New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-16
gEUTTr AND TILDEN.

Those annual celebrations OF Mi. lllueh
birthday promise to be very uselui. II '"o
- co,s ON lone enough and the orators
will continue to talk freely, we shall get "' ny
degrees. much Of the secret history oi 'he
oloc4oral controversy. Mr.. Watterson set out
70 canonize Mr.. Tilden in the Harlem speech
and succeeded in making the most damaging
revelation concerning his hero that has APP
neared since the publication Of the cipher dls-
matches The disclosure that it was Mr. III
den and not Mr.. Watterson, who was reSpon-
sible for the proposal that 100000 " unarnied'
Domocrats should assemble in Washington on
the dav the electoral votes we're to be counted
must deprive the former OF large snare VI
that credit for a peaceful solution oi Vho
contest which even his opponents nave peeh
clad TO accord him. Mr.. Watterson maze
himself the mouthpece Of this proposition 10
re-enact in Washington the scenes OF MOP rue
and clamorous intimidation OF lawmakers uldO
were seen in Paris during the French ReVolu-
ton. Thanks to the calm good sense OF the
American people the idea excited universal
ridicuie the burden of which fell upon MI
WatteISon-a possibility the willy Democratic
leader doubtless had in view from the begin
lining.
At the same time that Mr.. Tildens pputa-
ton was being impaired by destructive eulogy
Mr. Hewtt's place in this chapter OF history
was being helped by an attack so bunShhSY
malicious that il OvershOt the mark. A speaker
at the jersey City banquet, unknown to tame
laid the responsibility for Tiden'S defeat at the
door Of Mr.. Hewitt who was characterized as
the Judas lscario' of his party, and was said
that the latter in the Nlanton Marble letter
bore testimony to M. HewittS fidelity would
be enough to dispose of any charge OF decep-
ton, even without the discovery that the
speaker had made blunderS showing that he
was poorly informed about matters concerning
which he was processing to give rennlS-
cences" But the coincidence Of the two
speeches suggests comparison between the
course of Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Hewitt, in which
the latter rises while the former sinks III pub
lie estimation.
Mr. Hewitt occupied a trying position during
that stormy period. He was chairman OF the
Democratic National Committee. and 50 was the
official leader of the party, at least in matters
in which Mr.. Tilden could not openly appear
with propriety. Mr.. Hewitt undoubtedly be-
Iieyed that his candidate had been elected, and
vet he was not willing to resort to either cor
rupt or revolutionary means to bring him in.
In both these respects, we learn now for the
first time. he differed from Mr.. Tilden. Prob
ably no intelligent person really believes to-
day that the latter was not cognzant of the
cipher negotiations. and Mr.. Waterson has
let us know that while Mr. Tilden was protest
ing dramatically against the shedding of a
single drop Of blood, he was secretly favoring
Il course of action whose only object was in
timidati0n, and whose only result, in the con
tingency Of Il decision mfayorable to Demo
Gratis, could have been bloodshed.
Mr.. Hewitt. ON the other hand, favored hon
orabc and peaccabe methods. He earnestly
supported the Electoral Commission bill. be
cause. Is he said in his speech in the House, he
believed ii would be the means Of aycrting
civil war. While he was greatly disappointed
in the verdict of the commission. he took the
view that the Democrats i'm Congress. having
voted practically in body to refer the con
troveIsy TO that tribunal, were in honor bound
to abide by its decision. This view he fire.
quently enforced upon his ellow-DemOcratS.
A bitter and unprincipled minority, under tho
| leadership of David Dudley Field sought by
count and to precpitate the country into an
alchy, but Mr.. Hewitt steadily voted against
them from his place in the House. OF all that
vast network of corrupt intriguing that cen
tired in Creamery Park he was absolutely ig
nOrtnt as there is every reason to believe.
! Those were secrets too dark to be trusted to so
much as one person whose participation was
not necessary to the success of their schemes
even to the Chairman of the National Com
mittee.
We do not say that Mr.. Hewitt did not make
mistakes in those excited times. Probably he
does not remember now with any great degree
OF pride the fact that he offered a sort Of
Cronin certificate for Vermont, whose inten-
ton to vote for Mr.. Hayes was hardly open TO
question. But it was a time when partisan
passions were at fever heat, and this much can
| be forgiven him. He did much for his party
and something for the country, by throwing
his influence on the side of moderation, and
attacks upon him on this score will only add
to his reputation.