The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-12
John McKeon on TiIden and
His Past Career.
A DANGEROUS CANDIDATE
A Great Railroad Monopolist Ask.
ing the Votes of the Poor.
An Enemy Of Equal Rights and Friend
of Exclusive Privileges.
ATTACHMENT.

To THE EDITOR OF THE nERALD:-
convention held few weeks since at Syra-
cuse, calling itself the liberal democratic mot the
democratic republican, party, has proposed the
name OF Samuel J. Ttlden as proper person to
Ill the Rubernaroral chair OF this State. They
who have held this great once have generally
presented, by their experience in public once
previously to their nomination, some claim on the
voters; but In Mr.. T1ldens case we find he has had
no experience as public agent, except for q few
months as q member OF the Assembly of this State,
where he developed, 1t may safely be said no ex-
traordinary statesmaniike qualities. 1t cannot be
denied that he has been familiar with public az
fairs; but his record as politician determines
beyond question that he Is not a man or deep,
sincere convictions, and & cannot point TO
single statesmanlIKe act. Els votes
have been at variance with his theories.
While protesting to be the supporter OF free
trade, he sustained for Governor of this state Slas
Wright whose vote in the Senate OF the United
States fastened on the country the most protect
i've and oppressive tariff ever enacted previous to
our civil war. While processing TO, be in favor OF
free speech and free press, he sustained this
same Senator Wright, who had voted with John
G. Calhoun in the senate OF the United States to
exclude anti-savery publications from the mails.
He most zealously supported Martin van Buren, on
the anttslavery Buffalo platform, when this gen.
tleman in his inaugural Message TO Congress
proclaimed that II Congress Asnould pass a
bill abolishing slavery in the District OF
Columbia he as President. Awould veto it.
When system existed in this State
whereby no person should pilot vessel
into the harDor OF New York except
he was a supporter Of Tammany Hall and should
be nominated by democratic Governor and con-
nrmed by democratic Senate. and the conse-
quence Of this was that hundreds OF emigrants
were drowned, as the democratic pilots were In
this city attending balls instead OF being on the
ocean-when Congress passed . law 'aboiishing
this monopoly and Mr.. Wright for years tried to
repeal 1t, yet Mr.. Tilden sustained Mr.. Wright.
When Mr. Tilden sustained Van Buren, as the
representative OF the doctrine ofthe equality OF the
races 1t was with full knowledge that ne had been
the firm supporter OF slavery. When the late civil
war was breaking out, Russell, the correspondent
OF the London Times, metz at dinner party
in this city Governor Seymour (wno is de-
scribed by him as man OF compro.
m,se) and Tilden, the ''acute lawyer" TIL
den, among others, justified secession and
Insisted that the general government had no right
to coerce state, and yet. during the war, Tilden
was for driving Lincoln from the head OF the gov
eminent because his prosecution OF the war was
not su1hciently vigorous. While pretending to be
opposed to SPECIAL legislation he has taken advan
tage OF the monopones granted to railroads by
legislatures and with such beneficial results that,
according to public rumor. he is ranked as one OF
our millonnaires. Hts conduct In defeating GEN.
eral Glass; the regular candidate OF the democracy.
evinced his feeling OF hostility to a statesman
whose ambition was to humble the pride and
check the arrogance OF Great Britain. 1t also
made, however, a good precedent to defeat
Tidan the candidate
liberal democratic party. His treason to the
democratic party brought "woe and death" to the
Union, and ultimately lighted the fires Of civil
war. In word, his past political life proves him
to be either SO nsincere 1--WE would be justified in
using harsher epithet or so vaciating as to be
wholly unworthy OF the support OF those who
believe In democratic principles and he is utterly
incapable OF seizlng the helm OF State with the
firm grasp OF an honest and trustw orthy states.
man.
1t Is not at the present time useful or expedien
to speak Of Tilden except as he Is now presented
to the people OF this state We propose to show
that he is to-day the representative OF the railroad
monopoly system which is overshadowing this
and otner States with its baleful influences ana
threatening It's liberties, and that 1t is the duty OF
every democrat who loves his country to refuse to
give his support to any such candidate
Byrdsall, in his history Of the Locofoco party
of this city, states that when the democratic party
divided on the question Of banks and other mo-
nopolies, Tammany Hall, with great majority OF
the leading men OF the party, was in favor OF
banks and corporations. opposed to them was q
small section composed principally OF mechanics
and wor ktngmen, who rallied under "free trade,
hard money, anti-monopoly." This section refused
to vote for any man who was director in any
banking institution, and the democrats OF to-day
ought to refuse to support for ONCE any railroad
director. To-day Tammany Hall carries on It's
banners two OF the battle cries of the despised
Locofoco party. No democratic party can ever
succeed without the third, "ant1-monopoly.n If
victory is to be won IL must be under the decla-
ration that all governments are organized for the
happiness OF the governed, and that can alone
be accomplished by extending equal and exact
justice to all men. Every railroad charter
Is monopoly. IL secures to its stock
holders exclusive privileges at the expense Of the
pubic. They are mon0p0lies for which the people
pensation In the language OF Andrew Jackson
'when the laws undertake to grant TO certain
persons gratuities, exclusive privileges to make
the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the
humble members OF society, the farmers, me-
chanics and laoorels, who have neither the time
nor the means OF securing like favors to them.
selves have right TO complain OF the injustice OF
the government. II government should condne
isselI 20 70 equal protection, and a. Heaven does
and the low the rich and the poor, IL would be an
unqualihed bessing;" and Jackson also added,
Many OF our rich men nave not been content
with equal projection and equal rights, but have
besought us TO make them rlcner by legislation
To DAY We see the effects OF the violations OF
these doctrines OF Jackson. We see 10 in the
Credit Mobilier scandal, IN the Erie Railroad and
other frauds, In the decentralization and corruption
Of the LEADING men OF both political parties In the
Congress OF the United States aud state Legs-
latures, 10 the depreciation Of American securl-
ties, In the disgrace OF the American name ana
credit 10 the ruin OF individuals VINO have In.
vested in railroad securities until 1t has been well
said that every tie in road Is the grave OF
small stocxhoider" To-day the melancholy spec.
tacle Is presented that the railroads OF the Union
are in default over $500 600 for non-paymen OF
interest on their bonded debt.
TINS monopoly, conspiring against the rights OF
the people. has become 80 strong that 1t now con-
trolls the politics OF the country. Its influence has
dictated the nominations of Presidents, IL has its
ATTORNEYS and representatives in the highest
judicial tribunals and the nomination by the
less than the indprsement or TIIaen az the
representative OF che railroad system. What