The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-16
Mr.. TIlden's Little Game.

Our readers will do well not to con
clude that Mr.. Tilden isn't to be th'
Democratic candidate because Of hi
telling the Atlanta Consultation thai
'this house Is opposed to, the old tick.
ct" The old ticket was Tilden and
Hendricks, and the old man probably
made the statement to show his opin
ion that the Hendricks part can as wei
be dispensed with. Tilden is sly. Ht
showed his opinion Of Hendricks by
naming Payne, Hoadley and Randall aa
good men for the nomination and for.
getting his old comrade in tribulation
Of 1876. That settles Hendricks and
the old ticket as whole, but leaves the
Tilden end open to suitable persuasion.
Mr.. Tilden understands the Democratic
mind, Horaio Seymour was feeble,
and played the dodge of not wanting to
make the sacrifice Of being candidate
with such success that he got the nomi-
nation by acclamation, and then we
never heard anything more about his
inability 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 rep
resented, and also speaks of Mr.. Payne
as suitable candidate, though Payne
is the 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 be surmounted
easily; for, if Seymour could regain his
vigor in a week, there is plenty of time
between now and the day of the conven-
ton for Sammy to get strong enough to
knock Sullivan out in three minutes.
The naming of Payne, Hoadly and
Randall is another significant straw and
evinces Tilden's shrewdness. Tilden
sees that the Democratic ma 'ority, as
shown by the organization of the House
and the course OF Morrison, is in favor
of as much free trade as the Morrison
bill contains, and is going to make it an
issue, and hold the party on the issue.
This being 80, neither of the men he
names can get the nomination, and all
must 90 to the wall and become NAL
contents to be conciliated. Somebody
must be nominated for whom these men
can work, and he must be able to carry
New York; and IL it shall be made TO
appear that Tilden is the only safe man
TO do il, the call for him will be made
and yielded to.
TiIden 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 infer that his preference
| for Payne and Randall 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 Car
| isle, Morrison, Watterson, Springer,
Randolph Tucker and Hurd win all be
asked to name their individual prefer
ences for Cabinet positions. Probably
this will be to them a satisfactory as
1 surance that he Is at heart tariff re-
former; but II it should not be enough,
be can 90 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 be has
not retired from the field. Were he out
he could have no motive for conceal
ment or ambiguity, but would express
himself as boldly as Hurd or Wsttersou
does. He is to be platform in himself,
and there Is never such thing as a
platform explaining itself by supple
ment and commentary. 1t must be &C
cepted as built.
In this case there is more than usual
reason for appearing not to be a candi-
date early. To be in the field is TO be
in the way Of all aspirants, and subject
himself TO their fault-fnding criticisms
and hostility. Out Of the way, the con-
testants can spend their force in stab
bing each other. Out OF the field, Til
den need not be questioned, or II ques-
toned he can be evasive out Of delicacy
and for the sake OF harmony.
The country need not be surprised to
learn in the early summer 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 1t along and
to Smash all states but Tilden's.-Nd-
| LondL ReDubLcnu