Year: 1877

WASHINGION, OR GRAMERCY PARK.


1t has been reported that Gov. Tilden In
tends to take up his residence at Washington
whatever be the issue of the dispute concern
ing the Presidency. There are more or less
distinct denials of the story, but they do not
vet seem to be conclusive. The Washington
correspondents have stated, in fact that the
Governor cOntemplates this change of residence
within few weeks, in order to be in person on
the ground during the proceedings in Congress
relative to the matter In that case he intends
of course TO take command of his own forces,
organize and direct them, and personally su-
perintend all movements. That his party In
Congress needs some such leadership Will not
be for moment doubted by any one
who knows either the men who at present
aspire to be leaders or the record they have
made in the present Congress. That Gov. Til
den will bring into the service of the party
and his own, great shrewdness and tact, abil-
ity and cunning, perseverance and energy,
and the results of long experience III the
school of the managing politician, Is well
enough known. On all accounts-exccpt one
his personal presence in Washington. at the
head of his own forces and in superintendent
of his own plans, would be from the point OF
view of his party and himself of great advan-
tage He would take the chances of course OF
fleeing into indifference his warmest sup
porters, but that feeling after all would be
only personal he could not chill them into
anything like Indifference to his political sue
cess, for the very good reason that in that all
their own hopes are wrapped. No matter II
he be cold as a clam or unmagnetlc as q lob
ster, they must make him President as to
make themselves something or other of con-
sequence in the Government. So the clammi-
ness of which complaint is made would do no
great harm, while his natural cunning and
great experience would be of great service in
an enterprise so largely depending on skill i'll
tactics and political maneuvering.


And yet we take leave to suggest to Gov.
Tilden, as well in his own interest as for the
sake of appearances and of the good name of
the country, that he stay at Gramcrcy Park.
We do not think, begging His Excellency's
pardon, that he would look well leading such
an enterprise in person. Nor that 1T would be
altogether credtable to the country or an en-
couraging commentary upon the growth and
progress of free institutions to have such
spectacle presented to the world. There is
very general impression abroad that Gov. Til
den has travelled about as far in that direction
as is becoming or decent. When Mr.. Tilden,
as chairman of the State Committee, organ
lied his own campaign for the Gubernatoral
nomination two years ago, no one except the
opponents Of his nomination inside the party
raised any objections to it, though it did have
flavor of Butler in it. Nor was any one
scandaized by the fact that he conducted the
canvass and directed all the movements in
person. People were willing to charge all
that to his zeal for the public inter-


ests and his anxiety to carry out his
ideas of reform in the State Govern
ment. And It is only fair to say that his ad


ministration was sufficient justification with
the people for the zeal with which he had
sought the Office of Governor. But when the
Governor began to organize his movement on
the Democratic National Convention, and in
person direct the details of the preliminary
canvass, there arose dissatisfaction and coDi-
plant, and, as the Governor perhaps remem-
bers something like mutiny. That all passed
by, however, and his ambition for the nOmi-
nation was gratificd. And then we had the
spectacle, so strange to the eyes of American
citizens, and so significant, rs we are told of
demOralized public sentiment, i'll the sight of
foreigners, of candidate for the highest
Office in the nation personally directing the
details of his own campaign and superintend-
ing the work of his committees. Gov. TIden
cannot be unaware of the effect of this cXhi-
bition upon the public mind, and how il in
pressed a man of such charitable and gentle
spirit as President Woolsey SO profoundly that
he felt it his duty to specify the Governors
"uncommon anxiety" as one serious objection
to his ambitions being gratiied.


We repeat then, that Notwithstanding the
obvious need of leadership of the party at
Washington and Gov. Tilden's admitted ability
in that direction, he will be very wise to stay
at Gramercy Park. The popular appreciation
of a reasonable degree of modesty to which
President Grant owes so much has not been
entirely dissipated. The people have been dis
appointed in President Grant, who did not seek
the Office, it is true but it does not necessa-
ry follow that they are ready to rush to the
other extreme and take up President solely
on account of his persistent self-assertion and
self seeking. IL seems to us quite plain that
the Governor has experimental on the pOpu-