National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-15
KEEP it dark.
Mr.. TIIden,s Little Game.

Our readers will do we'll not to conclude
that Mr.. Tilden isn't to BIO the democratic
candidate because of his telling the Atlanta
Constitution that "this house is opposed to the
old ticket" The old ticket was Tilden and
Hendricks, and the old man probably made
the statement TO show his opinion that the
Hendricks part can as we'll be dispensed with.
Tilden is sly. He showed his opinion of
Hendricks by naming Payne, Hoadly, and
Randall as good men for the nomination and
forgetting his old comrade in tribulation of
1876. That settles Hendricks and the old
ticket as a whole, but leaves the Tiden end
opon to suitable persuasion. Mr.. Tilden un-
derstands tho democratic mind. Horatio
Seymour was feeble, and played the dodge of
not wanting to make tho sacrifice of being
candidate with such success that he got the
nomination by reclamation, and then we
never heard anything moro about his ina
bility to attend to the campaign and all else.
In this very Atlanta interview Mr.. Tilden
is careful to say that he is not the played-out
person he has been represented, and also
speaks Of Mr.. Payne as q suitable candidate,
though Payne is tho older of the two and Of
much less mental vigor. This leaves the
matter free from all distractions, except the
unwillingness of Tilden to undertake the
labor, and that can DO surmounted easily;
for, If Seymour could regain his vigor In
week, there is plenty Of time between now
and the day of the convention for Sammy to
get strong enough to knock Sullivan out in
three minutes.
. The naming of Payne, Hoadly, and Ran
dali is another significant straw and evinces
Tilden's shrewdness. Tilden sees that the
democratic majority, as shown by the orgsni-
cation Of the house and the course of Nor
rison, is in favor of as much free trade as the
Morrison bill contains, and is going to
on tho issue. This being SO, neither
of the men he names can get tho nOmi-
nation, and all must 60 to the wall and
become malcontents to be conclinted. Some
body must be nominated for whom these mon
can work, and he must be able to carry New
York. and if it shall be made to appear that
Tilden is the only sure man to do it, the call
for him will be made and yielded to.
Tilden has not given his views on the
tariff, and will not if he continues to work on
the present line. He will let the tariff men
Ii. IL "A
dali is evidence of his concurrence with their
views, and he will shout reform so loud that
free traders will be stunned into the belief
that tariff reform is included, and Carlisle,
Morrison, Watterson, Springer, Randolph
Tucker and Hurd will all be asked to name
their individual preferences for cabinet posi-
lions. Probably this will be to them salts
factory assurance that he is at heart tariff
reformer; but if it should not be
enough, he can go further and promise
to sign any bill they can get congress
to pass. The very silence of the old man on
the tariff is proof that no has not retired from
the field. Were he out he could have no
motive for concealment or ambiguity, but
would express himself az boldly as Hurd or
Watterson does. He is to be platform in
himself, and there is never such thing as q
platform explaining itself by supplement
and commentary. 1t must DO accepted as
built. But Barkis must not be too willing.
In this case there is more than usual reason
for appearing not to be candidate early.
To be in the field is to be in the way Of all
other aspirants and subject himself to their
fault finding criticisms and hostility. Out
of the way, the contestants can spend their
force in stabbing each other. Out Of the
field, Tilden need not be questioned, or IL
questioned he can be evasive out of delicsoy
and for the sake of harmony.
The country need not be surprised to learn
in the early summon that Tilden's health has
wonderfully improved. Dana understands
the old fellow, and sees the necessity for
taking him who is coming He is doing
his best to help it along and to smash oil
states but Tildens.