Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-20
Our Decrepit Statesmen.
AN EN0LIsHMAN's vIKw.
CraRENDoM Hover
CLARENDON HOTEL,
NEW YORK March IA IL


NEW YORK, MARCH IS, 1880. I
Editor Washington Star:-Having arrived on
these hospitable shores only few months ago,
and possessing but little knowledge OF the
political customs OF the country, 1 appeal to
you to learn why ON earth the two great
parties, who are preparing for mortal CON-
bat next November, cannot find some other way
of killing probable presidential candidates
than BY wantonly undermining their men
tai and physical regulations Take for
instance General Grant, whom we all
admired abroad. His robust appearance
and general good health would give the lie at
once to any insinuations against his physical
Soundness; yet scarcely had he set foot in Cali
fornia, after his tour around the world. than
rumors travel eastward that serious fears are
entertained OF his mental condition. The start
ing inquiry: rs General Grant crazy?' heads
an editorial in prominent journal, and rasps
the nerves Of the ex-President's personal friends
and political admirers.
quietly homeWard to visit his old mother. and
eyinces no visible signs OF insanity, unless his
late voyage to Cuba may be considered as a
mild and harmless monomania for fresh ovations
and-genuine Havana cigars.
And now it is ex-Gov. Tilden who Is in a bad
way. and the morning papers assert that he is
hand shakes with palsy; that his eyes have the
vacant look peculiar to old men, and that he
walks with difficulty: The public is also
governor Tilden cannot live' much longer. and
certainly will never again do active work.
Sorry for the poor luck Of the late presiden-
health to go back upon him in that way
I rush to see a lady friend who has
the pleasure of the governors personal
and read to her the
condition and beg to know II the news is true.
She answers me with merry laugh, and says
mo, indeed; and yet, she continues, there is
an impression abroad that Governor Tilden is
half paralyzed, and about as helpless as a babe
in long clothes. The delusion Is favored by
constant repetition of the legends of his weak
slightest doubt but that the reporters 1rs mean
honestly, for know that Mr.. Tiiden is often
taken for Older than he u.s. Che was sixty-six his
no and his hae esaa
years he has suffered with rheumatic
govt, and while he was governor was
stefan: The malady finally settled in his hand.
the joints enlarged, two or three fingers of the
left grew perfectly stiff, and the whole hand
was unnerved. The difficulty, however, does
serious. Were he anxious to conceal 1t, as is
affirmed in the newspaper reports, he could
easily 90 So BY carrying the s,
never makes the slightest attempt and
on the contrary. seems quite Indifferent,
or forgetful of his affiiction." l further
elor is not at all the invalid represented;
that he never misses a meal; that he has not
had sick day In at least flye years: that he
mounts and rides fiery thoroughbred, and as
for walking and climbing, he tires out all his
friends. young and old, who visit him at Grey
stone; that he works more and sleeps less than
any man she knows, and so great are his pow
ers of endurance and wonderful executive abil-
| tty, that he is able to accomplish with ease,
more in three weeks than most men In five.
Later In the day, when read the report that
| the Hon. ex-Gov. had outwitted the sharpest
| financiers in the land, and thereby pocketed a
cool million or two. l concluded that If his
| hand was shaky his head was clear, and the
| rhetmatic govt had not wtlted his active brain.
now wonder which Of your other public men
| will be the next victim OF this truly American
plan OF political diagnosis for prominent official
| candidates. Expecting to hear that Senator
Blaine is threatened with apoplexy, and secre
| tary Sherman has developed the seeds of hasty
| consumption. am
| Still watching and waiting,
Very truly, your puzzled
| ENGLISH FRIEND.
| p. Son cit, ie., The World says Senator
| Bayard has been killed by a su3i-Stroke, Poo
man.