The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-23
Mr.. TiIden and His Friends,

The Albany Evening Journal says it is
reasonably certain that Andrew q. Green
and John Bigelow were the instigators of
the recent interview in the New York Times
declaring that Mr.. Tilden will gladly accept
the Democratic nomination for the Presi-
dency. If this manifesto was issued by their
authority and commence, it has an impor-
tant signifcap g They are closer friends
of Mr.. Tld<w and much more likely &c know
the reaf motive of his mind than the yer
bose and indiscreet Mr.. Watterson of Ken
lucky. The interview referred to has
caused much commotion in the camp of the
Democratic party, and the gentlemen who
had hastily committed themselves to other
candidates in confidence that Mr.. TIlden's
letter to the Cincinnati convention of 1880
was his farewell to ambition are in guam
dairy. A good many of them would like to
take back their pledges and feel free again;
and il they become convinced that the New
York Sphinx really has mind to be can
ddate many of them will do SO, on the
ground that the conditions under which
they declared preference for another are
wholly changed. That preference was be
tween those then eligible. If Mr.. Tilden is
eligible that is another matter.
Such a state of things will not be good
news to several gentlemen who have consid
cred themselves candidates. They have
good reason to know how formidable a COM
petitor Mr.. Tilden will be, and there is not
one of the number rash enough to think
himself match for the willy manipulation of
men and organizer Of booms. Some of them
are sly but they cannot hope to besy enough
to escape his knowledge of their operations.
They may be deep but he can ,urrow under
their deepest intrigues. They may be rich
and liberal but his purse is the longest and
they can never be sure that what they buy
il surely theirs while he is in the market,
making bargains. The appearance of Mr..
Tilden as possible candidate is a dread APP
partition which frightened all their followers,
who may desert, or, if they stand by, may
fight to lose instead of to win.
One of the most significant things in this
connection is the attitude of the New York
Star. The Star is the organ of Tammany
Hall. Kelly is its owner or at all events its
controlling power. For long time its ut
terances have been recognized as his utter
ances and a trustworthy indication of the
action of the Tammany faction in any ext
eency. Since the publication of the arti-
Gle in the Times declaring Tilden's willing
ness the Star has already declared very
much to the surprise of everybody that if
Mr. Tilden is nominated he will have the
unanimous support of the Democratic par
ty. Precisely how much is meant by this
we cannot tell. 1t may mean simply that
there will be no bolt, but the utterance of
the Star is commonly understood to mean
much more than this, and to pledge in adj
vance the active, cordial support of Tam
many to Mr.. Tilden. 1t is spoken OF as
Boss KeIly's submission" If John Kelly
has made his peace with Mr. Tilden, 1t is
quite certain that he has not done SO with
out mutual concessions. He is not the KIND
of man to submit Internationally. lie
might make terms but he would make no