Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-07-19
Democratic Preferences for Pres
Idcut.

The New York Times has, early in
the fight, sent out letters missye TO as
certain the preferences of Democrats in
the next Presidential election. Tho re-
ply comes with n great preponderanee
in favor Of Tilden as the Democratic
nominee. The truth is that, If there
were fair expression OF Democratic
opinion--an opinion emanating distinct
lively from the masses-and IL were I'M
derstood that Mr.. Tilden would consent
to be n candidate-tho preference would
be three TO one for him as against all
other aspirants combined. The slight
est intimation from the Sage of Gram
Grey Park that he would accept the
Democratic nomination would at once
modify the expressions OF preference
from the masses. The Times tried its
experiment at time when il was gen
orally understood that Mr.. Tilden
would. under no circumstances, BIO n
candidate. This accepted idea had been
lately emphasized by the Hon. Henry
: Watterson, who had enjoyed long
conference with Mr.. Tilden at Grey
stono. Even as it was, the figures stand
in ratio 100 for Tilden, 72l for Melon
aid, 3lh for Bayard. 25 for Hancock,
20l for Butler and III for Thurman and
SO on. II the Times had sent out crcu-
lars with the popular understanding that
Tilden would accept the nomination If
rendered, the percentage in his favor
would have been infinitely greater
Another feature of the matter should
not be overlooked. Such circulars, is.'
suing from newspaper office, are nee
cssarily addressed to the leaders rather
than to the masses of the party. There
Is no question of the fact that very
large proportion of the self.constltuted
leaders of the Democratic party are hos
tile to the rightiul claims of Mr. Tilden.
Suchan eminent publicmanas Hon. Mont
gomery Blair, Lincoln's Postmaster.G GEN
cral, but for fourteen or fifteen years
past an unshrinking Democrat, as was
his father before him, has had no hest
tation in proclaiming his belief that
portion OF the Democratic leaders sold
out Mr.. Tilden in 1876, through the
Electoral Commission dodge, for certain
political concessions which were readily
assented to by the plant Hayes.
The percentage reported from Califor-
MIA was four for Thurman-all the en-
pressons Of opinion from this State--a
most gratifying unanimity. While there
can be no differences amongst Califor
mans as to the immense popularity on
this coast OF Allan G. Thurman, there is
equally little doubt that neither he nor
any other man can claim the loyalty of
the masses of the Democratic party to
the extent to which it goes out sponta-
neously TO the man who was rightfully
elected President in 1876. Never in the
history of any party was a greater out
rage perpetrated on a people than
the sending from this State to the
Cincinnati Convention of a delegation
which largely voted for Mr.. Justice
Field as the Democratic nominee for
President. II is a peculiar fact that the
great majority of the Democratic leaders
in this State were hostile to Mr.. Tilden,
while the masses of the party, in the
proportion of three to one, were devoted
to him. 1t is no exaggeration to say that
the Democratic voters of the Golden State
were three to one in favor of the Sage of
Cramercy Park. On fair canvass,
with the understanding that Tilden
would have accepted the nomination, the
Democracy of California would have pro-
claimed themselves as overwhelmingly
for him, with Thurman as a strong sec
ond choice, In the event of Tilden's
friends entering seriously into the con-
test, a strong and determined public
opinion in his favor will make itself
respected next year,
Apropos of Tilden's age, it seems to be
overlooked that he is not day older
than Thurman, that he is a younger
man than was Theirs when elected Pres
ident OF the French Republic in a most
stormy epoch; that he is a good deal
younger than either Gladstone or Bis
marck, and is fully ten years younger
than was Gortschakoif when he yielded
up the portfolio OF Russian Foreign
Affairs 10 o1im death