New-York tribune., 1879-11-26
vP. HEyIrr on THE CLALMANE

Nobody will question the accuracy Of the
story of Mr.. Tilden's connection with the
Electoral Commission IA told to TRIBUNE
reporter on Monday by the Hon. Abram
5. Hewitt. Even If Mr.. Hewtt's personal
character were not a sufficient guaran-
tee. the narrative would win acceptance by
the internal evidences of Its truth. Ii is the
habit of Mr.. Tilden to bear himself toward
all doubtful projects III such way that he
may take the full advantage OF success and
escape all the discredit of failure. The Elec-
toral Commission bill was sent to him by Mr..
Hewitt as soon as 1t was drawn up
IN Joint committee. Mr.. Hewitt then
hurried TO New-YOrk for consultation, and
received from the Democratic candidate
n number of suggestions for the amend
ment of the original bill. Mr.. Tilden
seems 20 have refTalned from committing him
self either for or against the project but be had
q nephew, and all through the discussion In Con-
gress Colonel Pelton was inN'ashngton urging
the adoption OF the bill Mr.. TIdens nearest
friends IN the Senate urged it, he certainly
might be held to approve it, at least tactly,
after the notifications proposed by him had
been adopted and il would have been strange
indeed If the Democratic members had not
supposed that the course thus commended To
them had MIR. Tilden's assent. Ii the result
had been what they hoped we dare say there
would have been loud chorus in praise of
Mr.. TilGens patriotism and sagacty. and the
old gentleman would have accepted the plau-
dts in serene silence.
The Commission, however, having decided
the case against Mr. Tilden, became an object
4
who created it, and every leader of the party
who values his reputation for shrewdneSs has
been anxious, for the past three years, to
show that he never did believe In the Com
mission. that he knew how the scheme would
turn out, that matters would have ended very
differently if his advice had been taken, etc.
etc. Mr. Tilden says nothing himself. but his
next friend, Mr.. Manton Marble, speaks for
him, and in that tremendous Letter, of which
mankind will never grow tired, he shows, or
thinks he shows, that the Commission was
created in spite of MIR. TIlden's earnest
opposition, and that Mr.. TIlden had "A plan
which would have shrivelled and consumed
the conspiracy, root and branch, i'll the final
citadel of power. Mr.. Watterson has made
statements to the same general effect, thongh,
of course. not i'll such fine language and Mr.
Hewitt, Interpreting such remarks as a rehec-
rion upon his management of the campaign,
feels aggrieved that Mr.. TIlden should not
contradict them. Mr.. Hewitt ought to know
the Claimant too well to expect a contradic-
ton. That cautious statesman takes no re-
sponsibility for failures. Nobody on the Dem
ocratic side wants to be held accountable for
the Electoral Commission now though there
was a time when they all seemed to be proud
of 1t.
We are inclined to think that the most
entertaining part of Mr.. Hewitt's recent con-
versation is that III which he refers to Colonel
Pelton's activity III the lobbies of the Capitol
as an advocate of the Electoral Commission
scheme No great crisis in the difficulties of
1S7G77 appears to have been complete with
out the presence and assistance of this accom-
plished nephew, and it turns out that IN every
instance he did exactly wnat his uncle wished
him not to do at least he did what his uncle
now sees-n the keen bright sunlight of
publicity-that he would have wished him
not TO do, il he had known about it at
the time, and had also known that