The sun., 1895-05-19

| cred Communication addressed to TIE SUr by
Mr. Manton Marble, on Aug. 8, 1873. Mr.
Marble recounted that he had been present on
Jan. IA. 1877. the day when Mr.. Tilden re-
ceived from Mr.. Hewitt's lips his FIRST informa-
tion that other measures had been abandoned: /:
that the Senate conference committee had
just disclosed to the House conference COM
mitteo an Electoral Commission bill IL
had been privately preparing. and that the
House committee was pressed to accept and
adopt the Same. Before he read the proposed
bill, Mr. Tilden was told by Mr.. Hewitt that tho
Democratic members of the Senate committee
were already absolutely committed to It, and
would concur with their Republican associates
In reporting It to the Senate, whether tho
House committee should concur not, and
whether Mr.. Tilden approved 1t or not. Is 1t
not rather late, them" said Mr.. TildeD, to
consult mc2" They do not consult YOU"
replied Mr.. Hewitt. "They are public men, and
have their own duties and responsibilities.
consult YOU" In other words, rs Mr.. Tilden
expressed himself to Mr. BIgeow Mt the time.
the parents of this measure had sent Mr.
Hewitt not to consult me about IL but to get my
approval Of it," This Mr.. Tilden declined to
give. and urged delay. When its friends pre-
tended that time pressed. he told them. There
Is time enough II is n month before the count.
1t had best be used. all Of 1t, In making the
people and their agents fully acquainted with
their rights and duties" To the statement that
the Senate committee would not delay, for
any protest the part of the Democratic
candidate, to present its bill with tho
approval of its three Democratic members
to the Republican Senators, Mr.. ridden replied: {:
1T is apanic of paciacntors. They will act In
haste and repent at leisure" To representa-
tions Of the danger OF collision Of force with
the Executive. Mr.. Tilden rejoined Never
theless. this action Is too precpitate. The fears
OF collision are exaggerated. Why surrender
now2 You can always surrender. That is all
you have to do after being beaten. Why sur
render before the battle for fear OF having to
surrender after the battle is over2"
The author Of this book sees, however. that.
unfortunately, the course Of procedure which
Mr.. Tilden had traced out and urged upon the
party was no longer possible. Their line OF
battle had been broken. The two controlling
Democratic Senators on the committee. by their
negotiations had practically surrendered the
Democratic fortress. Tho plain, square issue
made by Mr.. Tilden could not be revived after
willingness to negotiate and make concessions
had once been manifested. Even had 1t been
still possible to defeat the proposed scheme Of
arbitration. that would not have restored the
Democratic fortress: nor would it have made 1t
any longer practicable to resume Mr..
Tiden's plan of battle. On this point
the bioRrapher quotes some cogent re-
marks by Mr.. Marble: Tho conditions
of success were an indomitable and united
Democracy, and an unbroken favor in public
opinion. But the mere proposal Of the electoral
arbtramsnt, backed by great Democratic lead
ers. caused three illusions to prevail: The
illusion that such an arbitranent was the only
alternative to civil war; the illusion that such
tribunal must establish truth in its decision
Itha IN fh.lir win hta. hn nf
the business classes. oppressed by long suffer-
ing under ruinous tariffs and fiuctuating cur
rencles, that 1t was the harbngcr of new pros
perity. So that the rank and file would have
been rebuming q contest abandoned by their
familiar leaders as hopeless, and attempting re-
currence to the earlier issue amid public opin-
ion now reversed and hostile"
Ono fact, however. cannot be too distinctly
kept In view. and 1t is dwelt upon with due en-
phasis by this biographer. In no single particu-
lar, from the beginning to the contamination Of
the transaction by which the will of the people
was fraudulently brought TO naught. had the
advice of Mr.. Tilden been acted upon. He i'd
vised the House of Representatives. which pos
sessod q majority In sympathy with the ma
jority Of the people, to stand upon its constitu-
tional rights. and leave to the Senate the
responsibility of violating those rights. In
stead of needing his ADVICE the House OF
Representatives consented to be made Of
no account and exchanged positive and
indisputabie power. under the absolute
control OF friends :or the empty privilege
of attempting tho persuasion Of enemies
Instead Of exercising its rights and discharginG
duties imposed upon it in the most unequivocal
terms II accepted a scheme for counting the
votes which originated with body having no
corresponding contingent authority. and in pO-
ltical sympathy with the majority OF COM
mission recruited from and controlled by a
bench. every member of which had been ap-
pointed by Republican Presidents. Again. Mr..
Tilden had urged publicity and discussion. in
sisting that secrecy in respect to any plan in-
volving the rights aud interests of whole
people was unwise, dangerous. and essentially
undemocratic. Tho scheme adopted was con-
ceived and begotten in a corner, and never ex-
posed to the light of day until 1t had wrought ir-
remediable mischief much less was 1t submit
ted to such a discussion as befltted measure in
volving the Chief Magistracy OF fifty millions Of
people. Mr.. Tilden advised against the betrayal
of any symptoms OF a possibility OF concession.
"You can surrender at any time" he said. ut
will be time enough to surrender WHOM you are
beaten" The Democratic leaders in Congress.
on the contrary, began their deliberations by
concession. and surrendered without an engage
ment fully u month before the time for
discussion and for the arrival of the ex-
preston of public opinion from the con-
sttuencies could have expired. They made
indecent haste to precipltate themselves
at the feet of their adversaries, as though they
supposed that their humiliation would be i'm
puted to them for righteousness. Mr.. Tilden,
In a word, advised them to trust the people to
stand by them and the Constitution: and he had
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