The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-04-16

PUTS HIMSELF ON RECORD
AS OPPOSED TO
Making the Campaign on the
Tariff Issue, and Discusses
The Availability of Other Can
didateS.

Gen. John B. Gordon explains
that his object in interviewing Mr.
Samuel J. Tilden recently was to
put the conversation on so high a
plane as to draw out from Mr.. Til
den his real convictions and wishes,
beth as to himself and as to candi-
dates and platform. The general
says:
THE INTERVIEW.
9. / first asked Mr.. Tilden whether
it would be possible for the party to
induce him, Notwithstanding his
physical condition, to undertake the
campaign, if he should be rendered
the nomination. l coupled this in
quiry with an expression of my
earnest hope that he would consent.
He replied, after some hesitation,
that he did not think the party
ought to ask him to pake the sacri-
flee which he would be obliged to
make of his health and possibly his
life, but that he would be ready 10
give both if he believed it was at all
essential for the welfare of the coun-
try. When he was a candidate be-
fore, he said, he held in view, and
should have in view now if it was
possible for him to be q candidate
again, one and only one great pur-
pose, which would be comprehended
in the general term reform; that to
ask him to undertake the campaign
was to ask him to undertake this
reform, which was equivalent to en-
listing for five years service and
that, too, in a cause in which he
could not enlist without giving TO it
his whole time and thought, but for
the success of which he could not
hope without vast deal more of
physical strength than he now pos
sessed. With various other explain
atory remarks, he finally added
with absolus emphasis and great
decision: No, [ cannot be a eandi-
date, and would not accept if the
nomination were rendered me- |
then said to him: If that is your
decision and it is irrcversible, the
next thing is for me to inquire what,
in yeur Judgment, ought to be the
platform of the Democratic party
and who should be the nominee?
THE HEREPUBLICANRECo TARIFF
I" 1t would require too much time
to go over Mr.. Tilden's eonversa-
tiSn, but it may be summed up in a
few words. AS to platform, he was
clearly Of the opinion that the par
ty should have made its campaign
this year wholly one of aggressive
warfare upon the record of the par
ty in power, in which Mr.. Tilden
included all that had been charged
against the record of the Republican
party, especially that portion which
had been termed the corrUptions.
Without discussing at all the merits
of the tariff issue, | understood him
land [ think | did not misunder-
stand him) to express an entire dis
sent from the policy of making that
the issue in the campaign. do not
remember that Mr.. Tilden express
ed any opinion as to what in his
judgment was the true policy Of the
government in reference to the ques-
ton of tariff, the point under discus
sion between us being confined
wholly to the probability of success
in the campaign and not to the mer-
its of any special governmental pol
icies. l next asked him for his
opinion as to the availability of can
didates. His first remark was that
he was as much at sea as | myself
was, and that he was afraid to ad-
wise the party for fear he might
mislead them. To this | replied
that it seemed to me duty he owed
to the party to express freely an
opinion, if he had one, on that sub
ject. To this he replied that he
would not hesitate to express aR
opinion, if he had a well-defined
one.
OTHER CANDIDATES CONSIDERED.
sin order to draw him out, |
mentioned quite a number of names
which had been suggested, upon all
of which he commented freely. |
cannot now recall the exact drift of
his conversation in this connection,
further than to give you the impress
sion left upon my mind. His opin-
ions evidently tended to one point
the absolute necessity of carrying
New York if the Democratic party
hoped for success. AS to who would
carry New York, he expressed a
good deal of doubt, mentioning Mr..
Randall, Gov Cleveland, Mr.. Fowl
er, Senator Bayard and Mr. Payne.
His general remark was that they
were all good men, and that any of
them would be satisfactory to him.
But the sum and substance of his
talk convinced me that he was clear
ly of the opinion that if Mr.. Payne
could be induced to accept the NOM
ination he would be the strongest
candidate the Democracy could Sc
lect. He, was, however, very en-
phatic in expressing the belief that
Mr.. Payne would not consent to
run. But he said that Mr.. Payne's
record in public life was so pure,
that he commanded so entirely the
confidence of the business public,
without which element the party
could not hope for success, that, in
his judgment, the Senator elect from
Ohio could certainly carry New
York and secure the triumph of the
Democratic party in the coming
national election"