Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-03-15


nize the prevalence in all sections of
general and deep disgust at such a
policy of administering the affairs of 8 |
great government. In strictly parti-
san contest the democracy cannot begin |
with any better chances Of success than
they had in 80; and it may be we'll
doubted whether they are as good.
Divided councils on the tariff question !
brought into undue prominence by the |
election of Carlisle as speaker, will
place any ordinary candidate at dis
similar to that which operat-
ed so disastrously against Gen. Han
cock. And it would be unsafe to trust
that this disadvantage will be offset by
a detection from the republican party
on account of its prohibition proclivi-
ties. At any rate it would not be TAX
ing very high grounds to predicate
hopes of success on opposition to the
suppression of the liquor traffic. On
mere issues,as the term goes, with any
average candidate it is not easy to see
that the democratic party enjoys any
advantage over its adversary fighting
under similar conditions. In this cleo
tion the man will prevail rather than
principles; or, perhaps, it would be
better to say that the record, the capa-
city, the character and the general
moral stamina Of the candidate must
of themselves constitute an adequate
platform Of principles. There is one
man in the ranks of our democratic
leaders whom the party could nominate
and safely omit the formula of q writ.
ten platform. Others might name =
second; l can think of none. I alluds
to Samuel J. Tilden. What are his
qualificatlons9 A sagscity that no in
tricacies of great public questions can
battle; an experience which ramifies
every department of public and private
business; patience which knows well
how to abide the time and occasion;
a courage that equally resists the init
midatien Of foes and the fattery of
friends: patriotism which shines out
SO conspicuously in one great example
Of self sacrifice as to entitle it to rank
with the first III the record of deeds Of
civic heroism: conservatism which
avoids the terrors consequent upon
sudden changes, and at the same time
stimulates healthy progress in every
direction, and along with all this, an
honesty the more conspicuous from be-
ing contrasted with great financial
prosperity. This man, in fact, posses
ses q genius for government which
makes him peer Of the great Jsffer-
son. There is silent recognition of
this fact among the masses OF the peo-
pie. But further than this, they recog-
| nize that the re- election of Tilden to
the presidency is the only thing like An
adequate protest which can be made
against the monstrous outrage COM
mitted upon the essential feature of our
institutions in '76, by which that high
sffice was diverted from its proper in
cumbent.
lie was the natural and logical nom-
inee Of the party at Cincinnati in 1880,
and to my mind occupies the same atti-
tude toward the approaching conven-
ton at Chicago. "But Tild> n will not
have the nomination." it is said. Ger
tainly he would not at this day desire
nomination that had to be sought by
personal solicitation Or by placing him
self Gin the hands of his friends" The
nomination should go to him, if at all,
as the spontaneous expression OF the
supreme confidence of the people, and
should it go in that way there is moth
ing in the mans record to cause us 10
conclude otherwise than that he would
accept it at any sacrifice, however great,
of personal considerations. And II
nominated his election is assured; for
the common eye ia turned toward him
as the man best fitted at this juncture
to redeem the chief magistracy from
narrowness, sordidness and corruption,
and call back to it once more the alien
ated admiration of the world by faith.
full imitation of that simplicity, dignity
and purity of administration of which
Washington's was the first, as it will re-
main the highest example.
OF course ambitious politicians are
quite willing to see Tilden's transcen-
dent claims set aside, and will take ad-
vantage of his noble modesty to have
them set aside unless the voters of the
party make this matter their own con.
Germ and resolve to inaugurate the
campaign on higher plane, than one OF
mere machine politics.
HENRY L. HAYNES.