The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-14

tioue ue ated the fact, which his successors
I Jailed themselves of, that the nation
n@, almost dispense with President; that
tt5 apparently super seeded the necessity OF
~ ifpitol at Washington. They transferred
sSe seat of government to Long Branch or
Kew York at pleasure. They have given us
practical proof that the traditional import
ance of the presidency has vastly diminished.
Mr.. Tilden appreciates better than any man
the difference between the presidency in
Van Buren's time and the convenience tor
the discharge of that office to-day. There is
no longer any necessity for travelling to
Washington, except in the case OF those In
dams who wish to see the Great Father" OF
the country. The cable, the telegraph and
the telephone have facilitated government as
much as they have commerce. The PreSl-
dent can make his oppointmentsa at Washing
ton from any point as well as the merchant
can sell and get returns in the markets
of the world. He can speak directly and re-
ceive instant response from his ministers,
our representatives abroad. A practical bust
ness administration from the highest and
most intelligent standpoint-and this would
certainly be Mr. Tilden's aim-would present
an executive almost as passive as the great
seal of England Having due regard to the
concurrent jurisdiction of the legislative and
judicial departments, his policy and his acts
would be far more acceptable to the country
if stable, restrained and conservative, than If
he had a turmoil of passionate and heated
partisanship."
''Is not Mr.. Tilden too old to properly ad-
minister the office of President?'
He is old enough to appreciate wise coun-
sci, and wise enough to direct judicious ad-
ministration. He is ten years younger than
Theirs was as a statesman, OConor as the
leader of the bar. Bancroft as a historian,
Judge Black as jurist or Fred. S. Winston
as the master of the greatest financial insti-
tuition in the world"
''Does not Mr.. Tildens silence practically
assent to the charge of pusillanimous ineffi-
inaugurated without that contest for the
presidency which so many declare they were
prepared to make with arms and organized
forces? In other words, is there not some
force, in the eyes of the Democracy, in KEEL
ly's charge of cowardice against Tilden?'
TILDEN NOT A COWARD.
'Not the slightest. On the contrary, Mr..
Tiidens conduct in that trying emergency
was the most praiseworthy epoch of his life,
and will be so regarded by the future
historian. 1t is easy to talk about
man forcing himself into the pres
idential chair with a mob at his
heels; but Mr.. Tilden is a lawyer, and if he
were not he is fortunate. as we all are, in liv-
ing under a government of laws. You recol-
lect the opinion of Charles O'Conor, given to
Mr.. Tilden, who consulted him as personal
and political friend in that emergency as to
the eXpediency of suing out writ of quo
warranto and also as to his taking the oath
OF office forthwith, regardless of the action
OF the United States Senate. Mr. OConor,
whose opinion was afterward submitted,
told him that it would be in the nature of
high treason. 1t was also Mr.. OConorS
opinion that, as there was no warrant against
the King in the common law OF England, so
there could be no quo warrranto in our sys-
tenn, which was copied after the law of Eng
land. He could not take the oath without
the warrant of Congress- and there was no
other tribunal that could pass upon the case
but Congress. So the responsibility was and
is to rest on that Congress-its Senate and
its House of Representatives-until a vindi-
cation is found at the bands--of the people
through the ballot-box. Without saying so
for Mr.. Tilden venture to present 1t as a
political axiom that no member of that Con-
gress i'll any way responsible for the action
OF the Democratic party at that time will
ever receive a general recognition
as candidate for the presidency
or vice presidency in a Democratic conven-
ton. Mr.. Tilden had strong and unquai-
fled tender of organized forces to compel his
Inauguration. He said then and continues
to repeat that he would not seek the office at
the price OF blood, and he considers that act
Ei 'ue IN ',atlon Oh an epoch IN
at mm,c.n wouiu nave peeh u tne grea!
boo LII aanoe 10 t nau us splflt
Sofoa 81 10y ne StatesldeH VI me
tat I .ne ol previous us
80 you and your friends are actively in
the field to rehabilitaie the old ticket"
w. legea' ytln So eni rs Witn num-
Ugr u T;, tIleii Us vii II PoS3oie make
rn s'rS ', VI Vhe DclloeraGy'
VIII Mno,1ouV no"eSei' " ms pelsohal ue-
VI trint1 usion upoH ms purpose TO re-
t;nr, in on foY th oid 1 Tt
a.on ~ h Uui te olu Ihat
10 oui ~ oaIatISa anu we mean 10
Set "Vyi IIe STi5n nv H S4
81, na i.s AiiueAi NC III 0ai"'osa uurlng
''i III 9e'oo a,, to,.o r,,,, -, tt,o.o s o.
ae Lnay .ano a ~ a. VIeie run gray