The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-23
Watterson on Bayard.

Mr.. BAYARD's admirers in Virginia will
be able to understand what sort Of leader
Mr.. WATTERsON is after they shall have
read what be wrote TO his paper several
years ago from Washington concerning
that statesman. We quote from Mr.. WAT
TERsoN's own paper. After saying that
the old Wing party fell into the custody Of
half dozen respectable fossils under the
lead of Mr.. FILLMORE in 1856 and OF Mr..
L ELL in 1860, he goes on:
ITO this complexion the half-dozen
Democratic asplrants for the presidency,
who pose most Systematically before the
country, seem bent on bringing the DEM
ocratic party.
"Of these none have disappointed me
more grieyously, or reminds me more per-
tinaciously of the slow and decent old
gentlemen OF the old Wing aristCcracy Of
twenty-five years ago, than Mr. Bayard.
Ten years back he seemed to me to be
cut out, the one man marked, quoted, and
signed, for the reclamation Of the party
from the quagmlre OF false teaching in
which passion, ignorance, and the fatality OF
bad luck had plunged it. He had courage,
training, and opportunity. He was young
and attractive. He possessed abundantly
the egotism Of leadership. He seemed
to have inherited from his forefathers the
easy grace OF eminent station, and he did
inherit from them the genial and honorable
and aspiring qualities OF Il thoroughly first
rate manhood. But no sooner did he get
the presidential bee in his bonnet than he
began to lose the quick and nervous sus-
ceptibility which, joined to tact and fore
east, composed the statesman's intellectual
repertory, and to become IN eager and
fretful candidate, eXacting and distrustful
TO his friends. impatient OF counsel. eX-
pecting impossibilities, miscalculating pos
sibilities, and altogether out OF accord with
the spirit, temper, and movement OF public
opinion.
SIN 1876 Mr.. Tilden was the logical ex-
preston OF the prevailing want. Nopower
on earth could have hindered his nomina-
ton at st. Louis. Yet Mr.. Blyard was
ruthlessly thrust into the st. Louis Con-
vention. az If he had chance, and because
he was not nominated he was borne off on
stretcher, sore and hurt. At Cincinnati,
in 1880, he came forward with a better
show. Undoubtedly he should have been
the nominee. He would probably have re-
ceiyed no more votes than General Han
cock, perhaps fewer. But he would
have kept the party better in hand
and left it less debaucbed. lie was
not nominated because the Cincinnati
| Convention, giving itself over to per-
sonalities instead Of ideas, was looking for
a candidate against whom least could be
said. 1t found him in General Hancock.
Mr.. Bayard has in his way encountered
defeat In two Democratic conventions
when he should have appeared in but one,
and is thus veteran the contemporary OF
bioomless claimants, when he ought to be
the rose and expectancy OF the young man.
hood Of the time. Alack, the day! He Is
at this moment leader Of the Anticipated
hosts of slavery and protection. Mr.. Nor
ribs best man upon the tarfl-commission
bill, cunningly-devised scheme of the
oiigarchs to procure delay and stop the
march OF REFORM"
"Alas for Mr.. Bayard. He does not
seem to know that there Is land beyond
the AHeghanies and the Blue Ridge. He
has not felt the power OF the Great North
west nor got the inspiration OF the New
south. Brave, accomplished, and Young.
he weds the Deathly Bride OF Protection.
and shall pass into the Enchanted Hall OF
Shadows 10 take his place by the marble
eiigies OF RWes. Badger, Graham, Everett,
and Bell Of Tennessee"