Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-21
rILpEN AND HE PEOPLE.

IALDEN AMI AhE FEOfhHs
A correspondent writes: 'If TILDES
Is as popular now rs you say, he has
been popular all the time; and II he has
been popular all the time, why wasn't
lie nominated at Cincinnsti2"
We are always willing to enlighten
the ignorant, even though their ignor-
snee is of the special and inexcussble
sort represented by our anonymous
correspondent. It may be well enough,
moreover, to reiterste the facts con-
nected with the deplorable situation
which the Democratic party was COM
PEELED to face in 1880. ...
When the Democratic National Con-
vention assembled in Cincinnati In that
year, Il was discovered that Mr.. TIL
DEN had but two opponents-Mr. JOHN
KILLY, of New York, and Mr.. THOMAS
A. HENDRICKS, of Indiana. Mr.. HEN
bricks, with blind fatuousness that
never had a parallel in our politics, re-
fused to allow his name to be used on
the old ticket.
He had special ambition of his own,
and his friends seemed to think that in
the confusion and disturbance he per-
haps had q chance to receive the nOmi-
nation. 1t is true they were promptly
undeceived, but not in time to save the
party from the consequences Of the mis-
take.
The opposition of Mr.. KELLY was of
even more importance than the defec-
ton Of Mr.. HENDRICKS. Without the
aid OF the former it was impossible to
carry the State Of New York, which
then, IS now, was absolutely indispen-
sable to the success of the Democratic
party. The friends OF Mr.. TILDEN
found it impossible to csnciliste Mr..
KELLY. This, with the persistent re-
Husal of Mr.. HENDRICKS to take his old
position on the ticket, induced Mr.. TIL
DEN to write his famous letter to the
Democratic Convention. This docu-
msnt touched the popular heart as moth
ing else could. The reading oft excited
great tumult of enthusiasm in the Con-
yention, and its publication called forth
thousands OF kilograms from prominent
men all over the country, demanding
in the name ofthe people the nomins-
ton of Mr.. TnDEN. But it was too
late. If Mr.. HENDRICKS had consented
to the use of his name on the old ticket,
Mr.. TILDEN would have received the
nomination in spite Of the opposition Of
JOHN KELLY, and the possibility is
that the sense Of justice, which Is strong
in the popular mind, would have
enabled the party to carry New York
in spite of Tammany. AS matters
stood, however, the nomination of Mr..
TLDEN, with q new name upon the
ticket, would have been farce and 80
General HANCOCK was nominated.
But all the circumstances have
changed. Mr.. HENDRICKS is willing to
go upon the old ticket, and Mr.. JOHN
KELLY has announced that no loyal
Democrat can afford to oppose the old
ticket. Perceiving and feeling the al
most irresistible impulse OF popular
sentiment he is willing to accepts Mr..
TILDEN. While the circumstance have
all changed, the situation is not greatly
different to the situation of 1880. New
York is as necessary 10 Democratic sue
NJ a M
recOnciled, New York becomes DEM
Ocrstic State beyond all possibility of
doubt, and with the old ticket it will be
comparatively an easy matter to carry
Connecticut, New Jersey and Indians.
1t has been limited that the revival of
the TILDEN movement Is for the pur-
pose of counteracting the programme
of the Western free traders; but this
seems to be an afterthOught on the part
Of those who take no note Of the views
of the people. 1t is to be observed that
during all these years since 1876, the
popular regard for Mr.. TILDEN has in
creased rather than abated. His name
appeals to the American idea of justice,
sid he is recognized by honest men Of
sll larties as the embodiment of
Necessary idea in politics, the idea of
administrative reform. He Is the one
and only Democratic leader in whose
Judgment the people haveabsolute con-
fidence. The movement in favor of
his nomination is not confined to any
State OF section; it is Is broad as the
country and as deep as the impulses OF
the people.
II. A.. a.. g..