The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-22

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Of Grantism had alienated from th'
Republican party considerable
body of its most intelligent and con
scientious members. Many of thes'
had definitely joined the Democrats
as the best means Of protesting
against the extravaganza and corrup
ton of the party in power, and as thu
only hope Of ending its shameless de
bauchery of the public service
Many others, still clinging doubtfully
to old party associations, were none
the less bitterly disappointed by thu
failure of the Cincinnati Convention
to nominate Bristow or some othel
reform candidate. They were wait
ing to see if the Democrats would
name not a respectable mediocre
but statesman whose fitness for The
enormous task Of reform and Of in
Producing retrenchment and order in
all parts Of the Government, had beer
eyinced not merely by the promise
OF great talents and political sagacity
but by actual work.
The Democrats had one such man
and they were wise enough and cour
ageous enough to nominate him. Mr.
Tilden drew to himself the doubtful
Independent and Republican vote
as no other Democrat could have
done. There was no fear that he
would not drive out the thieves and
plunderers who preyed upon the
United States, as he had driven out
the thieves and plundercrs who prey
ed upon the State of New York. He
would smash the Rings at Washing
ton as he had smashed those at AL
bany. A Republican Senate had
just been thwarting the efforts of 9
Democratic House to lessen the pub
lie burdens. There could be ne
doubt as to his position if he became
President. He would check cxtray
agance and reduce taxation, as he
had done when Governor Of New
York. Grant openly countenanced
some of the most notorious thieves
in his party. Tilden had been at
merciless to Democratic as to Repnb
lican raseals, and he would be so te
the end. He was the man Of al
men to do exactly what the hide
pendents, who held the balance o.
power in more than one otherwise
doubtful state, wanted done. His re
cord was his platform. He was cleo
ted ON that platform.
An infamous crime against the
popular will deprived him of the
fruits of his victory. The loss was
the country's far more than his. The
work of publication had to be post
poned. The evils he would have
summarily crushed still remain un-
abated.
Mr.. Tilden now felt that his labors
and his sacrifices for his party and
for honest administration justified
his withdrawal from active participa-
tion in public affairs. He might have
been elected President in 1880. He
might be elected President in 1884
if he wished. He prefers the deserved
tranquility of an honored old age
happy in the society of his friends
and his books, and still occupying
the first station in the esteem of the
country. A reelection to the office
of which he was defrauded can hole
out little to tempt his ambition and
nothing to enlarge his great place in
the public mind.
The work it was not given him to
do must still be done. Extrava
gance, malfeasance, and inefficiency
in office, misrepresentation of the
public moneys, nepotism, favoritism
absenteeism, deliberate jobbery, and
reckless waste throve under Hayes
and Garfield as they had thriven I'M
der Grant. The laissez fare AID
ministration of Arthur has done
nothing to remedy the evils which il
inherited and prolongs. Robesonisn
is still the gospel of the Navy Depart
ment, and the Treasury is full Of mer
who know all its secrets since 1869
aud are still ready for jobs. Cor
ruption and incompetency are com
mon in all the departments and in
all branches of the Government
Since 1872 there has been no hope
that the Republican party would
do anything to reform itself. Il
is now utterly corrupt, and it must
go.
Yet Democratic success next veal
is not certain unless a candidate bt
selected of whom it can be said, as
of Mr.. Tilden, that his record is bis
platform. The Republicans viii
fight desperately to keep their clutcf
on the spoils. They are thoroughly
frightened and on their good behavior
They will probably nominate stron
ger candidate than they would i
their chances were brighter. Thing.
do not lsok as black for them every
where as in New York. They hop'
for reaction. They will not give vi
a walk over.
The hard knocks which the Re
publicans got last fall came largel.
from Republicans. These men ma.
have Democratic leanings, but thei
votes are by no means sure for thu
Democrats. Their votes will b,
cast for the Republican nominee, i
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