New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-08
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PARTY ~ UYSTERICS.

The Democratic party is inc uhpIo'ccleu Ie-
male of the political world. Its anxieties and
trepidations, as it watches the approach oil
those bold. bad men, General Butler and Mr.
Tilien. are pitiful to witness. The poor crea-
tr,e seems 10 be quito conscious of its utter in
ability to resist them. Whether 1t Is the beauty
of the General, or the purity OF the statesman
each seems to have some quality which terror
stricken Democracy is pOwerless TO oppose.
Possibly il is money. Both have money, 1t II
said. The female heart is not always proof
aoaiust the fascinations of wealth, and 1t may
be that Democracy is in terror because con-
scious that the glistening gold which these
bold. bad men nav offer will sweep away all
good resolutions and all wisdom. But, be the
cause what it may, the terror Is evident.
Almost every day, some panic-stricken Demo-
cratic journal lifts up its voice to protest most
pitifully against the closer approach OF General
Butler or Nh Tiden, and the observations OF
the able statesmen who insist that neither OF
those candidates has any chance sound slngu-
larly like whsting through graveyard.
The much dreaded and dangerous persons
are not altogether alike. Mr.. Tilden whispers,
while General Butler blows his own trumpet.
One is preteInaturally cautious; the other Is "a
marvel of audacty. One used to he an apostle
of free trade; the contributions OF Mr.. linden
to the funds Of the old Free Trade League are
not supposed to have been insignificant. The
other hasa personal knowledge of bunting, and
nobody but a Democrat has ever supposed
that General Butler was not protectionist.
Mr.. Tilden loved to talk OF hard money, while
General Butler has been Greenback hero. IL
is curious that the unprotected Democracy
SHOULD he about equally afraid of two men Sc
unlike. But they have one point in common
both have money, with an idea how to spend it.
| Upon reflection. it must be the money that
makes these two men so greatly feared.
| The belief of those who manifest most fear Ii
that these candidates would be beaten If nomi
mattel. AS to Mr.. Tilden it may be said, first
| that there are persons IN his party who are moi
| desperately fond of him. Some of them, even
| here in New York, might scratch and bite If he
| should thrust himself upon them. In addition
there are passages of his history, written partly
| in cipher, which it would be inconvenient Il
explain General Butler, OH the other hard, il
| hated by Democrats more for his merits thar
| for his faults. He discovered that the slave
| was contiaband, and lie showed how to make
a rebellous city behave itself. If nothing els'
were known of him, 1t Is safe to say that {
would get very few Democratic votes. But he
has some arts, as the Democratic aristocracy u
| Massachusetts, has learned.
Why should party be afraid that it might
nominate a candidate whose election would
be impossible2 Here is no powerful machine
to pack the delegations of dozen States will
Office holders or their tools 1t is humiliatin'
to some, perhaps to admit that a great party i
afraid of being bought-afraid that its sinfn
delegates may yield to temptation Bnt villa
| else can explain the terror which Is manifested
| If General Butler or Mr.. Tilden could not com
mand five dollars in the world, does aDybod.
| imagine either would be nominated