New-York tribune., 1886-01-19
WILL Mr.. TILDEN WRITEAyOTHER LETTER


WILL MR. TILDEN WRITEANOTHER LETTER
Last December Samuel j. Tilden addressed a
long and thoughtful letter to Mr.. Carlisle in
regard to the surplus revenue. He devoted 1t
to the contention that it would be the part OF
craftsmanship to spend the surplus in providing
defences for our seacoast Something more
than month and half have elapsed since this
letter was given to the public. Have Mr..
Tilden's views in regard 70 the disposition of
the surplus undergone a radical changesin the
interim The question must be answered In
the affirmative i'll case Mr.. Tilden agrees with
his eminent fellow Democrat, Mr.. John L. Nc
Lean, of Ohio.
The Philadelphia Times quotes Mr.. Mclean as
remarking that Mr.. Cleveland "divides the
"world into the disnterested and the Interested,
" and he is the President of the disinterested
and means to put the interested on the de-
"fensive" Now if the Presidents policy Is
accurately set forth In these words, then it must
occur to Mr.. Tilden that the money which he
proposed devoting to placing our Beacoast upon
the defensive is still more urgently needed to
place the majority of his party-whom Mr.. Nc
Lean STYLES " the interested "-on the defensive
ON defensive that will defend. AS an ardent
partisan Mr.. Tilden will be justified in claiming
that the demands of tangible seacoast, how
ever pressing, are of less account than those Of
the intangible defences of the Democratic
party. To be sure, the surplus revenue in ques
ton belongs to the entire people and so cannot
lawfully be diverted to the purchase of horse
pistols or other artillery for the use of inter-
ested " Democrats vho are now exposed to
destruction by the occupation of their principal
iyil
Commission or by bombardment from the
long-ra guns of the White House. But as q
iSew York Democrat from way back, Mr..
Tilden knows how easy it is to find way Of
succorng his party at the public expense.
Hence the objection suggested is by no means
serious one.
We feel authorized to state that if the
Greystone statesman decides to change his
mind, and if Congress decides to adopt his
recommendation looking to the fortification of
ainterested " Democrats with the surplus. that
the coast line of David b. Hill will first of all
be taken in hand. In his letter of December Mr..
Tilden wrote the defensive works would con-
sist almost entirely of steel and r0n." 1t is likely
therefore, that Hills defences-which really are
in much worse state than those of the seacOast
will be iron-clad against Cleveland. 1t is le-
ported however, on trustworthy authority that
Hill has already panOplied himself in brass and
that the flag which floats defiantly above the
panoply bears on its folds the legend Il am a
Democrat" 1t is amusing when one comes to
reflect upon it that the Hill defences should
have been left for so many years in so weak
condition. In the language of Mr. Tilden to
Mr.. Carlisle Slightly altered)-"This state Of
81 thinos ia discreditable TO foresight and to
"prudence." The best guarantee against ag-
"eresslon from Cleveland on Hills Notifications
"is in Cleveland's knowledge that Hill is in a
Situation to vindicate his reputation and inter-
"ests While Hill may afford to be deficient in
I" the means of offence, he cannot afford to be
defenceless.n
After Hills coast line has been properly
strengthened then 30 mnch OF the Baltimore