The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-30

ing had been arranged very quietly,
at which it was hoped he might
exert an influence upon the doubtful
men and change the political COM
plexion of the party. The Tildens heard
OF the proposed meeting about noon OF
the day upon which it was to be held.
They promptly sent word to all the DEM
ocrats of the vicinity, and the result was
one of the largest meetings ever known
known in that region. Talmadge, in the
course of lis speech, took great pains 70
convince his audience that 1t was the
Democrats that had changed their posi-
ton. but that he and his friends were un-
changed. At the close of his remarks
one Of the Wing leaders OF the move.
ment offered a resolution, which passed
without opposition, inviting any Demo-
crat in the assembly that might be so
disposed to reply to the Senator. Inc
Young Democrats, who had mostly gath
cred in the rear of the hall, regarding
this as challenge TO them, shouted for
Tllden. Samuel, yielding TO the obvious
sentiment of the meeting, came forward
and took the place just vacated by the
Senator.
After discussing the main question OF
the controversy, he adverted to the per-
sonal aspects of the Senator's speech, and
especially to his statement that the DEM
ocrats had changed position, while he
himself had remained consistent. BY way
Of testing the truth of his declaration, he
turned TO the Wings on the platform and,
pointing to each of them in turn, asked
if it was they or if it was the Senator
who had opposed them in the late contest
for the Presidency that had changed.
Finally, fixing his eye upon the chairman,
Mr.. Gilbert, venerable farm er and al.
most an ectogenarian, he SAID, in a tone
of mingled compliment and expostula
ton: "And you, sir, have you changed"
BY this direct inquiry the honest old man
was thrown off his guard, and stoutly
cried out: "Nol" Mr.. Tilden skillfully
awaited himself of this declaration of his
old neighbor and friend, and applied it
to the Senator in strain of MASTERY 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 its merits as thor
oughly, perhaps, as any man OF his
time, undertook defense of the Presi-
dents scheme and to overthrow the
sophistries of his enemies in 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
Blddle, to whose arguments Mr.. Tilden
especially addressed himself, could ever
have become the champions OF 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 time our people should
have forgotten, as to 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 imitation, irredeemable currency and
irresponsible credits At the time this
speech was delivered the Wings
were meditating the re-establishment
Of the United States Bank, if they
could succeed in dividing the Dem
ocrats on the Sub-Treasury scheme.
This effort provoked MIR. Tilden to re.
view the. history of the bank and expose
its ill-founded claims to be regarded in
any sense as what t claimed to be, "a
regulator 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 prepare
ton tor the election which resulted in
making James h. Polk President and
Silas Wright Govern,r of the State OF
New York, Mr.. Tllden, in connection
with John l. O'Sullivan, founded the
newspaper called the Daily Ne,cs.
In the fall OF lS45 he was sent to the
Assembly from the city OF New York,
but while member of that body was
elected to the convention for the remod-
elliny of the constitution of the State.
which was to commence It's session few
weeks after the legislature adjourned. In
both of these bodies Mr.. Tilden was
conspicuous authority, and left perma-
nent impression upon the legislation of
the year, and especially upon all the new
constitutional provisions affecting the
finances OF the State and the management
OF its system of canals.
The defeat OF Mr. Wright in the fall
of 1876. and the GOODNESS which had
grown up between the friends OF Presi-
dent Polk and the friends of the late
President Van Buren, resulted fortunate.
" for Mr.. TIlden, if not for the country,
in withdrawing his attention from pollt-
les and concentrating it upon mis- profess
sion. He inherited no fortune, but de-
pended upon his own eXertlons ior
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 pollti-
cal life, he was able to discern at that
early period the Importance IN this coun-
try, ut Least, OF pecunisry independence
tor the successful prosecution of politi-
cal 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. II was not many years
before he became as well known at the
bar as he had before been as politician.
His business developed rapidly. and
though he continued to take more or less
interest in political matters, they were
not allowed after 1857 10 interfere with
his professional duties.
At the New York municipal election
held in in November, 1855, desperate
attempt was made to defeat
AzsrlshC. Flsgg, one Of the
candidates for City Comptroller. Mr..
flsgg was of the same school ofpolitics
as Mr. Tlden, and was renowned
throughout the State, as well as in the
city, Tor his fidelity to public trusts.
The seekers after profitable jobs from the
public had nominated rs his opponent a