The Portland daily press., 1884-04-29
Letter From New York.
The Modern Sphinx-WiII the Democrats
Nominate the "OId Tieket'-Reasoms for
Thinking They withdrawing 10 be
Sacrificed 10 Get Power.

Thinking They WiII-Everything 10 be
Sacrificed 30 Get Power.
New YORK, Apr. "a, 1884.
Had that mythical parsonage, the sphinx,
lived in these times of political conventions
and presidential campaigns, she could have
| propounded conundrum that even Gdipus
coald not have solved. If, to the unfortu-
nate pedestrian headed for Thebes, she had
put the query, "Will Mr.. Tilden be candi-
date for the Democratic nomination in
1882" Sophoces never would have had
the material out of which he constructed
| the drama which has been so successfully
/ performed in this country within the last
few years. Undoubtedly the Inflated hero
| of the Greek play would have been obliged
to give it up, just as hundreds of our fellow
citizens have long since concluded to do
Of all perplexing problems the candidacy
of the sage of Greystone seems to be the
most difficult of satisfactory solution. Re-
ports and rumors of every description and
OF dramatically opposite purport come to us
from all quarters. One interview reveals
the fact that Mr.. Tilden is the perfect pic
ture of health and as sprightly as a boy of
sixteen; another that he Is decrepit and
veritable wreck. This one says that he still
has his eye on the White House: another
that he does not particularly care for it: and
yet third that he would not accept of it IN
der any conditions. One influential news
paper boldly announces its preferences for
TIE hero of 1876" while another of equally
good repute fairly ridcules the idea of sug
costing him as standard-bearer. This pol
ltlcian does not hesitate to proclaim that he
has authority to say Mr. TiIden will not de-
cine the nomination ii it is thrust upon
BIN; and he has hardly made his authorized
statement before an "intimate'' friend of
the gentleman under discussion comes out
with an "official' bulletin that the head of the
OLD ticket positively and absolutely declines
TO allow the mention of his name. Thus
the public is carried along in one of the
most delightful states of uncertainty, favored
with every shade of opinion and belief, with
reports OF good health and of bad health,
with words of acceptance and outright decli-
nation; now an assent, now a refusal, now
something that can be construed as neither,
until in utter despair we are compelled TO
acknowledge it as more battling, perplexing,
exasperatiDg and bewildering than any 49,
14-15 puzzle that ever has been or ever can
be invented.
The latest developments, while they may
convey the impression that Mr.. Tilden does
not seek the honor at the hands of his party,
only serve to strengthen the prediction that
it will eventually fall upon him. John S.
Priest, of st. Louis, one of Tllden's right.
hand men at the convention in 1875, when
interviewed here recently, said in substance
That Mr.. I1lden was not a candidate, but
that he would accept the nomination if it
was unanimously rendered him. Since the
interview Mr.. Priest has called upon and
conVersed with the mysterious sage, and YES
terday remarked that he had seen or heard
nothing to lead him to change his original
statement. Col. Scott, of Erie, who claims
to be acquainted with the inner workings of
the old gentleman's mind, says that Mr..
rilden does not want the nomination, but
will accept 1t if there is universal CALL
even though the acceptance be attended
with fatal results. There is something in
this Mr.. Tilden does not wish to be con-
sidered a candidate. So long as he is not
looked upon as seeking the office, his chances
for getting 1t will be good. So long as he is
not avowedly in the race, his qualifications
will not be openly questioned. If it be the
general and accepted belief that he is ayerse
" having hAlISOll AuCAbIOuOu III COuu6CUlOQ
with The presidency, whatever weak points
there are in his candidacy will not be dis
cussed greatly to his detriment. This keep
ing in the background Is what frees the sage
from being picked to pieces by those who
believe his nomination would be an act of
folly, and, in measure, insures to him the
ability to take the honor il at the last mo-
menl he should desire to have it. He NAV
not after all care for it. There is posi-
billy that he does not. But it iehis intention
to possess 1t should he chance to desire it
when the time comes; and if he himself is
not the one to lead his party on iu battle, he
intends to use the forces favorable to him in
the convention in advancing the interests of
she man whom he had selected as the most
available.
( In the face of all the reports concerning
Mr.. Tilden's physical disability and his dis
inclination to allow the use of his name,
There is still large and powerful element
that is for him first, last and all the time. 1t
lis confined 10 no particular state or section.
&but crops out here, there and everywhere.
[ 1t has spoken in West Virginia, in Iowa, and
in other sections of the South and West.
THE people making up this element go right
fon affecting no concealment of their prefer
ences for him, and do not feel constrained
from asserting that they shall vote for him
at all hazards. When he declines the nom
ination, they say, then ii will be time TO
look elsewhere. They are in favor of the
candidate of 1876 merely out of policy.
They believe he, rather than any. other man,
can carry the day in November next. They
are for the old ticket.not because thew think
it IL the ablest couplet than can be procured.
DOR because it will be the strongest in induc-
ing men to vote the Democratic ticket, and
ilza1 TO laoI Al
party to victory. Sentiment is what they
I rely UPON to gain votes for their side.
The battle shout they would raise is,
wipe out the great fraud. Vindicate the
[ rights overthrow by the electoral commits
sion steal" With one grand huzza, blow
/ ing Of trumpets, and a cry for revenge this
Tilden party would hurry their man on to-
wards Washington, trampliDg platform and
principles in the dust and throwing to the
winds all their promises and decent profess
sions. Democratic politicians think thew
see that with Tiden and Hendricks as a
ticket they might possibly obtain control of
the government. The name is the only
thing they want. That will furnish them
with the motive power to propel the party
on to success. With any other two men
they see everything against them.
The party is hopelessly divided. If they
insert free-trade plank in their platform
they are aware that by so doing they will
ALLEVIATE enough voters to render defeat
certain. If they favor protection they be-
hold themselves whlrling round about from
platform n which for the last year or two
they have been trying to build the party up.
Whatever they say, which ever way they
turn, this tariff issue is staring them in the
face; haunting them as veritable bette noir.
1t throttled them once, and they know too
well that it will do it again under similar
circumstances. There is bu. one recourse,
that is to hail as standard-bearers the candi-
dates of eight years ago. So far as the can
didates themselves are concerned they do
not hitch together at all, but the charm of
the old cry would be broken if they were
now separated; and, as we have said, the old
cry is the only thing on which the party
would base its hopes, with the possible ex-
eeption of the well known 'bar'l'' which
the sage now and then has consented to tap
10 some little advantage. "Give Us the old
ticket and let the platform go to the dogs"
is the echo. Under such conditions and
with such display of patriotism they
would rush pell-mell, helter-skelter on to-
wards the national capital. Whether the
poor old candidate from New York would
reach it a healthy man, fatigued cam
poiODar livnU cizala4nr or -o,,oso -