The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-01


} The real enigma Of the Democratic sit
!, uation Is Mr.. Tilden's present purpose
with reference 10 the nomination. Aftel
careful inquiry and some exceptional op
portunity for getting at the truth, fee
certain in saying that no one knows. II
these directions among men respectively
near the head Of national and Of State
Democratic politics and enjoying intimate
personal relations, genuine ignorance
exists. This is from no lack OF speech
from Mr.. Tilden. Within certain limits
be talks often, and he invites advice as tc
the wisdom OF this or that course with 0
curious naiyete which wells his pur-
poses as completely as the imper-
turbable silence Gen. Grant has Just
broken. 1t appears to be clear that the
plan now intended is to let events yet in
the future decide Mr.. Tilden's course. AT
least this is announced with confidence
by one both in Mr.. Tilden's business and
political confidence. The regular New
York Democratic State Convention will
be in the hands OF Mr.. Tilden's friends.
This is admitted on all hands. The con-
yention will spontaneously" present Mr..
TiIden's name to the country and Mr..
Tilden will decline and name his sue
cessor. Who? There are in high quar-
tiers hints OF Judge Payne, OF Ohio, but
only hiuts, and this, too, is not much
more than an inference. All that one can
say Is that the strong balance OF opinion
among his friends is that Tilden will de-
| i. NJ, tLa fip1a nnmau
In the whispered monologue In which
Mr.. Tilden converses, he puts the case
somewhat in this fashion, emitting the
quotation marks, because this Is not 9
quotation, but the substance OF several
utterances: Do you think l ought to be. a
candidate? My business affairs exhaust
my energies, and they are constantly mul-
tiplying. l have been elected TO the Presi-
dency once, everybody admits 1t now, a
second election will not add to my reputa-
ton. am too old not to be apprehen-
siye Of the labors OF public administra-
tion, I have discharged my duty to the
public and to my country and so on.
After all, other men do not have to
use their ingenuity in devising
reasons for avoiding Presidential
nomination, but, then, other men
have not "a little gray matter up here"
10 which ex-Mayor Smith Ely, grayely
tapping his forehead, once alluded as the
potent and proper cause OF Mr.. Tilden's
prominence, rather than the barrel" on
which bystander was insisting. ls 1t, BY
the yay, generally known that 10 his 9th.
ar talents Mr.. Tilden adds the power OF
saving amazingly sharp things about peo.
pie? Nothing, for instance, but an inti-
mate ACQUAINTANCE with the. administra.
ton OF the present Mayor Of New York
could add TO the pungency OF this phrase:
GMr. c." said Mr.. Tilden, retlectiyely,
"is man OF great decision OF character
Till he has made up his mind"
In spite OF wide reports to the contrary,
Tilden campaign for the next nomina-
tion does not exist. The "barrel" has not
been tapped, although II was never fuller.
| Il Is true that his friends are able TO re-
port most encouraging increase otIhden
men ell oyer the country. There are not
many signs OF this at the South, where
the current appears to be all the Sm other
way. West 1t Is said to be widely differ
ent. To pick out small straw from the
bundle, at the gathering OF leading Illinois
Democrats in Chicago, got together to de-
wise measures TO bring the Democratic
Convention to that place, out OF 2p pres
ent2l were found on comparison oil notes
to be for Tilden, aud only one has been
currently and widely quoted Tor Eilden;
Four years ago Mr.Tilden carefully worked
up his nomination, this year the hopeless
prospect OF the Democratic party leaves
| tts leaders anxious to find some one else
| m lead ..H|s ra ttt
y The T report is SO persistently set aaoat !
that MIR. filden Is physically . wreck, ana a !,
the report Is so steadily denied, that IT is
hardly worth while to add another 70 the
reports and contradictions. He is not Q
well man. Many, perhaps most msH,
whose health was no better wou!d call
themselves Ill. Any special worry pulls
him down rapidly, as one did q iey weeks
ago, but he picks Ip to his normal stand
ard wonderfully quick. By the greatest
method aud constant care, however, ne
manages daily to worry through an amount
OF WORK, both business and political, win
a great stock OF miscellaneous reading,
which would appal most well men. His
thinking is absolutely unimpaired.