Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-21
A Real Danger.
NEW York Tribune. |

that the Democratic party might now
seize the Presidency, are told by the in.
sinuating and plausible supporters of
that gentleman that 1.-THE only party
which ever gave up the Presidency, when
all its own members and many OF the op-
position thought its candidate elected,
was the Democratic party, which Is now
charged by its opponents with intending
TO seize the Government, whatever the
result may be-" This is one way of stat.
ing it. It leaves out of sight two or three
essential facts, however. In the first
place, the only claim they ever had for
the election of Mr.. Tilden was based
upon the fact, which cannot be success
fully contreverted, that in two or three
Southern States the colored Republican
vote was suppressed by intimidation and
violence. Had this suppression not been
foreseen by those who gave the blacks
their freedom and the ballot, or had 1t
not been provided against by statute law,
the claim might be made with technical
justice. But the conspiracy was fore.
seen, and the remedy provided the en-.
forcement of just laws defeated the con-
splrators. The Democratic claim is that
except for these laws and their legal exc.
cution, their candidate would have been
elected. Leaving them out, perhaps he
they stood stubbornly in the way. The
Democrats "gave up the Presidency" be-
cause their leader knew the weakness of
their claim.
But the party did not, in fact, "give UP
the Presidency" Mr.. Tilden did, and it
was simply, as stated, because he knew
bis claim was not sound and could not
stand. There were mischevious men
enough IN the party to have undertaken
resistance and revolution, had he but con-
sented to take the lead and give the word.
How much credit is due the party, or the
leaders of the party, for their great act of
self denial in giving up the Presidency,
is we'll shown by their unsparing con.
domination of Tilden's cowardice, and
their Reputation of his claim for a re
nomination. So much of selfdenial as
they showed they were driven to by his
refusal to act. That refusal left them
without l-ader; and how could they de-
mand the Presidency, or make a move
ment toward selzlng it, without having
some one on whose behalf to make the
demand? It is mistake to attribute to
the party the peaceable surrender that
was made, or give them credit for re.
framing from violence through motives Of
patriotism or unwillingness to disturb
the peace. They were willing and eager
W tuG SeILuT6 Vi the GI0Sl.
dency. And the difference between the
situation in 1877 and the present is, upon
their own showing, that whereas then
they had candidate who was too timid
to assert what they call his rights, now
they have one in whose favor the strong.
est argument and the most constantly
dwelt upon is, that he will take b q
seat"
The fear that they will seize the Presi.
dency is far from being groundless. The
fact that they did not seize it in 1877 is
not only no proof that there Is no danger
now, but rather increases the danger. Fer
they now say openly that Tilden's back
wardness and cowardice stood in their
way before, but that this time they have a
candidate they can depend upon. What
does all this mean, and what does General
"Baldy" Smiths talk about Hancock's
willingness to recognize Tilden in 1877
mean, if not that they are prepared to take
desperate measures to get possession of
the Government? The nomination of
General Hancock, taken in connection
with the dissatisfaction at Tilden's course,
the arguments used with delegates In
Hancock's favor, aud the outburst of fiery
enthusiasm from the men who, like Gen.
eral Preston, of Kentucky, "want little
powder and ball. will bear no other in.
IOTpTtLdtlDu. lutS0 mOD propose TO eject
General Hancock if they can, but whether
they elect him or not to "seat him." The
fear that they will seize the Presidency is
not idle or groundless.
People who are called upon to remem-
Der how they gave up the Presidency"
in 1877, will remember as well the excel
lent reasons why they gave it up. And
as for the record of the party furnishing
any guarantee for their keeping the peace,
nothing could be more absurd. They tell
Us it is the only party that ever "gave up
the Presidency" On the contrary, it is
the only one that ever refused to abide by
the results of an election; the only one
that ever rebelled and appealed to arms !;
the only one that in the past forty years
has not been increasingly engaged either
in making war against the Government or
threatening it. If 1t has nothing but its
record to appeal to in proof of its pacific
purposes, its assurances will have little
weight. The people believe they are bent
on mischief. In such circumstances the
least their candidate can do to assure the
country that his position in the army will
not be used to further their designs is, to
resign his commission. Will Gen. Han.
cock resign?
WHAT WOMEN SHOULD BE-Very few
women are qualified, either by nature or
training, TO play the part of judicious
domestic providence, unrestrsined by any
other influence; and the sbdication of the
husband is generally attended by humil-
iatiOn and euffarup tn the rest. for with