Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-16
THE OUTLOOK FoR TILpEN.

INT OOlLOOA kO1 11LOEN,
We are not one of those who have
united in decrying Mr.. Tilden, nor
have We declared that wewOuld refuse
tosupport himif nominated. Whilst he
has not been our first choice we admit
his great ability as an organizer and
ooncede that he has some claims on
the democratic party and upon all who
love justice. He was elected presi-
dent in 1876 but was cheated or bun
gled out Of the Office. How far Mr..
Tilden was to blame for this result it
is difficult to say. There is an i'm
preston, however, that he was lack
ing in nerve and in tact, and that his
studied silence left the party without
leader, and contributed to the make
shift electoral commission. There is
alsoa feeling that Mr.. Tilden has not
been active enough in vindicating him
self against the many charges
trumped up by his enemies. These
things have been SO persistently
iteratod that they have had their ef-
feet upon the popular mind, and even
those who would be disposed to stand
by Mr.. Tilden begin to seriously
doubt his availability and strength.
We cannot afford when victory is pos
sible to be placed upon the defensive
in the very outset. This opinion
seems to be generally entertained and
unless there is a great reaction in the
next six weeks Mr.. Tilden may be
considered out of the race, whether
he wlthdraws or not. The New York
Herald, in the last two months, has
made, through its special correspond
ents, very careful canvass of the
sentiments of the southern democrats
and in summing up the result, says
We complete, this morning the
publication Of our series Of interviews
with the democratic senators and rep
resentatives from the southern states.
They are Of the same general tenor as
those heretofore published. 1t is the
concurrent judgment of those demo
uats who have the best opportunities
for knowing the sentiment Of their
party in the southern states, that Mr.
Ti'den is the weakest candidate that
could be nominated. Senator John
son. Of Virginia, who happened to be
absent from Washington when the
views of the other Virginia members
were obtained, few days since, says
"Tbere are no words to express my
sense of the mischief Tilden's nomi-
nation would infict on the party in
Virginia. Senator Vance says that
Tilden is not popular in North Caro-
lima, and could not get the vote OF the
state if nominated. The general SEN
timeut of the North Carolina delega
tion is against his nomination. Rep.
resentative Steele thinks the demo
Gratis would lose the state oy
ten thousand majority with Til
den at the head of the tick
Ell. Senator Morgan, of Alabama
thinks Tilden would lose Florida
Virginia. Mississippi and North Caro-
lima, and make Alabama doubtful. HI
supported Tilden in 1876, but thinks
he is no longer popular or available
The members from Texas and Floridi
share the general opinion Of th'
southern democrats that Mr.. Tilden il
the weakest candidate that could b.
put in the field.
Those of Mr.. Tilden's friends il
this state who fancy that because h,
received majority Of the popular vot,
in 1876 he would be a strong candi
date now are blind to the great inter
yening changes of public opinion, ant
vet his remaining adherents in Ney
York are witnesses of the remarkabl
decline of his popularity. His candi
date for governor was beaten in tn
last election by more than double MI
1'ilden's large majority in 1874; Hoy
can he recover this lost groundY HoV
can he re. attach the almost univer
sally alienated south2 We are nO'
within about two months of the Gin
eidnati convention, with the demo
cratic party of New York fatally di
vided on his account, and theSouther
democratic leaders almost unani
mously declaring that his nominatio
would be suicidal and ruinous.
This is not merely the opinion
the Herald but the expression of rel
resentative democrats, published frol
time to time in their own languag
and standing uncontradicted. Th
rumor that Mr.. Tilden will decline I
enter the contest is received with cor
siderable satisfaction, and if true
will give feeling of general reli'
from sense of perplexity.