The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-06-29


0rable farmer, and almost an octogena.
rian. he said, In tone OF mingled com
pliment and expostulation "And you,
sir, have you changed ~ BY this direct
inquiry the honest old man was thrown
Off his guard, and stoutly cried out
mol, Mr.. TiIden skjllfully availed
himself OF this declaration OF his old
neighbor and friend, and applied it to
the Senator in strain OF masterly sar-
casm and irony. The effect was electric
1t thrilled the assembly and completely
destroyed the objects Of the meeting.
Mr.. Tilden, who had watched this
financial revolution Of 1887 from the be-
ginning, and knew it's merits as thor
oughly, perhaps, as any man Of his
time, undertook defense Of the Presi.
dents schemes and to overthrow the
sophistries OF his enemies In u speech
which he delivered in New Lebanon on
the third day Of October, 1910. No one
can read this speech without marvelling
that men like Webster and Nicholas
Biddle, to whose arguments Mr.. Tilden
especially addressed himself, could ever
have become the champions Of u system
under Which the revenues OF the nation
were made the basis OF commercial dis.
counts. 1t is more marvellous, however,
that in so short a time our people should
have forgotten, rs TO q very considerable
extent they appear to have done, the
lessons taught in this speech, and those
still better taught by the war then
waged by the Democratic party with
the policy OF initiation, irredeemable
currency and irresponsible credits. At
the time this speech was delivered the
Wings we're meditating the ere-estabiish-
ment OF the United States Bank ii they
could succeed in dividing the Demo.
Gratis on the Sub Treasury scheme. This
effort provoked Mr.. Tilden to review
the history OF the bank and expose its
claims to be regarded In any
sense as what 1t claimed to be, "a regu-
lator OF the currency" What he says
upon that subject possesses to the
reader Of to-day not only considerable
historical interest, but Is pregnant with
lessons which we fear will never be out
OF season.
Upon his admission to the bar Mr..
Tilden opened an Office In Pine street,
in the city OF New York.
In 1874, In anticipation and prepara-
tion for the election which resulted in
making James X. Polk President and
Silas Wright Governor Of the State OF
New York, Mr.. Tilden, in connection
with John l.. OSulliyan. founded the
newspaper called the Daily Mems.
In The fall Of 1916 he was sent to the
Assembly from the city OF New York.
and while member Of that body was
elected to the convention for the re-
OF the constitution Of the
State, which Was to commence It's ses-
sion few weeks after the Legislature
adjourned. In both Of these bodies Mr..
Tilden was conspicuous authority, and
left permanent impression upon the
Legislation OF the. year, and especially
upon I'll the new constitutional pro-
visions affecting the finance of the State
and the management OF its system OF
canals.
The defeas OF Mr. Wright in the fall
OF 1876, and the coolness which had
grown up between the friends Of Presi-
dent Polk and the friends Of the late
President Van Buren, resulted Fortunate
ly for Mr.. Tilden, IL not for the country,
in withdrawing his attention from poll
tics and concentrating 1t upon his pro-
fession. He inherited no fortune, but
depended upon his own exertions for
livelihood. Thus far his labor for the
State or in his profession had not been
lucrative, and despite his strong tastes
and pre-eminent qualifications for polit-
icai life, he was able to discern at that
early period the Importance, in this
IOdibIy hk ACHoty cA q pCNahioAy lHAC-
pendence for the successful prosecution
OF political career. With an assiduity
and concentration Of energy which
have characterized all the transactions
Of his life, Mr.. Tilden now gave himself
up to his profession. 1t was not many
years before he became as we'll known
ut the bar as he had before been known
as a politician. His business developed
rapidly, and though he continued to
take more or less interest in political
they were not allowed after
1867, to interfere with his professional
duties.
At the New York municipal election
held in November, 1855, a desperate
attempt was made to defeat Azariah G.
Flagg, one of the candidates for City
Mr.. Flagg was Of the same
school of politics as Mr.. Tilden, and was
renowned throughout the State, as well
rs in the city, for his fidelity to public
trusts. The seekers after profitable
obs from the public had nominated as
his opponent popular mechanic Of
gentle manners by the name OF Giles,
whom they hoped to control by the
usual persuasives in case Of his election.
He ran upon what was then known as
,he Know Nothing" or Native Ameri-
IAN" ticket. The returns gave Mr.. Flagg
,he Office by small plurality Of 117-
.O, 1913 against 20, ,134 for Giles. His oppo-
aent was to prosecute a quo UdyTd,tto,
ind Mr.. Flagg's title to the Office was
,ested at Supreme Court held before
Judge Emott and special jury.
The claimants seemed to have mo-
lopolized all the proof attainable, and
% have left little or nothing for the de-
ense. Add to this the original can
,ass had been made, as usual, upon dis
inct papers commonly called tallies.
The split tally comprised three foolscap
sheets, which contained the original
,anvass OF the split votes, and transfers
rom the tally of the regular vote and
he aggregate result, showing the num-
Der Of votes that each candidate had re-
,eived. The tally OF the regular votes
lad disappeared, at least could not be
Produced, and its loss was accounted
or. The papers Of split tallies, trans
ers and summaries that were produced
,orresponded with the oral testimony,
md confirmed the REALTORS theory OF
he alleged error in the return.