New-York tribune., 1880-02-07
TIE DEM0CR1TLC DLLENlLf.

The Democratic party gets no relief. Struggle
as it may, there is still she same Old Man OF
the Sea on its back. 1t cannot win without
Mr.. Tilden and it is much inclined to believe
that it cannot win with HIM. Surely, no party
was ever in as desperate a state before In a
recent letter TO Montgomery Blair, Democrat
of Missouri calls attention TO the fact that cir
culars adverse TO Mr. Tilden have besn dis
tributed in that State, emanating apparently
from Tammany, but bearing the frank of SEN
at0r Vest. He states, too, that Senator Cock
rell, during his last visit at home, urged
strongly that the nomination OF Mr. Illden
was impractcable, and would prove, If made,
most fatal. These two Senators, 1t will be re-
membered, were active COnfederates, one In
the rebel Congress and the other IN the rebel
Army. Then the writer observes that if any
other man than Mr. Tilden should be nomi-
mated, the Convention might as well declare
publicly that Mr. Tilden and his unexampled
cause" had been put aside to please John
"Kelly and the Confederate Brgadiers." This
seems to be a little strained, but there is truth
in it.
When Mr. Tiden is set aside, no matter at
whose demand, the Democratic party loses
grievance which it has counted upon as Of
incalculable Importance. 1t virtually cOnfcsses
that it did not elect a President in 1875, and
| that it has been bowling continually for nearly
| four years, and accusing its opponents OF
! fraud, without the slightest reason. 1t con-
fesses that Mr.. Tilden was not really elected
when it refuses to nominate him again con-
fesses that the devices by which pretended
majorities IN certain disputed States were Sc
| ~, nicb nd NJ
| lent confesses that it has shamefully SLAM
dered leading Republicans in charging that
| they procured false and dishonest declarations
of the result in those States and cOnfesses
| that the subsequent attempt to buy electoral
votes had not the poor excuse that crime could
be defeated only by crime, but was, IN fact,
an impudent and wicked attempt to swinGle
| the country and to defeat the will of the peO-
| pie. In such a position, is it possible that the
| Democratic party could command it's full
strength It's leaders know better. What Mr..
Tilden may do to avenge himself upon his
| associates, if they treat his claims with
contempt, is another question. The one
thing certain is that the party would
lose. and that very heavily, if it should set
him aside. He knows the fact, and trades on
it. But other men know it also. Without any
further effort on his part the Democratic party
must suffer severely If it nominates any other
candidate.
Then it is also true that Mr.. 1ilden and his
! friends would have something to say. Openly
perhaps, they would make no sign. But there
are many ways of stabbing Presidential can
didate, especially when the electoral vote OF
one State is absolutely necessary to bis Success
Many active and influential Democratic work
ers are fully convinced that Mr.. Tilden has
been wronged. They have from him or his
friends personal pledges they expect to share
in the fatness of the land If he should be
elected To them, it would seem grievous
personal wrong to set him aside. Thereafter
they would be cold and lukewarm, and a
campaign would have to get on without Their
aid, or not at all. Mr.. Tilden does not need
to utter word of complaint. Disappointed
friends would make it very hard for any
other Democratic candidate to succeed
though he should never lift a finger tc
restrain or guide them. And the whole
contest will turn upon the very State
in which Mr.. Tilden and his most intimate
friends have the greatest power. If the Dem
ocrats cannot carry New-York, with Mr.. Til
den's friends discouraged and angry, and will