New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-12
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singular anxiety that the newspapers shall not
mislead the public regarding that siatesnlan's
robust condition. 1t is litte difficult to
understand this solicitude, if Mr. Tilden Is only
n private citizen, with no ambition to change
his post of honor for the toll and turmoil of the
Presidency. A really private citizen enjoys
his good health or suffers his il-bealth in peace
ann quiet He would be psineG to think that
his friends were Imed by unfounded reports
regarding him, hut it is not likely thai 1t would
cause him great mental distress II the news
papers should cause few thousand persons,
who never saw HIM and take no really PERSONAL
interest in him, to believe that he was not en-
loving the best of health. Indeed, private
citizen vino Was sincerely anxious to remain
one, and who lived in dread iest convention
of politicians might kidnap him and ran bim
for the Presidency against his will, might he
glad to have the public persuaded that ne
WINS a physical rnin, while III fact he was In the
habit of bounding upstairs four steps ut time,
leaping live-barIe ed gates with all the lustiness
of youth, aud exhibiting many traits Of phys
zeal strength calcuated to startle and fatigue
Iarge-eyed Kentucky editors who have been
M late the night before. Such private cit
izen, if he really wished To remain one, might
be reiuiced 10 see the newspapers telling an
oyer-credulous public that no was barely allie
10 creep about, that the intrmtles OF age had
reduced his voice to \ whisper aud that he was
in the LAST stages of decay. Ii is usually the
private citizen who ia tired Of being one, who is
anxious TO have the newspapers believe that, III
spite OF age, he il active, vigorous and alert.
II we did not have the word of Mr. Tildens
friends TO the contrary. it might really be sns-
pected that he was "a candidate for the Presi-
dency. Instead of showing this Indifference to
uufavurable reports of his health, or inwardly
exulting because the newspapers are taking
his party of his track by such stores the great
est seusitveness Is shown concerning them.
For example, it was lately said, on the pro-
tended authority of Mr. Charles +. MacLean,
that Mr.. Tilden had been IN the habit of taking
patent medicines. and had injured his health
by 30 doing. Here was damaging disclosure.
Mr. Tilden could afford, perhaps, to wait
mon lbs before meeting the charges raised by
the Cipher dispatches, or in the Income Tax
suit, but with AN accusation that he had been
in the habit of taking patent medicines there
could not be "a futile dalliaDce" of amoment.
Mr. MacI.ean promptly denied it, saying that
he never "knew~ Mr.. Tilden to take patent
medicine in bis lite. The sky was again clear.
But it was soon overclouded. An Anonymous
sSouthern statesman" described. in an al
lesed intery ew, how he rode with Mr.. Tilden
in parlor car from YoDkers to New York on a
certain Wednesday. Mr. Tiden seemed to
him to be in the last stages Of decay" etc.
This is promptly disproved IN the most triumph
ant mapner by showing that Mr.. Iilden did
not cufRe To New-York &C all during that week,
and that he always rides in u common car.
Other examples might be- given of this SEN
sitiveness regarding the reports of Mr.. Tilden's
health. 1t has seemed to make its appearance
within the past few months. About the same
time there began to lie sounded the loud hew-
gag of Reform over the dark sea of Dem
ocratic politics, and the accompanying tom
tom OF the Fraud of 1876" was also heard,
the pleasing and familiar concord reviving
many memories. 1t seems almost incredible
that Mr.. TiIden should be candidate for the
Presidency, but 1t seems equally improbable
that the political var-cries, which are bis
personal property, should have been turned
over to anyone else. The Fraud of 1876 Is
not an issue assgnabe at will. liz 1t is con-
ceivable that all this racket about the old Til
den issues is being made to revive his influence
in the parry, 80 that no may use it for someoro
else, why should there be at the Same time this
general effort to make IL favorable showing of
his healthf Is Mr. Tilden really anxious
merely as private citizen-to have it under
stood that he has never taken any patent mec-
icinesi