that no Southern man will, under any CIR
cumstances, be nominated; and it VIII be
expected to vote tbe ticket without making
fuss.
Here Is The Charleston Neus and Courier
protesting that =" it is not safe to count on the
"South giving solid vote to either wooden
"image or a rag baby" BY one of these en-
dearing figures of speech-we are unable TO
determine wrich-it refers to Mr.. Samuel d.
Tiden. For that gentleman it expresses de-
cidcd aversion, inspired, as well as we can
understand the case, by his conduct in 1876
He showed in the late campaign, according to
The Necs and Courier, that he was mot
astonish most people up here, but our Charles
ton friend leaves us in no sort of doubt what
he means. What" he asks, did Mr.. 1llden
edo, or his friends, to help South Carolina III
&" the desperate struggle in 1857 Nothing
{" In his own heart he was ready and anxious
:" to sacrifice South Carolina to public opinion
when the vote proved to be close he was III
90 the market, according to common report, Tor
Zone of the South Carolina electoral votes
"Jm he denies this nor, and IS entitled TO no
credit for that prospective operation" 80,
then, the man who had a chance to buy
south Cardinals electoral votes and did not
do it is "nOt friendly to the South" II the
operation had been completed, if there had
been more money and less negotiating, If
South Carolina had been iudiciOusly helped
"in the desperate struggle" the case would
have been very different. South Carolina
politics is suffering from scarcity OF the
circulating medium. No wonder that after
reading the story of Hardy SolOmOn's travels
the conviction should prevail in Charleston
that Mr.. Tilden is either " Il wooden image
|" or rag-baby."
The singularly open language of the news
paper we have cited will confirm the prevail
ing opinion that the real objection to Mr. Til
den among Democrats is, that having got so
near the Presidency he failed 10 take" 1t.
His implication in questionable transactions
with electors and returning boards does not
distress them; but they cannot forgive him
for falling to seize the various chances that
fell IN ms way for not closing promptly with
the offers of Marble and WOoIley, for breaking
off the bargain with Solomon, for not repud-
ating the electoral commission rs soon as 1t
ruled against him, for neglecting to stimulate
riot in the House OF Representatives,, decide
off-hand the question of his own election, ANA
possess himself of power in the midst Of an
archy. Over and over again the Democrats OF
the North have complained that Mr.. Tilden
showed lack of nerve - in the hour OF Op-
portunity, and have sworn that the next time
they believe they have elected Pres-
dent they will see that he takes" the Office,
whether the lawful tribunal awards it to him
or not. Now the Democrats of the South are
clamoring that they want nobody with too
much parsimOny or too many inconvement
scruples about spending money-nObody who
is not practical friend to the South As
indications of the state of Democratic feeling,
these declarations are interesting; but they
will be a great help to Mr.. Tllden. The
shrewd men of the party must see that the
reasons urged for rejecting him are really very
strong reasons for his denomination; and
there is not n particle of doubt that whenever
they so decide the hungry and disappointed
South will fall right into line.