Year: 1876




IN. Y. Times Of Saturday. ..


The great issue to be decided next
Tuesday is which candidate shall occupy
the Presidential chair and which party
shall administer the Government Of the
United States. 1t involves a question,
first, of individual character, and next,
Of party principle. The question Of
character affects the composition Of the
cOntending parties as well as the candi.
dates whom they have nominated to rep
resent them. The people must be salts
fed not only that the party candidate is
honest, able, and worthy Of trust, but
that the controlling element Of the party
behind him, is composed OF men pos
sessing similar qualities. The Democrat
ic candidate breaks down under any
such test as hopelessly as the Democratic
party. Had Mr.. .Tilden been honest he
would not have occupied the position
which he does. Taking into account his
opportunities, lie could not by legiti-
mate methods, have amassed the prince
ly fortune which he possesses; but for that
wealth he would hardly have been con.
sidered as Presidential nominee; and but
for his INSCRIPTIONS nSe OF money he
could not have been nominated. II needs
but very slight acquaintance with the
history of the Presidential campaign to
recognize the Justice Of these conclusions.
There may be differences Of opinion about
Mr.. Tildens ability. Those who think
that strong dash Of low cunning and u
preference for associates Of mean charac.
Ter ARE incompatible with high Of abili.
ty, will certainly refuse Mr.. Tilden the
title OF an able man. There can be but
one opinion about his untrustworthinessD
In business transactions, he has disre-
garded his asacred honor" for private
gain. In his party relations be has been
the associate Of thieves when it suited
his purpose, Just as he has done the bid.
ding Of inaationists, whom he affects to
oppose, whenit suited his ambition.


But suppose that no objection on the
score Of personal character could be urged
against Mr.. Tilden or the party which
supports him. Does he, or do they, rep.
resent such principles as the majority Of
this people would care to see predomi-
nate in the Executive and legislative
councils Of the nation? The results Of
the war are not SO firmly secured that we
can afford TO intrust their protection to
n man who neclared that the Union was
a mere voluntary compact, to be broken
at the caprice Of any Of the parties to it;
who denied the right OF the North to
coerce the South, and who sustained a res
olution declaring the war failure. The
Democratic party bases all its hopes Of
success on the votes OF a "Solid South"
But the old slave States act to.
gether simply because they have now
as they had half generation ago, pur-
poses and interests which are incom.
patible with the peace and prosperity Of
the rest Of the Union. The Constitution
as it is has never been accepted by two.
thirds Of what forms the effective force
OF the Democratic Party, otherwise we
should not hear OF a "solid South" at all
The vitality OF the principles of secession
is as clearly shown in the leadership OF
men like Wade Hampton, as is the
vitality Of the doctrines Of imitation and
reputation in the nomination Of Thomas
A. Hendricks. Does it need much argu.
ment to prove that principles whose
supremacy threatens at once the founda.
ton of our institutions, the stability Of
our credit, and the whole future Of our
development as nation, should be voted
down on Tuesday next? .