New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-14
WHAT is HIS LITTLE GAME?

There is something at once familiar and
amusing about the present attitude or the
glorious and hungry Democracy. They are sit
ting in a circle around the self-elected Sage OF
the party, asking anxiously: Wonder what 1t
is the old man wants |" There is, as we have
said. something familiar about this situation.
The party occupied it, with brief intervals for
rest and refreshment, from the spring OF 1878
till the nominating convention in June, 1881.
They broke up then without getting any salts
factory response, although they thought Tor
time they had received one when he wrote
what they mistakenly supposed was letter OF
declination They found out subsequently,
however that they had misunderstood him, for
it was made apparent in several ways that
whatever else he wanted, he did not want Cen
eral Hancock nominated for the Presidency.
Their blunder was due entirely to his over
subtle management of his own case. lie led
them to suppose that he did not care for re-
nomination for himself but was content with
being accorded the privilege of naming the
candidate. Nearly every prominent Democrat
i'm the country was designated at one time or
another as his second choice, but when the Con-
vention met nobody could find out which of tho
many second choices was to be taken. A wild
rush was made at last, and the wrong man
selected. The mistake was discovered when it
was found that the campaign would have to be
carried on without the cooperation of the Sage
Naturally the party does not wish to repeat
the blunder. The Democrats have therefore
resumed the attitude of mingled alteration and
suppication about the Sage, and the same old
business is going on as before. Now, as i'll the
RI. il, h.. fts-f
filed the land with sublimated eulogies of his
greatness and vigOr. He himself aided them
by emitting a column letter of unadulterated
craftsmanship at the slightest provocation
This is striking demonstration OF increased
physical strength, for during the campaign of
1880 he was VIGOROUSLY so feeble that he was
at no time able to write a letter i'll favor of
General Hancock's election. In view of his
feebeness then, his activity at the opening
of the present demonstration was calculated to
attract attention. And it did. SO far as we
are able to Judge from an outside examination,
il attracted too much attention 1t excited the
appetites of the glorious Democrats unduly, and
a check had to be put upon them. The
eulogies were suddenly stopped, and the atti
tude of the Sage was resumed. That is where
the performance rests to-day, with the old ex-
pectant and bewdcred circle reformed.
Hints are again thrown out that Mr.. Tilden
does not want the nomination that he only
wishes to pick out the man; that his second
choice is Andrew Ii. Green. The selection of
Mr.. Green's name indicates that he is going to
work his second choice dodge on a new plan.
He is going to pick out men whom nobody else
would ever think Of for the place. In that way
the confusion and subsequent blunder in the
nominating convention will not be repeated.
"What then does the old man want y 1t
was made pretty clear in 1880 that he did not
want another man nominated in his place. He
is acting now precisely as he acted then. The
only thing for the party to do, in our opinion, is
to take Cassius NJ. Clay's advice and nominate
him whether living or dead. That would break
up the circle and relieve everybody's anxiety.