The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-16

support men like Blaine and Logan.
THE PASSING OF A GREAT REF0RMER,
We are very sorry that Mr.. Tilden wrote
that letter which seems to withdraw his name
from the candidacy for the presidency, though
we are not without hope that the convention
may yet read enough between the lines to
nominate him by reclamation, and that he
may yet be their candidate. In the first
place, the doings of that Democratic electoral
commission should be indicated or con-
demned by the people; otherwise the cry Of
fraud will be heard through the ages to come
as the chief claim the Democrats have for
recognition. 1t does look hard that their own
bantling should turn against its father as soon
as it was able to speak its own mind. That it
was Democratic in its paternity is shown, not
only by the hostility of such Republicans as
Senator Morton during the debates which pre-
ceded the vote, but by the vote itself. The
Democrats to-day, whose chief stock in politics
is the fraud of that commission, are very anx-
Senate voted against it on its final
passage, while sixteen of the chiefest
of the Republicans opposed it at
every stage In the House every stage marked
it as Democratic measure, and it passed by
vote of 159 Democrats and 80 Republicans
five times as many Democrats as Republicans
voting for it. That commission thus Gre
ated by the Democrats in Congress, and at
the instance of Mr. Tilden should find that
Mr.. Hayes was clearly elected shows that
there was unmistakable fraud attempted, too
bald to be Endorsed or approved by men of
such high standing as that commission. Let
us appeal from that Democratic commission
to the people, if the Democracy is still dissat-
satisfied, and let us have the old ticket.
Then, again, we need performer" at the
head of affairs, and such is Mr.. Tilden. A
few years ago the Republicans of New York,
under the leadership of that prince of Repub
LEANS Boss Tweed, had been running the
municipal affairs of the city in true Republic
an style. They had had things their own way
for quarter of a century Or more when those
staunch Democratic papers, the Times, and the
Tribune and Harper's Weekly, unearthed their
methods, and so exposed their Republican vii
lainies that as paid attorney for the people,
Mr.. Tilden took hold of the affair and had
the chiefest Republican, Boss Tweed, shut up
in Jail of nights, though permitted to visit his
home, and to enjoy most of the ordinary lux
uries of life. Mr. Tilden does well to plume
himself on this great reform" and to attrib
ute it wholly to his great ability an attorney.
managed the cases better, if well, even
with the material facts furnished him, as they
were to Mr.. Tilden. 1t is to be regretted,
however, that since those Democratic papers
ceased to be constantly ding-donging at the
Republican city authorities, things have gone
nearly as bad as ever right under Mr. Tilden's
nose. Perhaps the fees have ceased. No re-
former can afford to be all the time reforming
when the money that is in it gives out.
Then, again, we need man of unquestion-
able integrity at the head of this government;
especially when the platform calls for full
vote and fair count. Mr.. Tilden demon
strated his ability in this line in 1868. He
set out to carry the State of New York for
Seymour, and he carried it by F'reform" tao
tics. No report could be received from certain
wards in the city until all the out townships
were heard from, when these wards reported
Seymour maiorities enough to overbalance all
the Grant majorities in the country, though
in several cases the Seymour majorities were
greater than the entire population Of the
wards men, women and children put to-
gether; and thus the State was carried for
Seymour, the only Northern State that was
carried for him except New Jersey, its nearest
neighbor. However, Mr.. Tilden reformed" all
this at the next election, under the benign and
persuasive influence of little congressional
hospitality to Democratic methods such as
obtained in New York under Tilden in 1862
and under which several Democrats took up
quarters in the Ohio penitentiary, just to test
the constitutionality of such interference with
Democratic 'reform" measures.
We are very sorry to lose from the canvass
such a reformer. But will not his mantle fall
on some worthy successor May we not yet
hope for 'refor1n" campaign after the pure
Tilden type, mules cipher dispatches, and alp
What else can they singg They have no
policy on tariff, or currency, or taxation, not
even on wool or Mormonism, that we have not