New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-03
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF POLITICS.

The great issue i'll politics at present, accord
ing to the Judgment of our Democratic friends,
is question of physiology. The proceedings
of State Conventions and the preferences ofdelc-
gates are not studied with half the attention
which the party bestows upon the statements OF
two country lawyers from Ohio and q sugar re-
finer from the Fifth Avenue. Messrs. Seney
and DOugherty, of KentOn, recently made an
nte-mortem examination of Mr. T1den, and
published report on his physical dccrepitude
which filled the Democracy with delight 1t
should be rather q delicate enterprise to call on
acaudidate for the Presidency with the pretext OF
talking politics, but with the real purpose OF test
ing his bodily sOundness and the strength and
elasticity of his mind and the task was not made
easier on this occasion by the fact that Mr.. TIlden
evidently knew what his visitors had come for
"He braced up and tried to appear vigorous
"and spry," said Mr.. Dougherty, but twas
"useless attempt" The two strangers found
nothing at Gramcrcy Park except i" the remains
"of a g1eat man." His limbs were paralyzed,
his voice was feeble and measured, his nerves
were broken; he was plainly on the edge of
the grave, and it would not take much to
tumble him into it.
But here comes Mr.. MOller, who says that lie
years, and the account which he gives Of the
condition of that statesman is very different
from the Ohio report Mr.. Moler declares that
the story of the KentOn lawyers Is "fOul
Gblast." Mr.. Tiden is as strong as an OK. He
rides like centaur. He can stand up straight.
He walks very erect and classlc-like a great
@statesman." If his voice lie low, he can talk
@as loud as he wants to-" and that after all is
the great thing. His left arm is paIsied, TO be
| sure, but then left arms are not of much use
| any how, and he can write beautifully. He has
a magnificent head brimful of brains fine
ear and most superior nose. He does "nOt
Galwaysn require help to eat his dinner. and
When he does he employs an excellent widow to
cut his food for him. In a word, Mr.. MOller pro-
pounces the venerable statesman of GrameTCy
| u Park more than sufficiently strong both ply.
sically and mentally to endure the pressure and
| @hardships of half dozen Presidential cam
Gpaigns as the standard bearer Of his party
| and he ends after fine burst Of elOquenCe, by
calling Mr.. Tilden "a tower of strength"
Sad to say, the encouraging bulletin Of Mr.
| Moler is read by the Democratic party with
uDconcealed chagrin. We find great many
| disrespectful remarks about Mr. Moller In the
| Democratic newspapers. His certificate Of
soundness is jeered at. He is asked what a
sugar refner knows of physiology, and who
invited him to give al opinion in the case. The
party prefers the verdict of the Ohio lawyers.
There is a dread that if Mr.. Tilden is really
able to stand erect, and to walk like a states
man. and to ride like centaur, he will yet fore
close his mortgage. Three years ago the Dem
ocracy vowed that nothing should prevent their
placing Mr.. Tilden In the White House in
| 1881. To-day there is nothing on earth they
dread so much as being obliged to vote for him.
They declare almost with one voice, that there
| is not the remotest chance of his nomination,
and yet in their secret hearts turks fear that
he will make them nominate him after all.
| They have pinned their hopes upon death or
general paralysis. If the venerable slower of
strength" were out of the way there is not n
Democrat in the United States who would not
feel safer. Even Mr.. Tilden's own partisans
read the Ohio report with Christian resignation
and the MOller contradiction with little I'M
eesiness. If Mr.. Iilden should die before the
Convention he would be followed to the grave
by one of the most enthusiastic funerals on
| record.