American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-24

1t is not surprising that the Repub-
lican press is manifesting an intense
anxiety as to the man whom the Dem
ocrats have in training for the next
Presidential canvass 1t seems to be n
pretty well-settled fact with our con-
temporarics that their party interest in
the Presidency will cease with the pres
ent term. Not even the most sanguine
politician imagines that MIR. Garfield
(or, in case of his death, MIR. Arthur) +,
will ever have a Republican successor.
Naturally. in view of this fact, specula-
ton runs riot as to the Democrat who
is to fill the place. AS the drift of
Democratic politics merges into
straight out Democratic principles, Mr.
Tilden begins to focus the Republican
eve. They see in him the ablest Dem
ocratic leader and the most consum-
mate politician of the party. They
know that canvass shaped by him
means campaign on Democratic prin-
ciples, pure and simple, and that the
party organized on these principles is
invincible. The people have never yet
in a popular election recorded their OPP
position to the doctrines of the Demo-
cratic party. In the campaign which
Immediately succeeded the war,
terrorism, produced by bayonets,
gave to the Republican party success
it could not have procured in any
other wav. The Greeley campaign was
Democratic suicide. That huge po-
litical blunder is without a parallel in
political lunacy- But Mr.. Tilden came
forward in 1876 to redeem for the party
tie opportunity it threw away, and his
canvass still continues the wonder and
admiration of his party. But it is easy
l..
ing the popular Endorsement was made
SO easy. He stood sguarely on Demo-
cratic issues and made his canvass on
Democratic principles. The Democra-
cy had no entangling alliances in the
campaign of that year. 1t was an open
deliverance of battle between opposing
parties upon clearly defined issues. The
Democratic Convention which nomi-
mated him declared for financial sys-
tenn in harmony with the usage and ira
ditiOn of the Democratic party. 1t re-
pudiated the fat money heresies which
had so disorganized the party in West
ern States, refusing alike alliance or
assistance outside of the Democratic
organization. Such an attitude COM
manded the popularrespe and enlisted
the popular enthusiasm. The result
was the largest popular majority for Mr..
Illden ever given to an American Presl-
dent. These facts naturally attract to
Mr.. Tilden the apprehensive scrutiny
of the Republican leaders. They see in
him their most dreaded foe. They
know that. if the Democratic party
again places him before the people,
neither schemes nor intrigues will inn
pede for a moment that popular vindi-
cation which belongs to him as a de-
frauded President and statesman of
the old Democratic school The re-
peated declaration of Mr.. Tilden that
he will under no circumstances be a
candidate for the Presidency again, has
no effect in allaying this Republican
apprehension. The party takes coun-
sci of its fears and is haunted even in
sleep by Tilden's gigantic shadow,
which seems to darken all its hopes. 1t
forgets that it is not Mr.. Tilden but the
grand principles he represents. and so
clearly defines, that stirs the hearts of
the people. A Randall or a Bavard
standing on Tilden's platform would be
no less fatal to the Republican future.
1t is the principles of the party no less
than the man which win the favor of
the people. Omaha Herald.