The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-01
OUR CANDIDATE FOR 1884.
8. J. Tilden Again in the Field for
the Presidency.
THE FRAUD ISSUE OF 1879.
The Oaly One on Which thu Democrats
Can Succeed.
EAfN All
LET JUSTICE BE DONE.

The announcement that Samue j.
Tilden IS in the field as o candidate for
the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent in 1884 will occasion creator sur
prise in New York than in any other
State in the Union. The opposition
Mr. Tilden has encountered at home
has been so coarse and brutal ID it's
character that it has not hesitated to
seize upon his physical condition as a
weapon of attack. and he has been 80
persistently represented and held up to
Vulgar ridicnle as a broken down, driv-
cling old man that those Of his neigh
bors who have never seen him have been
led to picture HIM as a helpless paralyt.
ic who's desire to continue to mix hims
self up with the active affairs of life has
become ridiculous and sven revolving.
His defeat at Cincinnati was regarded
at home as his faal exit from politics,
aud, while many Democrats did not ap-
prove the action of the Convention of
last year, its decision was accepted as
the abandonment of the issue of 1876
and the burial of the defrauded candi-
dates claim to redress.
1t nov seems that Mr.. Tilden's funer-
III buFC W JCb OCCu ptIlo htuCb
and that he is still capable Of filing an
active and important part in the politi>
cal drama. With the shrewdness and
foresight for which he is remarkable he
has carefully surveyed the field and has
reached the conclusion That the time has
come for the redress of the great wrong
which he believes was done to himself,
to his party and to the country by the
reversal of the popular verdict and the
Inauguration of q fraudulent Presis
dent" in 1876. So far from regarding
the old issue as abandoned by the refu-
sal of the Democratic Convention of
last year to make him the party candi-
date, he insists that 1t has been
strengthened and intensified by the
nomination and defeat of General Han
cock. The Democracy was so anxious
for successsthat it concluded to yield to
the INSCRIPTIONS demands Of Mr.. Til
denis enemies. WHO openly avowed their
determination to desert liz the event of
his nomination. The Convention
therefore, set aside temporarily an issue
it could not destroy in order to try the
experiment Of new nominees on the raj.
lying cry of 'Peace, union and harmo-
ny in the party" The result proved
the error of the policy. The anti
Tilden element, after extorting the COM
c~ession. betrayed the candidate and the
Democracy, which. it is claimed, fairly
elected rilden in 1876 was fairly beat
en- by the Republicans in 1880. This
Mr.. Tllden argues, legitimately revives
the issue temporarily set aside last year
and makes it the only one on which tie
next Presidential battle can be fought
with any prospect of success.
A careful review of the situation has
satisfied Mr.. Tilden that he acted wise
" 10 retiring from the contest at Gin
cinuati last wear, and that the prospect
of his success in 1884 is good. He be-
lieves that nothing could have prevent
ed the union of the Republicans. IN
the last campaign, coming, as it did,
Immediately after the dull. u%neventful
administration of Mr.. Hayes. in which
neither wing of the party claimed an
especial interest. On the other hand,
nothing can reconcile the Republican
factions in the next campaign, follow
ing, as it will, the term of a President
who has already commenced a war of
determination against the staiwarts, II
MI. Garfield recovers from his wounds
and his doctors, or of u President who
will wage n similarly vindictive war
against the half breeds. if General
Arthur should be called to the Chief
Executive office. The nomination of
General Hancock and his defeat have,
in Mr.. Tilden's opinion. exploded the
idea that the Democracy can success
fully contend with the Republicans in a
campaign of se~ntimentality and bonn
bast, and have demonstrated that IL the
| Democrats ever return to power in the
National Government, they must do so
upon issues not inconsistent with their
established principles in the past and
their record during the rebellion. The
party of slavery and secession only
masauerades before the country WHEEL
it marches with an old abolitionist like
Horace Greeley or a Union soldier like
General Hancock ct its head, and all
who run may read its insincerity. But
when 1t appeals for support on civil is
Sues, embracing a return to simplicity
and economy in the administration OF
the government, the reform of long ess
tabIished abuses, the exposure and
eradication Of dishonest practices in
public offices, and enters on the fight
under the leadership of a life long
Democratic politician whose sympsthies
need no explanation, it may hope to res
ceive the confidence of the people and
to be judged upon the merits OF the
principle it avowx
p There certainly does not seem to be
any good reason why the Democracy
should hesitate to march to the next
Presidential battle under the venerable
Mr.. Tilden's banner. 1t was not cred
table to a great party to throw Mr..
Tilden overheard last year and to shirk
an issue upon which manhood and pa
triotism demanded an appeal to the
American people simply because it was
cowed by the threat of a handful of
politicians to 'bolt" the nomination.
But aside from that the only living iss
sues on which the. Democracy has
fought since the outbreak OF the South-
ern rebellion with any hope or pros
pect of success have been supplied by
the statesman of Gramercy Park.
WhensMr. Tilden ran for Governor in
1876 the sagacity with which he con-
Quoted the campaign won the victory.
As Governor. his successful assault on
the Canal Ring. his surprising achieve
ments in the direction of administra-
tive reform and the ability Of his State
papers supplied the capital on which
the Presidential contest of 1876 was
fought and according to Democratic u
thority won. The experiment OF ex-
~pediency in nominations has been tried
and has failed miserably. The Demo>
Gratis can never get a more promising
candidate for a ne departure and the
abandonement of their old distinctive
principles than General Hancock. If
they could not win with him, success
under any other representative Demo-
crat is hopeless, why should they not
return to the position they found 80
strong in 1876 and mako q dignifed
and manly appeal to the country TO
atone for the injustice alleged to have
been Inflicted upon their able leader?
The exposure of the corruptions of the
Hayes administration and the scandals
from which the present administration
can never escape render the admistra-
tive reform issue, Of which Mr.. Tilden
is the embodiment, more available now
than il was in 1876. Let the Democrats
stand forth as the champions of an
honest civil service, pure and simple.
and with a real Democrat like Mr.. Til
den at their head they will at least win
more respect and stand a better chance
OF snccesss than when sailing uudet
false colors under the command Of al
leader who is not in sympathy with