The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-06-19
Mr.. Tilden's Letter.

AS part of the current literature OF
the campaign, we publish on the first page
Of to-day's VIRGINIAN Mr.. Tilden's letter
declining the nomination of the Demo-
cratic party. To be sure the nomination
had not been formally rendered, but from
the complexion of the various delegates
elected, it was pretty well understood that
the honor would have been rendered him
by reclamation. The letter, as literary
composition, has received unmeasured
praise from Mr.. Tilden's admirers, one
enthusiast declaring it deserved to be
classed with the "modern classics" 70
the ordinary reader, in comparing it with
other productions of the great exemplar
of ssfraud,'' it has the advantage OF ex-
pressing what it is intended to convey
without the aid of key" Mr.. Tilden's
communications have heretofore been so
intimately associated with cyphers that it
is difficult to believe he has descended to
the medium of plain English IN addressing
his hosts. Indeed, such is the uncertainty
in the Democratic mind as to the true
meaning of the letter, that not few OF
his ardent supporters are disposed to con-
strue it as an additional bid for the nomi-
nation, rather than deeply pathetic fare
well to public life and an unceremonious
closing of the "bar'l.'
Mr.. Tilden doubtless means what he
says this time. Nature has interposed her
potent protest against farther political
aspirations. The official fever cannot
warm the thin blood again, nor the dull
ear catch the music of the presidential
bee. The career of the Sage OF Grey
stone" is closed.
This retirement adds nothing to the
serenity of the Democratic party. 1t re-
moves from the reach of availability the
only material ont of which it was hoped
to manufacture an issue. We had never
regarded the prospect of Mr.. Tilden's can
didacy as alarming. Had he consented to
the use of his name, he would unquestion-
ably have received the nomination OF his
party, and just as surely have failed OF
election. The true animus of the reform y
issue, as represented by Mr.. Tilden, was
exposed in the unraveling of the cypher
dispatches of rs. The cry of fraud, .
with which it was proposed to inaugnrate
the approaching campaign, would have
served to but draw attention to the fleeing
criminal who called ''stop thief.
1t was only the extremity to which the
party was driven that ever suggested the
use of Mr.. Tilden's name, and now, that
this hope has departed, chaos reigns in the
Democratic camp.
AS long as there was something to centre
on. some sham issue to present, the dis
sensions of the party were kept under con-
troll now, however, the broad division
which has rendered the majority in Con-
gress impotent, will assert itself. The
Democracy must define it's position on
what is destined to be the predominant
| issue of the canvass. 1t can no longer
dodge behind the thin screen OF fraud
or reform 1t must face the country
and openly declare for or against pro-
tectiye tariff, for or against the interests
! of the working classes, for or against the
building up of home industries. Three
| fOurths of its constituents are at heart
free-traders, and every candidate men,
toned in connection with the nomination,
save one, is fit representative OF the
majority. Cleveland, who is regarded
somewhat as the heir of Gramercy. has
not as yet declared his position, but Dor.
sheimer, who is grooming him. isa revenue
reformer of the most pronounced type,
and when asked as to the standing OF his
candidate lodged the question and slyly
said, ''the subject was too delicate to be
discussed. Flower, of New York, whose
boomlet will probably be nipped in the
bud, is as much of a revenue refOrmer as
he knows how to be. Bayard is for cutting
down everything except the tax on matches
he being the attorney for the match com
panies, while Carlisle, Morrison and Nc
Donald, are too pronounced in their views
| to need word of comment. Sam Ran.
dali, whom his party denounced as
traitor and chief of the forty thieves, y is
) the solitary representative of protection
| In all the ranks of the Democracy. With
such leadership and such following
there can be but one consistent course to
pursue-a pronounced and emphatic decia
ration for free-trade. The majority OF the
Democratic delegates will favor this course
but the minority will insist upon acowardly
evasion of the issue and the adoption of a
tariff plank something similar to that
lately used in the Virginia and Ohio Con-
ventions. What the result will be no man
! can tell, but it may safely be assumed that
the least manly course will be adopted.
Uncle Sammy's retirement brings the
tariff prominently to the front and mar
shals the lines for and against it. To that
extent it will be far more gratifying to
the Republicans than to their opponents.