Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-09
The Political situation.

Inc EO1ltlCaI Sltuat1Ons
Both the republican and democratic parties,
on the eve OF the national campaign, are haEdi-
capped with an internal contest against what
Is popularity known as the machine. In the
democratic ranks the fight between Tilden and
his opponents Is engaging all the attention
usually, at this stage OF a canvass, bestowed
upon political opponents, and the republican
party is equally as badly torn up by the war
fare between the Grant men and the anti-third
termers. The leading organs OF both parties have
Joined In the war of factions, and the strong
language employed by some of them will play
an important part in the campaign. The New
York WbIid, for Instance. Is as mercleSs In its
criticisms Of Tilden as the Tribune 1t has de-
nounced him as railroad wrecker," a ''cipher
Statesman" ETC., and has frequently accused
him OF attempts, in 1876 to bride the South
Carolina and Florida returning boards. The
Tribune has not gone quite so far in its opposi-
ton to Grant, but it has INDUCED in criticisms
that would furnish the democrats with excellent
campaign material In the event the eX-PreSi-
dent should be nominated by the republicans.
The Cincinnati Commercial, should Grant be
the republican candidate, will have to revolt,
or retract very mnch that 1t has said. Mean
time, the machine In each party works right
along, performing its functions In spite of oppo-
sition. In the democratic party Tilden directs
this SILENT almost mysterious political system
known as the machine, and he Is evidently
making it effective. The democratic leaders OF
recognized ability and standing are nearly all
opposed to him, but in their whispered con-
situations they confess that they have
but little hope of defeating him for
the nomination. Tilden has played
deep game with his party, and his opponents
have found it out too late, they fear. For two
years past he has whispered into the ears OF
prominent democrats that he was seriously
thinking of retiring from politics; that he was
too old, or had too much private business, to
engage in another presidential race, and he had
about determined to abandon the field. He
only whispered this. however, to men whom he
knew to be against him. At the same time that
he was keeping alive the impression that he
would not be candidate, he had agents &C
lively at work In some of the states arranging
to secure for him the delegations TO the national
convention. His plan has been to secure the
delegations from the republican states,
and in carrying 1t out he has gen.
orally ignored the democratic states
In Iowa, where the republicans have majority
OF thousands, 1t Is much easier for a willy poll
tcian like Tilden to obtain an instructed dele
CATION than in state that is democratic or
even doubtful. The minority party is usually
diSorganKed, to greater or less degree, and
the state committee is permitted to exercise
great deal Of power. Tilden has been quietly,
out most effectively working to secure the dele
cations from republican states, and the great
fear OF the democracy now Is that he may
obtain the nomination by the votes Of
such delegations, added to the vote of New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which,
it is conceded. he Will get. The anti-Tllden
democrats are directing their energies. Just
T,nyx To jnfaa of fbn MIA -
end every effort is being made to prevent him
from getting the democratic delegation from
Pennsylvania. Senator Wallace has taken
charge OF the anti-Tilden canvass in that state,
while the Tilden forces are led by Speaker RAN
dali and Scott, member Of the national demo-
cratic committee. OF the delegates elected so
far, a majority is against Tilden, Tut in the
counties yet to elect the fight is being bitterly
waged. The calculation is that Ohio and Indiana
will choose anttTiden delegations, and If
Pennsylvania can be added to the list, it IS
believed he can be prevented from capturing
the nomination.
In the republican party the fear that Grant
may be nominated by the democratic states
creates as much uneasine5s as the Tilden
scheme does in democratic ranks. The machine
managers, in both parties, want votes and they
are not particular as to what states they come
from. Up to the present the machine in both
parties appears to be ahead, but the large ma
Jorty of states are yet choose delegates to the
national conventions and the tide may turn.
Should the machine win, in the end, and nomt-
nate Grant and Tilden as the opposing candl-
dates, the former would be elected, no doubt
because he is much more acceptable candidate
to his party than Tilden Is to the democrats
AS between the two, large numbers OF dissatis-
fled democrats would vote for Grant, while but
comparatively few republicans would carry
their dissatisfaction with the nomination
their party to the extent OF voting for Tllden.