The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-03
DEMoCRACYrs JUMPING-JACK,

DEM0CRACY'S JUMPING-JAOK.
The last man accorded an insight into
Governor Tilden's house was one of the Balti-
more Suns 'most trusted correspondents"
and the report he sends out is at once assur-
ing to Democrats and Republicans alike. Mr..
Tilden has none of the characteristics of age.
His voice may be "a trife more feeble" it is
true, but that signifies nothing. His hearing
is acute, so the correspondent says though
for some reason John Bigelow, who was pres
ent, had frequent occasions to reply when the
great man of Gramercy Park failed to under
stand the question asked. 1t was so kind in
Bigelow to explain that Mr.. Tildepf
had been so cruelty misrepre
sented in print sometimes, perhaps, I'M
Intentionally, that he was determined to Eau
thorize" no more interviews. This Is charac
teristic of all great men possessed of their
faculties; they always remain silent while
some one else defines the situation for them
always, Imagine Mr.. Tilden's delicate tact in
fattering the correspondent by asking him
what the Democratic majority in the House
would probably do. The correspondent does
not say so, but he certainly must have i'm
parted the desired information. When in
formed that he was the only man that the
Democratic party could rely on to lead them
to victory next November, Mr. Tilden leaned
over close to the reporters ear, and said very
slowly and distinctly: 81 do not want
the nomination, and cannot take it. D."
Were there any question of Mr.. Tilden's
acuteness of hearing, this would forever
settle it. Men who hear well always do this
way Mr. Tilden said he had thought of
writing a letter stating his position, but Mr..
Bigelow, for some reason or other had forbid
den it, and that was not to be thought of.
When the correspondent rose to leave, he
formally expressed the hope that Mr. Tilden
would enjoy good health and prolonged life.
Then the marvellous face of the truly great
man frightened as he exclaimed: ~ do en-
JOY good health" and with that che raised
you struck out from both shoulders,
and followed this with vigorous
stamping of first one foot and then the other"
crying ioyously mo paralysis there" Was
ever more pitiful exhibition of helpless senility
than this faded, withered old man making
jumping jack of himself in order to convince
himself and to try to deceive others into the be-
lief that he had lost none of his manly vigorg
The feeble display of waning physical powers
was only too suggestive of impaired mental
acumen to thus allow him to make "a circus
of himself" and to act the clown for the ben
eft of every strolling correspondent. What
must the friends of Mr.. Tilden think of all
this, and of the further statement, made as a
remarkable exhibition of his strength, when
it is seriously stated that he actually walked
with a firm step fthe whole length of the
spacious library" The movement to nomi-
nate Tilden is a farce so far as he is con-
cerned; but the play is no farce to the Demo
cratic party. Pushed to desperate resources,
it sees no way but to again put up the man
who in 1876 corrupted the politics of this ma
ton in way never attempted before nor
since. The idea of putting up this maunder-
ing old man, this lean and slippered Panta-
loon, but lately so shrewd and unscrupulous,
would be ridiculous, but for the fact that the
Democratic party hopes to break into
power through the desperate and unscrupu-
lous methods pursued in the campaign of 1876.
Left to himself now, Mr.. Tilden doubtless
would prefer to continue to toast his ENACT
ated shins by his library fire. For him there
can no longer be any satisfaction in earthly
ambition. But the party must have him. His
ancient cunning may not be what it once was
but that matters little, for John Bgelow will
be kept near him to direct his wandering wits
and to say what he shall and shall not do
His name and fame, whatever they may be
worth, are still left, and his money and his
methods will be as potent now as they were
eight years ago.
ABOUT the cant phrase of 'the majesty of