The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-17
WHAT WILL TILDEN DO?
The Question That Is Agitating the
Breasts of the Politicians.
New York Comment On the Recent
Interview With a Southern
Editor--Some NOre Al.
legged Talk.

CHICAGO, March 17-The Inter Oceans
New York special, referring to the recent in
terview with Mr.. Tilden by the editor of The
Atlanta Constitution, in which the editor
says that Mr. Tilden's only physical weakness
is loss OF voice and inability to use his arms,
and otherwise he is healthy and strong, ana
seems to be fully equal physically
to the duties of tie presidential
Office and more than equal mentally,
shows absolutely no loss of mental
force, is varied! During the interview Mr..
Tilden said he could not be induced to accept
nomination for the presidency, and The
Inter Oceans correspondent said that this
declaration certainly does not set doubt at
rest in the minds of Democratic politicians,
nor does it seem in any way to
have checked the outward flow of
preference in his favor. 1t YVES hardly TO
be expected that he would at this time declare
his willingness to be the party nominee,
even Gid lis ambition still lie in that dirac-
ton His disavowal Of c wish TO re-enter
politics viii be r, cognized as one Of the means
that Mr.. Tilden would naturally have
adopted for his oHn prefcrnent in the
days when he was confessea!y in full
possession OF mental ami physical powers
1t is noticed also AID commented upon that
the interview represents him as declaring
expressly two very important things, that
he is not the Invalid he has been repre-
scented to he, and taat administrative reform
mast be the issue IN the coming campaign if
the Democrats are to win. Mr.. Tilden's
modesty does not keep him from saying, at
least c0nstructively, that Administrative re-
form is his strongest hoil, and t;lat the hope
of party SUI cess IS in the direction to
ward which his official efforts always
! aimed. His utteTaacls in this re-
spect are in singular conformity
to the demands of E litor Dana, in
the Sun. that the tlriaf must be thrown over
board if Democrats are to win, and that adj
mni>trative reform. ol which Tid-n is the
only conspicuous exponent. must ba the issue
Ii appears that eX-S-n.-oc Barnum accom-
Tenied ex-Speaber Randall to Tii3ca's house
! last Saturday, ami remained there
during the greater part # the day.
BaiDum's vist was IuVe.!e! ~ the evident
drift Of Democratic sentiment to-
ward Tiden, and Banum wanted 10 guard
against the vascillating policy ON Tiden's
/ part, which he believed lost him the nOalGa-
! ton III lSSl. He represented - Til'en that
/ his failure to express LiEs,lf regarding his
/ wishes wouli soon enGtnser and possibly
disrupt party plans, b cause it shat ou5
crystalliz.tion OF opinion on any other can
! didate Mr.. Tillen, as in the b fore men
/ toned interview, deprecated further move
| uent toward him. but B irnCm suggested that
/ h. ought to give the matter further coGSi iert-
( ton, aud hol1 himself in readiness if lie
/ thought his powers equal to it, to defer 10
T the wishes Of the party, and 10 that end he
suggested a conference here wiih.n a month
OF the party leaders. Mr. Tiiien, still doubt
ing # anything could chang his mind, acqui-
( escei il Barnum'S suggestion, which
committed TildeM to nothing, and Bar
mum at once set plans on foot
for such o conference. All accounts
! agree that IIiien is in accord with the con
sentative manufacturing business element OF
the Democracy as distinguished from the low
| tariff element Of Carlisle, Morrison and Nc
Donald, and that IN tie convention contest
| between these factions his influence VIII 20
with Randall, Payne ana their friends, pro
vided it is not entirely for himself. Payne's
following in this city seems very well salts
fed with what Tilden has said, and de-
! clare their belief that it means the nomina-
! ticn of Payne, always accepting, of course,
| Tildan's decision to run himself It is said
! as a result of the BarRum- Randall Tilden
conference, there VIII shortly be a represen-
tative meeting here of prominent Democrats
/ from over the country, when full expression
/ will be had and the situation and party
! course in respect 10 candidates be definitely
J