National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-07

worthily fill but not one of these would
dare to contest the nomination with Mr..
Tilden if no would intimate willingness
to accept. Every other candidate, with
the exception Of Gen. Butler, has pre-
sented his claim to the nomination sub
iect to the paramount claim of Mr.Tilden.
How did one man attain such pre-
omineucc in tho democratic party What
great service has he rendered the country
that lifts him out of the domain of COM
petition, and leaves to every other citizen
only a secondary claim to its highest
honors2 Certainly there is nothing in
his career as n citizen that exalts him
above all his fellows. He happened to. be
elected governor Of New York Mt time
when public sentiment demanded a
change in the management Of the canals,
and he carried out certain reforms which
would have been inevitable even If his
competitor for the Office had been chosen.
His sole title to distinction in public life
rests upon the fact that he administered
tho chief executive Office Of his state
with vigor and ability. But thoro are
many other democratic statesmen who
have done the same thing. BENJAMIN f.
Butler, during his one year term as gov
ernor of Massachusetts,, attacked the Off
cial dead -beatism by which he was sur
rounded with quite as much courage as
was displayed by Gov. Tilden in his
tussle with the canal ring. But nobody
proposes to make Gen. Butler president
for this reason.
The secret Of Mr.. Tilden's hold upon
the democratic party does not lie in his
record as reform" governor Of New
York. The average democrat is not
greatly enamored Of reform unless 1t
happens to be for the benefit of tho party.
At present success Is deemed Of far more
Importance than reform, and for this
reason Mr.. Tilden Is the democratic idol.
ITe is supposed TO bo master of the
crafty arts by which closely contested
states may be made to give democratic
msjorities. He is a man of large pecuniary
means, and it is believed that he would
not hesitate to contribute whatever sum
might be deemed necessary to secure hi;
election, even II the democratic managers
should demand a million Of dollars.
The operations Of Col, Pelton (Mr
Tilden's nephew) and Mr.. Smith NJ
Weed In South Carolina and Florida IL
1876, to say nothing of the attempted pur
chase of an electoral vote In Oregon
shows that there is really "barn o
money" some place in the vicinity o
Gramorcy park available for corrup
purposes. 1t is the ''bar'l and the repu
tation for personal and political craftines
that give Mr.. Tilden his undlsputed pres
tige. The masses of tho party believ
that If Mr. Tilden should consent to b
tho democratic candidate he would, b.
somo means or other, compass his election
Tho "truly good' republicans VIII
have bolted the nomination ofMr. Blain
have no confidence In Mr.. Tilden. If b
should be nominated most of them vii
either remain at homo on election da
or vote for third candidate. The demo
cratic managers are entirely aware of tn
fact that Mr.. Tilden is not acceptable
the so.called Independents" but the
are of the opinion that the "bar'p will b
of more consequence in the campaig
than tho votes of a handful of republica
boilers. They are practical men, an
they believe that Mr. Tilden, If he cor
sents to become candidate, will do NOR
and contribute more to secure q majorit
of the electoral votes than any othe
danocratic statesfnan And tins IL wh
Mr.. Tilden can have the nomination
simply signifying his willingness to al
cent it.