The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-09
Republican views OF governor TIden.

Tho New York Tribune of March "a
1875, expressed itself as follows: enc
Guire docs not deny that the management
OF the canals has been extravagant and cor.
rupt. On the contrary, he says that the
State Library is being burdened with proofs
OF the frauds, and that all the allegations
OF the Governor are sustained by official
documents Mr. Mcclure sus.
poets Governor Tildon OF wishing TO be
President. We are not at all shocked By
the suggestion. The desire TO be President
Is an ambition entertained by nearly ali
American citizens. 1t is an honorable am
bitiop, and we have no doubt Dir. Mcclure
entertains it himself. We believe it is not
the fashion just now to work for the presi-
dency by the methods which the angry
Speaker attributes to Governor Tilden
The cultivation, not the punishment, of
frauds has latterly been the favorite road
10 the White House; and we can only say
that II the Tilden method of winning pop.
ularlty is TO prevail, the more presidential
aspirants we have the better"
Again, April 10, 1875, the Tribune said
''The Governors commission for the inves-
tigation OF the canal frauds is now ready o
begin its work. We have every reason to
expect results from it, which we were for
hidden to hope for from the joint committee
OF the Legislature. Governor Tilden is in
savage earnest. The people of New York
know him OF old as a man of tenacious
purpose and rare talent for investigation. 1t
is morally certain that with the help of the
able gentlemen he has selected he will sue
coed In uncovering the great system of rob-
berry and corruption, and that he will never
relax his pursuit while q fragment of the
ring holds together. We presume the
lobby and the Republican Legislature have
no longer much power to obstruct the in
quiry. There was brief time when the
present success of the Governors under
taking-though not its final result-de-
pended in q great degree upon the action
OF the Senate and Assembly both Republi-
CAM, but that critical time has passed, and
with or without the favor of the two
houses the prosecution of the thieves now
goes on to the end"
And here is what another leading Repub-
liean paper, the Chicago Tribune, said of Til
den, before he became the Democratic can
s'idate for President:
= "Governor Tilden and Mr.. Charles O'Con-
nor were conspicuous leaders of the Demo
cratic party, and bravely and ably led in
the exposures and prosecutions which led
be7ies by Tweed, Sweeney, Connolley and
other associates. Governor Tiden devoted
his time personally to the investigation,
and appeared in court as witness to prove
the guilt Of the conspirators. He took
high ground in favor of official honesty,
and by his influence was able to carry the
city OF New York against the Tweed-Swe
ney party. IN due time tho Democratic
party nominated Tilden for governor, and,
though his opponent was the popular Gen.
Dix, Tilden was elected by over fifty thou
sand majority. AS soon as he got in office
he addressed himself to the investigation
Of the chronic abuses and robberies in the
management of the State canals. His pro-
ceedings produced rs much CONSERVATION
IN his own party as few years before he
had produced in the Tweed business. He
was appealed to by the party leaders to
forbear, but he was resolute. The
legislature did not dare to denounce
him, but it sought TO defeat his examina-
tions by appointing legislative committees
to do the work. Governor Tilden was not
thus to be defeated, and, taking the respon-
sibllity, he appointed commissioners outside
the legislature to prosecute the investiga-
tions and bring the robbers to justice. At
the head of one of these commissions was
John Bigelow."