The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-24

his election and tho meeting OF the Leg
islature to tho prosecution OF its inves
tigation in tho city departments and il
preparing the vast mass Of accurate in
formation which was the basis OF nearly
all the judicial proofs that have since
been employed successfully in bringing
the members Of the "ring" TO justice
or driving them into exile.
Mr.. Tilden gave his chief attention
during the session OF the Legislature tc
tho promotion of those objects for which
he consented to go there, the reform OF
the Judiciary and the impeachment OF
the creatures who bad acquired the con-
trot oi it under the Tweed dynasty.
Mr.. Tilden had thus by his bold acts
made himself prominent in the work Of
reform, and recognized as the man to
lead II in the State. Prominent friends
Of reform urged him to accept the
nomination for governor. They said
he could DO nominated without difficulty
aud elected triumphantly, and in his
triumph tho great cause OF admiulstra-
tive reform would receive IN impulse
which would propagate it not only over
tho whole State, but over the Union.
Mr.. Tilden ultimately consented to
take the nomination for governor, his
objections to which Tero overcome by Il
single consideration. 1t WAS the only
way in which he could satisfactorily
demonstrate that q course OF fearless and
persistent resistance to wrong will bc
Tindicatcd aud sustained by the masses
Of the people ; that honesty and courgo
are rs Serviceable qualities aud rs well
rowarded in politics as in Rny other pro.
fGssioH Or pursuit. in life. He was uu.
willing to leave it in the power OF the
euemiGs OF reform to Say that he dared
not submit his conduct rs n reformer to
the Judgment Of the people ; to suy that
his course had ruined his influence ;
that bis name should DO warning to
tho rising politicians OF tue country
against following his example. He felt
that Whatever might be the result OF
his administration, the moral effect OF
his election would be advantageous, not
ouly iu his own State, but throughout
tic country. But for these considera.
tiOus, Mr.. Tilden would liave allowed
hiuacif TO Le made tho candidate OF the
Democratic party ior tho Senate Of tue
United States, a position more con-
genial to his tastes, aud for which his
personal preferences were well known.
lie was nominated and elected, and
whatever lessons or Goquencc that could
be expressed in big naiorities were not
wanting to lend their cciat to his tri-
umph. Mr.. Tilden's plurality over
John A. Dix, the Republican candidate,
was 53,3l5. Mr.. Dix had been elected
two years previously by plurality OF
81, 4ji.
The first message Of Governor Tildon
forcShadowed with distirctnesS the ccr-
trolling features Of his administration.
First-Reform in the administration.
Sccond-The restoration Of the tluau-
cial principles and policy which tri.
umphed in the election OF Jackson and
Van Buren,, and which left the country
without dollar OF indebtedness i'll the
world aud a credit abroad with which
no other nation could then compete.
IN furtherauce Of his policy OF ad-
ministative reform, he recommended a
revision OF tho laws intended to provide
criminal punishment aud civil remedies
for frauds by public officers and by per-
sous acting in completely with them.
These recommendations, during the
same session carefully wrought into the
legislation OF the State, bore especially
upon those forms Of administrative
abuse which the exposure and arrest OF
William MsSTweed had recently re-
vealGd, asa also upon another and kin
dred class OF abuses in the management
of Our canals, with which tue governor
was lhraldy acquainted, but Of which
tho public us yet had only an imperfect
realization.
But the feature OF tho message which
produced, perhaps, tho most profound
impression, not only upon his own i'm
mediate constituents, but upon the
whole nation, was that which related to
the financial policy Of the Federal gov
esnmeut. A generation had grown Up
who had mover seen or used any other
money than u printed promise OF the
government, and it had become d wide
spread conviction among the aspiring
politicians OF both the great parties that
the current public opinion in favor OF
M inflated and irredeemAble currency
would ovorwhelm and destroy any pub
lic man who would attempt to stem it.
No convention OF either party in any
State OF the Union had ventnred the
experiment; the active leaders OF both
had either avoided or yielded to the
current. Mr.. Tildcn deemed it his
duty to lose no time in advocating the
only financial policy which ever had in
surcd or can insure substantial Gnt
cniuriug national prosperity.
On the nineteenth OF March, and aS
soon as he had secured from the Legis
lature such additional remedies for Off
ciGl delinQuencies as were reqrisite foi
his purpose, the governor in spcCin
message invited tho attention OF The
Legislature to the mismanagement O.
| TIC clnaIS,
He pointed out in this communication
with considerable detail the fraudulcn
processes by which for m indefinite pc
rioi Of years tho State had been plum
drred, its agents debauchel, its polite
demorlized and its credit imperiled
The ftllness, boldness and dircctncss o
his statements produced profound i'm
preston, not only throughout the State
but throughout the country.
The Legislature, though containing il
both branches many Of the most notori
ous canal iobbers, and constituted large
ly IN that interest, was obliged to yiel,
to the irresistible public Sentimen
which the governors policy and mes
sage had awakened, and granted hiI
A IL. l.. ~.