The Portland daily press., 1880-06-22
Is 1T A WITHDRAWAL OR A PLEA
FOR THE NOMINATION.

NEW YORK, June 21.-The Herald says
Tilden's letter was expected to be one of de-
clination, but it turns out to be a dexterous
plea for nomination. 1t remains to be seen
whether the convention will take him at his
word or will accept the letter in the sense in
which it is obviously intended-to make him
again the nominee of his party.
The Sun says-The letter of Tilden's is a
clear and forcible document, comprehensive in
thought and elevated in sentiment. but we
differ with Tilden in the conclusion at which
he arrives. 1t seems to US that the only logi-
cal deduction from his statements and reason
ing emphasizes the necessity of Tilden's candi.
dacy.
The World says:-It was only when it was
clear that he could not be nominated nor
elected that Tilden comes forward to decline
nomination which he is at last satisfied that he
cannot obtain. He has resigned under fire and
of the convention. There is certainly nothing
heroic in this behavior. There is as certainly
something characteristic. Boldness and frank
ness are not traits by which has been distin-
guished in his public life. To keep his counsel
even from those who have every right to know
it until concealment is no longerspossble is
the habit which has alienated his party from
him, and of this habit his long withheld and
grudging letter of withdrawal is a browning
evidence. His letter also exhibits the same
pharisaical assumption which it's author has
shown before-that all those members of his
own party who oppose him are 'bad men,"
governed by base motives. 1t is Mr.. Tildens
own fault if even this letter is not received as
final by those who are supposed to possess his
confidence, and if there are persons who i'm
agine that they are pleasing him instead of in
sulting him by the preposterous demand that
it should be disregarded by the convention.
The Tribune says,-It is a sort Of farewell
address to the Democracy, combined with an
earnest exhOrtation not to condone fraud. In
spite of the elaborate phraseology of the letter,
there will remain lingering suspicion in the
minds of Democrats who have been disposed
to regard Tilden as q sort of sold man of the
sea-" fastened upon the neck of their party,
that he is not wholly out of the fight, and his
name may yet be thrown into the convention
If it should fail TO nominate after few ballots.
Nothing but the actual nomination of some
other man will wholly dispel this suspicion
The prediction of some OF Tilden's followers
in Cincinnati, that the letter though declin-
alton in terms, would in reality be a bid for the
nomination. is more than half fulfilled. II the
convention should get into snarl with it's
bakers dozen OF candidates and should
straighten it out by a hurrah for the old ticket
of 1876 who can say Tilden would still decline
or that he did not foresee Just such result
when he wrote that letter?
The Times says:-Tilden's letter eliminates
an important factor from the equation which
is to be worked out, but it leaves the unknown
quantity untouched. 1t must be accepted as an
unqualified Pronunciation of the nomination.
70 suppose it is mere device to win sentiment
tai strength in the convention, is to magnify
beyond all reason the mysterious character
which has been attributed to Tilden. Ii Ian
guage has any meaning his name cannot with
decency be presented to the convention. The
letter contains much that is open to criticism
on the ground of its truth, its propriety and its
reasoning, but that it constitutes complete
withdrawal from the canvass cannot fairly be
doubted.
The Star styles it "Tilden's surrender, and
says the greatest obstacle to Democratic har-
mony is now removed 1t calls Tilden's letter
of withdrawal, even at the eleventh hour, and
when he had no alternative, the most popular
act of his administration, for we do not forget
that he is President de jure.