Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-03
C0rDses to the Front,

In Democratic circles there is visible
reaction against Cleveland. His pros
poets of nomination, so bright week or
two ago, seem to be waning again. The
buzzing of the few so-called Independ-
ents, which warmed Democratic hearts
at first. has grown fainter. Cool Demo
cratic leaders see that the detection from
Republican ranks amounts TO much less
than they had hoped. The failure OF the
New York rings to secure hearty sup
port of the Governor by the delegation
from this State, and the failure of the
Mclean party to control the delegation
from Ohio, have both worked to the ais
advantage of Governor Cleveland In
In addition, there has been some shrewd
conspiring by men who want to dodge
the tariff question, by men who want to
secure the nomination for somebody else,
and by capable leaders who consider that
Cleveland would not be strong candi j.
date. The drift, at present, seems to be
once more toward the "old man." if not
the old ticket"
Of all Democratic blunders, it is the
strangest and the biggest to suppose
that the Republicans shrink from an
overhauling of the campaign of 1876.
The truth is that the Republicans are
ready for that entertainment at any time.
They would like nothing better titan to
have occasion to deal with that business
thoroughly. There are men in the coun-
try who understand full well that the
true inwardness of the campaign of 1876
never las been knosn TO the public, and
never will be, probably, unless the Demo
Gratis themselves invite an opening OF the
old mine. Republicans would particu-
larly like to cCnsider what frauds were
committed in that campaign, and by
whom; what sums of money were spent,
and for what; what forged and false re-
turns were made, and at whose instiga
tion; how many electoral votes the Dem-
ocratic party really secured, which had
behind them votes of the people; what
votes were stolen, and what attempts to
steal votes were made, by cipher dis
patches, secret agents. and otherwise;
what Infamous corruption of electors
was attempted and why it failed. When
ever that investigation is opened again,if
ever, it will brand with unutterable and
ineffaceable disgrace the foreheads OF
some men who do not now dream that
they are in danger.
1t would he lively camprign, II Mr..
Tilden should be nominated; there is no
doubt about it. TIE American people
would be kept on the broad grin for four
months, at least, and would never be able
to think of the campaign of 1884, in after
years, without an explosion of laughter.
On the part of Mr.. Blaine's friends. at
all events, 1T would be an aggressive cam
paign-quite aggressive enough to satis+
fy anybody. The speakably pure per-
sons, who are not able to think of Mr..
Blaine without shRdder, would have
fine opportunity to imagine excuses for
Mr.. Tilden's long years OF aptitude in
corrupt methods, his theft of votes in
1868, his "still hunts" and what they
meant his ~recking of railroads and ac-
cumulation of millions by that species of
honest toll, his loud professions of "Re-
FORM" and his careful abstention from
any punishment of Democratic rogues in
canal matters, his evasion of taxes for
many years, and the scrurulous in
tegrity of his sworn reports to United
States officials. When they get well into
a campaign, as the followers aud defend
ers of a great reformer of the sham DEM
ocratic sort, they will understand better
than they now do why the people are
prone to sneer at pretences of exalted and
unapproachable virtue.
The fact is that the Democratic party
would not dare to name Mr.. Tilden as its
candid. e, except as a last resort. If
convinced thai It's defeat with any other
candidate is quite certain, it may fall
back in a sort of despair upon "the
frauds of 1885," as the only hope of esca-
ping the tariff issue. But even there
they would blunder, as everywhere else.
The record of Mr.. Tilden as free trade
leader and contributor to free trade funds
has not yet been used. His opinions are
not easily hidden. The Republicans al
lowed the tariff question to be thrust
into the background in 1876 by the charg+
es of corruption which then filled the
public mind. But Mr.. Tilden, if candi-
date in 1884, would not be able to get
away from the Tilden of 1864-1876
The people have right to vote for or
against real man, and not an empty
mask. Mr.. Tilden's name, as a mere
cloak for some less+known candidate for
Vice President, who might be expected
to become President at an early date,
would not kindle enthusiasm. Most
people, indeed, would think it very like
an insult to put up such candidate. But
even if he were as physically vigorous
and capable as he notoriously is totter-
ing paralytir, MIR. Tiiden is about the
deadest man in America politically. The
party that finds itself driven to nominate
a political corpse may as well die itself,
and be buried as soon as possible In mer-
CIV To sensitive noses Y Trihnne