San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-02-07
L. Abuse Argument:

President, and IN a column intr0duc'
ton make an honest democrat blush
TO the back of his neck. This pure
patriot, says the FREE Pass. would
take rank among the first Presidents
Of the oountIy-'alman Of broad views
calu seli-possession. honest and inflexl
bic 10 his purposes" Now, on the
contrary, the Tribune regards slippery
Sam as thief, a man as unfit to con.
troll tho destinies Of this country as
any ono Of the returning board rascals
who counted him out at the last cleo.
tion.-Orange (Tex. Tribune.
"Tis dirty bird that befouls its
own nest" says the old adage. The
Orange Tribune in the above writes
itself down in that category. Its
managers, as democrats, we presume
no doubt supported Tilden In 1876,
and have asserted-as indeed they do
above--that he was fairly elected and
uniustly counted out. They do not
pretend to have had any new reveal.
ton as to Tilden's character, yet they
now adopt the bilingsgate or the Grant
organs against him, aud all, so far as ap'
pears. without any reason whatever!
In so doing they most effectively
stultify and dishonor themselves only
Tilden stands far above their reach,
We gave our reasons for again sup.
porting Mr.. Tilden. They seem to
US perfectly unanswerable, at least by
such as supported him before. The
Tribune does not attempt an an.
swer, but runs off into personal abuse
as above,
ITO argue with q man who has re-
uounced the use and authority of rea.
son. says another pitby authority,
us like administering medicine to
the dead, or trying to convert an
atheist by Scripture" Therefore we
decline any extended response to the
Orange Tribune. We suggest to it, how.
ever, tho propriety of going slow, /"
because the chances are that it will
yet have to support Tilden after all,
or some one on whom his mantle shall
fall, and after abusing him 80 roundly
| it might add, if possible, to the awk.
wardness and humiliation Of its pres.
cnt position,
We have said We shall not attempt
to reason with the Tribune. The
Groesbcck New Era however, we notice
has done SO, and we copy its handsome
and crushing rejoinder below:
The Orange Tribune, usually fair in
discussing men and measures, flies off
at a tangent ut the mere mention of
Tildeu's name 10 connection with the
next presidency by contemporary, and
calls him thief" Now Bro. Har.
ris if you are able to give reason for
the faith that is in you, just tell US
when and where Samuel j. Tilden
ever stole anything from anybody.
Why is it that Democrats and Demo.
cratic newspapers will chime in with
the Radicals in traduoing the fair name
of the only man who has led the Dem
ocratic part to victory within score
of years, is beyond our comprehension.
No, Tilden is not a thief. He has
record of which any man might just
ly be proud. He possesses in a very emf
nent degree the elements of q states
man, a philosopher, leader, and in
the opinion of a large and intelligent
body Of democrats, whose opinions are
not to be ignored in the coming contest,
Samuel j Tilden will, if he is not nom.
mated by the next National Demo.
cratic Convention himself, name its
nominee, Tilden's name is o tower of
strength 10 the Democratic party.
Those who would ignore him dare not
do it. The Democracy has many able
men in its ranks, but where is one of
superior strength and commanding
genius, who has ever united the party
on any measure? We challenge the
Tribune to point out single one. We
have number of third and fourth
rate statesmen, who crow around in
local circles and get up meagre fol-
lowing, but away from their own dung
hills they are not known. About all
the purpose they serve in the Demo.
cratic ranks is to divide. distract, and
get up schisms. Now and then one of
hem discovers that he would make q
good president, and Immediately he is
an incorporating foe of Tilden. His
followers imbibe the spirit and war is
declared against the sage of Grammer
cy Park. The most senseless, brain
less thing imaginable is the war on
Tilden. especially the Democratic part
Of it. The Era is not the champion
of Mr.. Tilden. on the contrary, we
are opposed to his nomination. if his
equal as a leader can can be found any
where else, but. the position he occu.
pies in the democratic party and in the
mind of the whole country. would it
appears. suggest Justice and fairness in
his name. il no higher con.
siderations prompted it. The ipse diiru
If no man is OF any value In such case.
We want proof Of his uuworthiuess
aud demand its production. before en-
caging in war If determination after
the fashion of Kilkenny cats.