The daily gazette., 1880-02-19
From the Pulaski CTenn. Herald.
BAYARD.

A GRACEFUL TRIBUTE TO THE pkLA-
~. WARE SENATOR.
E. M. RAeLAND, ESQ.,:
Ny Dear Sir Il assure you high
! ly appreciate the compliment you con-
vey when you ask my opinion of the
probable action of the next National
Democratic Convention, in nominating
candidate for the Presidency-or
which of the distinguished gentlemen
mentioned in that connection is likely
to be chosen for the honorable and re-
sponsible position.
In answering you / will only ven-
ture to declare my own views. Diff
dent from experience in past years and
especially remembering the choice of
Horace Greedy, as the standard-bearer
of Democracy, l dare not predict the
wisdom nor the action of the future
Democratic Conventions. / hope,
however, and l am disposed to think
that the distinguishing feature of the
Convention of 1880 will not be cow
ardly subordination of principle to ex-
pediency.
Priority ifnot pre-eminence suggests
the name of Samuel J. Tilden, but
when reflect that the popular ear
grows weary with the monotony of an
oft repeated name, and that novelty is
the surest method of captivating the
heart of the masses when | reflect
that in his own State a formidable
and irreconcilable faction opposes his
alanf.Av, III h. l. l., =
ted with many damning impropiieties
of public and private nature, calling
for explanation and defense, the nomi-
nation of Samuel ] Tilden does not,
think, occupy the highest place in the
list of Presidential probabilities. True
the fatal decision of the Electoral
Commission entities him to the sym
pathy of the party, but it cannot af-
ford, at this crisis in its fortunes, to
sacrifice prudence on the altar of re-
venge, or display it's magnanimity in
the ghastly glory of political suicide.
Hendricks is an irreproachable patriot,
wise and experienced statesman.
So is Senator Thurman, but the
Ohio heresy of Fiat Money will prove
a dangerous, if not impossible obsta-
Gle in the way of Western aspirations.
Parenthetically l will say that
Greenbackism may float the Haunting
banner of sporadic triumph, but ulti-
mately wall a sad requiem at the grave
Of misguided ambition.
Winfield Scott Hanock is Major
General in the Army of the United
States, and a gallant officer as the
military annals of the country inform
us. A commander in the South dur
ing the anomaluns days of Reconstruc-
ton, he exhibited an exoeptionable and
acceptable benignity in the exercise of
his military power and official duties,
eliciting at once the praise and graft
tude of the Southern heart but | am
not prepared to believe that the mere
renown Of a soldier or the fancied
popularity of martial glory will be-
wilder the judgment of Democratic
Convention.
The young and accomplished Sena-
tor from Delaware, Thomas F. Bay
ard, remains to be noticed and his
merits hurriedly discussed. | con-
slider him politically, intellectually,
morally, and geographically, the fittest
man in the Democratic party, if not
in the United States, for the office of
President. His peer in political
knowledge and political integrity may
be found-in the endowments of intel
lect and the riches of knowledge the
professions of private life may afford
his superior-in the tranquility of the
sequestered vale brighter exemplars of
moral beauty may awaken our admira-
ton, but in the union of all these at
tributes he has, in my estimation no
rival in the catalogue of American
statesmen.
Since his entrance into public life,
with a steadfastness, grand in it uni
tormlty, he has looked to the constitu-
tion of his country for inspiration aud
guidance. Educated in a political
school alike averse to the absorptive
tendencies of Capitalization and the
ceRtrtfugdLtstic proclivities of the
States, Thomas F. Bayard, in the dis
charge of his Executive duties would
exercise a discernment and vigilance
worthy the jealous founders of the Re-
public, while his moral character DEFY
ing the Nations scrutiny, and mac
cessible TO the poisoned shafts of scan
dial, would encircle his administration
with an atmosphere repellant to syco-
phancy and blighting to every form of
corruption. He halls from a state of
small territorial extent, it is true, but
geographically and politically Della
ware occupies centrality in the
Union, and is therefore in a sensible
degree removed from the sectional an
tagonisms which have SO long distract
ed the harmony and impeded the pro-
gress of the Nation. Influenced and
controlled by neither the suspicion of
the Northern mind nor the jealousy of
the Southern heart, Thomas F. Bay
ard, animated by noble and compre-
hensive patriotism, as President, would
contribute vastly to the restoration of
the concord that knew no North and
no South, unless in generous rivalry
to exalt common county to a proud
em'nence among the Nationalities of
the world.
Thus you will discover that'the Sena-
tor from Delaware is my choice. |
prefer him from no personal considera-
tions, but simply because the country
needs him. l..