Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-18
Gore1mOr TjIden as a ReTormer.


Gov rlden. Ike the platform ON
which he stands. has been placed before
the people to NEE; supposed aching
FOR reform. Ills friends have named
han "the grca, Reform Governor" and
have thumJed and thumbed away upon
The reform string. unul many are enabled
To perceive the demagogism which has
dictated such action.
Doubtless Gov. Ti.den's lrieudS,-and
erea he, himsc.t-havc come 20 feel that
he is the embodiment, OF reform. But
outsiders view the case differently. His
claim 20 be rvlormer is based on the
fact iha. under bis administration in
New York, various abuses weTe removed.
No particular meyi, Is attached 20 Gov.
Tiiden for this tact, however. Ho Simp-
~ continued the policy adopted by his
predecessor. Or, as i, has been sptly
pu, Gov, Dix iaaugura:ed reform, and
Gov. Tilden reaped The glory therefor
In vain has The republican press called
upon their opponents 10 show single
ring thief, coudnod through Gov Tlldeu's
influence. Ga tue contrary. parGons
have been issued as Freely under Tilden's
administration Is indictments were
found under that OF Dix. His claim to
be p yelormcr IN New York Is based on
thin ~, or Oh another mans equation
But even II lor year or Two past GOV
Tildeu had given ear to the popular cry
and had made an earnest, sincere effort
tor reform, his previous career has been
Of such character, that !. were foolish
TO think of trusting him with the control
Of affairs In this great nation.
Ii there has been any mau in New
York lor The past fifty years. who was
thoroughly acquainted with its political
history city and State-,bs, man
was Horace Greeley. His estimate OF
men and measures were generally Just
and correct. As the standard bearer OF
the Democratic party in 1872 his opinion
OF its candidate Tor the present year,
should carry weigh, 10 all minds-par;ic-
u.arly those OF Liberals and Democrats
In October 1863, Horace Greedy wrote an
open letter 10 Mr.. Tilden. who was then
Chairman oil the New York Democratic
State Committee. Il was Just after the
memorable campaign in which the city
OF New York threw such an immense
Democratic majority that the Democratic
ticket was elected by 10000 majority,
Notwithstanding large Republican major
i;ie, IN The interior OF tue STATE Ballot
boxes were stuffed and returns altered in
= mos, trans parent manner. For these
frauds Horace Greeley held Mr., Tilden
responsible. We append extracts OF the
letter above referred to.
10 Samuel IL 7UdeH, Chairman DeD!o-
cratic STATE CommiHee:-SIR You and
I axe growing old. We came here from
The country. anG have lived aud strug-
gied side by side Tor nearly forty years
We have participated ardently in many
political Struggles, always on different
sides. On one very important
point, however. your bitterness as
parIizan has impeled you 10 ignore and
come short OF your duty as . citizen and
q professional uphOlder OF government
by the people and for this derelic.ion !
here arraign you. 1 allude to the pre-
servation OF the ballOi-bOx
You hold q i-Ost responsible and ia hu-
enLial position IN the COUnsels VI i great
party. You could make that party COR
tent itself with legal votes it you only
would. 10 cur late Constitutional Con
veptIon l tried TO erect some fresh
barriers against election frauds. Did YOU.
The verJ little thai l Was enabled 10
effect In this direction | shall try 10 have
ratified Jy the people az cur ensuing
election. VIII you? Mr. Tilden. you
cannot escape responsibility by sag ing
with the guilty Nacbett.
Thou canst not SAY dil l.: never sh.kc
Those CORY lock NJ me
Tor YOU were a. least q passive accom-
plice IN tao gisut frauds ol las; No
Tsmbsr.