Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-02
The TiIden Raid Upon Bayard

The very emphatic declaration OF Ex-Governor
Seymour some weeks ago, that he would not
accept the democratic presidential nomination,
and that such thing as his possible acceptance
must not be considered, seems TO have been &C
cepted as final by his party. At any rate his
name has rarely been mentioned in connection
with the nomination since that time. This
positive refusal Of Seymour to allow his name
to be considered was calculated to strengthen
Senator Bayard, so the friends OF the latter
thought. In fact, 1t was whispered among the
Bayard men here in Washington that desire
not to detract from the support of the Delaware
Senator had induced Seymour to speak with
such determination. 1t was represented to him
that the Tilden men were making use OF his
name as a foil to the Bayard movement; that
there were many Influential democrats Of New
York and the east who would take an
active part in behalf of Bayard If they had not
been led to believe that Seymour would con-
sent to take the nomination. There Is no secret
about the fact that there Is no political friend
ship between Seymour and Tilden. The for
mer, though In retirement, has been looked
upon as one OF the anti-Tilden democrats, and
it was regarded as very significant that he
could not be induced to espouse the Robinson
cause, with any warmth, In the last state cleo
ton. True, Mr.. Seymour did make little
speech at Utica during the campaign, but 1t was
a sad disappointment to the Tilden wing of the
party. A prominent democratic Congressman,
so it was said. went to Mr.. Seymour and said to
him, in substance: "Now If you are satisfied
that you cannot and will not accept the nomi-
nation, say so In the very paineSt terms, and
thus place your friends in a position to sup
port man who will make the race. Many Of US
who believe you are our best and strongest man,
prefer Bayard next to you and we want to go
to work for him If you are sure you will not
take the nomination under any circumstances
in reply Mr.. Seymour asserted in the most posi-
tive and emphatic terms that he had never had
any idea Of accepting the nomination, no mat
ter what pressure might be brought upon him;
that he thought he had publicly announced that
determination several times. He said he had
felt delicacy In saying too much to the public
on the subject, because 1t might look as If he
considered himself an available candidate, when
in fact he was entirely out Of all consideration
In connection with the nomination. He was
then advised to lay aside all such feelings and
make known his determination, as interested
parties would keep alive the impression that
Seymour would accept as long as possible
Then the positive declaration, which seemed to
put an end TO talk of Seymour as a candidate,
was proclaimed The next blow levelled at the
Bayard movement from the Ttlden camp was
the publication of the formers secession
continued to hammer away on this subject
their object being to convince the democrats
that 1t will never do to nominate man who was
not in favor of vigorous prosecution of the war.
The fact that the Ttlden men are directing all
their efforts against Bayard shows that they
consider the latter the strongest candidate In
the field. 1t Is well known that the shrewd
hand of Tilden directs his forces, and therefore
the presumption is that he has ordered the on
slaught upon Bayard. At the same time that
everything Is being done to weaken his most
formidable competitor Tilden is endeavoring to
strengthen himself. The papers friendly to him
are publishing brief and delicate explanations
OF the cipher dispatches, the income tax suit,
and the railroad "wrecking' transactions. From
the movements Of the democratic leaders here
referred to it looks as If Tilden and Bayard were
occupying the attention of democratic leaders
and managers, almost to the exclusion of other
candidates that have been mentioned, but the
warfare that has been tnaugurated between
these two aspirants for the nomination will
probably have damaging effect upon the
chances of both.