New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-13
"HANCOCK. OF COURSE"

Jere Blacks remark that the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency in 1884 will be
General Hancock. of course" has caused con
siderable commotion in the Democratic grave
ward. All the ex-candidates and other defunct
statesmen of the party are pOking up their
heads and asking: "Why does he say of
cJuIse'?p The newspapers of the party are
also repeating the same question, and 1t is no.
ticeabe that they, like the statesmen, display
a peculiar lrritabilty of manner which betrays
fear on their part that the Judge may be &C
citrate in his prophecy. He has given voice to
their own forebodngs, and they are unable to
understand why he could not have kept his
moutl, shut. If he must predict, why not pre-
dict something else. This feeling is peculiarly
apparent among the Tildenites, who do not
love General Hancock any more now than they
did In 1880. What strikes them as especially
audacious in Judge Blacks prediction is its
lack of all reference to Mr.. Tilden. Ii he had
only put in the usual Democratic reservation,
@in case Mr.. Tilden declines to rum all would
have been serene. That would have been
merely proper recognition OF the existence OF
the Sage's perpetual mortgage on the party,
and would not have cost the Judge anything.
We presume it was mere inadyertence on his
part but it has made several worthy DEM
ocrats very uncomfortable.
But to return to the prediction. Why should
not the Judge say " of course"f What other
candidate can the party PRESENT. 10 be sure
there are jefferson and Jackson. Ihey are
always with the Democracy, and are the only
statesmen upon whom the party Is thoroughly
united. But nevertheless they are both dead
OF living Democratic statesmen we must all
coucede that MI Tilden stands first. The size
of his barrel entities HIM to that distinction, If
nothing else does. But it is doubtful if MIR.
TiIden is willing to stand again. His most in -.
innate friends don't know, and it is very doubt
full if he himself does. Furthermore his party
is by no means harmonious concerning him.
The Western section has had enough of him
and demands candidate of its own. Nobody
believes be could he elected if nominated, and
his party are very much afraid he would not be
willing to pay literally enough for renoml-
nation to make the formallty of running him a
renumerative amusement. He cannot there
fore, be considered an available candidate. 1t
gives us genuine sorrow to have to say this, for
take him by and large, ciphers and coparceners
included, there has never been in this country
a statesman so soidly satisfactory to the Re-
publican party as Mr.. Tilden. We shall miss
him and mourn his absence in many campaigns
before we look upon his like again.
Next to Tiden-well, who does stand next to
Tilden as candidate Not Hendricks for he
has ceased to stand politically anywhere. Not
Seymour for he has declined probably for the
last time We make thai statement, however,
with many misglvngs. Not Bayard, for he is Il
Southern man, and even the Democratic party
is not sufficiently stupid to attempt the impos-
sible feat of electlng a Southerner for many
years vet. Not Thurman, tor men have ceased
tc look upon him as alive. Not anyone, indeed,
except Hancock. He stands there by virtue OF
his candidacy in 1850, and of his attachments
as a statesman He is in favor of the Consttu-
ton and tariff as local issue. lie has no IN
convenient opinions ,n any subject and no rec
ord on any except the tariff. The party has no
principles, and no convictions save an abiding
one that the country will go to ruin unless 1t can
get into power and take possession or the
Offices. General Hancock is prominently the
candidate for such party lie represents
nothing except himself, and is ready to take
the Democratic side of any public question,
provided somebody will tell him which that
side is lie went before the country In 1850
on the broad issue of Let us have change
and he can do the same thing in 1884. 1t Is
the only issue the Democracy is in condition TO
make. The answer of the country was not
favorable on the first trial, and 1t probably
wonld not be on the second, but there is no
harm in trying. We really do not see what
else the party can do and that being the case,
Hancock is the candidate, " of course"
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What Is 10 be done with Cetewavof is the
question now agitated in England. with an odd