The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-22
Mr.. Tilden's Heirs.

cans anil many Democrats that Mr..
Tilden will not press his candidacy at
Cincinnati, but content himself with
naming his political heir. The fact
that Democratic leaders OF we'll
known friendliness to Mr.. Tilden
have openly declared their intention
to sacrifice all personal preferences to
party success and of casting their in
fuence on the side of the man who
shall develop the greatest natural
strength at the national convention,
certainly affords reasonable ground
for this belief, although we are not
among those who entertain it as a
conviction. Still, the situation is
sufficiently doubtful to make it an
interesting subject for speculation,
and we observe that much curiosity
is manifested in certain quarters as
to what candidate, in the event Of
Mr.. Tilden's withdrawal, would be
likely to catch his falling mantle.
This curiosity is heightened by the
mystery which perpetually envelops
Gramercy Park. and which the most
acute reporters have failed to dispel.
Who will be Mr.. Tilden's choice fer
the nomination in case lie should de-
eide to retire from the contest him
self? Some say Randall, of Penn
sylvania; others Payne, of Ohio;
both of the Englishes are mentioned
as favorites even Justice Field is
spoken of as an heir expectant. OF
these, however, the most sanguine
candidates are undoubtedly Messrs.
Payne and Randall, and it is well to
note that they are also the most ac-
tive workers in Mr.. Tilden's interest.
The friends of each claim with equal
assurance that the sage of Gramercy
Park has intimated his Intention of
making their man his residuarv leg
atee and profess to have undeniable
proofs Of the fact. Mr.. Randall's
followers say that the Pennsylvania
delegation will stand by him solidly
at Cincinnati, and, in the event of
his chiefs withdrawal, will vote as a
unit for the Speaker himself. Mr..
Payne's adherents declare that, after
a complimentary vote for Senator
Thurman, the Ohio delegation will
be at the formers disposal, to be
turned over to Mr.. Tilden, should he
remain in the contest or retained for
himself, as circumstances may re-
quire. There can be no question that
both PAYNE and Randall have rem
dered their chief important service
in their respective States, and that
they have strong claim upon his
gratitude. 1t is quite probable also
that they have received from him
assurances Of his distinguished re-
gard, and it is just possible that they
haYe had their zeal stimulated by
promises of substantial reward. But
those who are familiar with Mr., Til
denis methods will be apt to see in
this fact only fresh illustration of
his wonderful political adroitness.
This decrepit old man, they will say,
has no intention whatever of making
his will, but recognizes the necessity
of surrounding himself with young
men to fight the battles which he has
no longer the strength to engage in,
and as an inducement hints that he
will make them his heirs. He is too
sagacious to commit himself directly
to either, but he takes occasion to ex-
tol their talents, and allows their
friends to infer anything they please.
We do not say that such is actually
the case, but that is a method which
Mr.. Tilden is fond of employing
when he is unable to pull his chest
nuts out Of the FIRE himself; and for
his catspaws he has had at one time
or another the ablest men in the par
tv. No one has forgotten that ne al
lowed his lieutenants to advocate the
appointment of the Electoral Com
mission under the idea that they
were simply carrying out his wishes,
and when they failed to accomplish