The Morning herald., 1876-06-30
SAMUEL ]. ~ / y
|Is LIE Il e. rns ns the NsxS Frsei1snt.

Bamue, a. 9t st. Louis, Is the democratic
Snlny' sa,"ta fnr President OF the United
nuuAuo sao was horn in New Lebanon, 10 COL
atia' abia county, in this State, In loi4. Mr.
Idsn u,n is of English extraction, ana some
his @ family held the office Of Mayor OF
warden, ue Kent, England, about the close
l%s sivreeuth century, while one OF these
.si"ouently spa settled in Massachusetts Bay,
opother assisted in fitting out the May
wer His grandfather, John Tilden,
oose Columbia country as his home, and
y branch of the family has resided there
nr since. Governor Tilden's father Elam
lden was a merchant and farmer at New
sbanon, and is described as man of nota-
Judgment and great practical sense. On
mothers side Mr.. Tilden is descended
nm Colonel John Jones, who married q
E[er of oliver Cromwell and was one of the
gicide Judges of Charles I. From his
fher Governor Tilden inherited strong
byitical tasts, and as the elder Tilden was
noug the accepted personal friends of Mr..
an Ruren, the son was early offered an
bportunity for their display. His first
ccess as a political writer is story which
something like romance in it. He was
" eighteen years old at the time, but,
as he was, he was already match for
astute politicians of that day. Thiswas
the year 1889, when an effort was made
defeat the reelection of General jackson
coalition between the national
pubicans and the anti-Masons. The
ccess of the democracy depended
BON the defeat of that coalition. H ear
Z this question freely discussed in his
thers house, young Tilden wrote out the
ews he had heard npon the subject, and
owed the paper to his father. The elder
lden was so higly pleased with his sons
tort that he took the lad to see Mr.. Van
uren, who was tn. n at Lebanon Springs,
bl the latter found SO much merit in the
Prformance that he caused it to be printed
ith number of distinguished names at
ched, in the Albany Argus, as an address
the democracy of the State. Mr.. Tilden's
ographcrs inform us that the Eysning
Durnal paid it the compliment of attribu-
NJ it to the pen of Mr.. Van Buren, himself
lille the Argus paid it the still greater
bmpliment of saying "by authority" that
[r. Van Bureu was not its authority. Four
ears later Mr.. Tilden again distinguished
imself by writing series of papers in de-
knce Of Mr.. Van Buren's financial policy.
his was in 1887 when occurred the severest
nsncial rcvulsion which had yet happened
our history. During that summer the
resident called special session of Con-
ress, and recommended the separation of
he government from the banks and the es-
bblishment of an independent treasury. In
is papers advocating the Presidents policy
lr Tlden not only showed the wisdom and
baturity of thought which has since char
cterzed all his efforts, but took position
} favor of the redeemability Of the govern
lent currency in specie, which is almost
1enical with the financial policy of which
is now the representative.
As an orator, Mr.. Tilden very early in life
btancd a triumph even more marked than
Is successes as a political writer. Senator
almadge had separated from his party in
ppositon to President Van Buren's finan-
al policy, and, having joined the wings,
as announced to speak in Columbia county
b the issues of the day. In the course OF
is speech he took great pains to show that
he democracy had charged its position on
be financial question, and that he and his
Fiends were unchanged. At the close Of
is remarks one of the whig leaders offered
resolutions inviting any democrat present
reply, and young Tilden was pushed for
lard to accept this challenge. The reply
as exceedingly adroit. By way of testing
he truth of Mr.. Talmadge's declaration
hat he was unchanged in his financial
Jews Mr.. Tilden asked the wings on the
laform if it was they or the senator who
ad opposed them in the late canvass for
be Presidency who had changed, and
pen turning to the chairman, Mr.. Gilbert,
venerable farmer and almost an octoge-
arian, he said, in tone OF mingled COM
liment and expostnlation, "And y)u, sir,
ave you changed!" By this direct inquiry
be old man was thrown off his guard and
foutly cried out, "No!" Mr.. skillfully
Vailed himself of this declaration of his
neighbor and applied it to the Senator
strain of mastery scarcasm and irony,
le effect of which was electric it thrilled
e assembly and completely destroyed Mr..
amadgc's effort at self-justitication. -
Mr.. Tilden's education was not OF the
Fual scholastic order. In 1882 he entered
ale College, but his health soon failed and
was obliged to leave. Two years later he
ptered the law office of the late John W.
dmunds of this city, and in due course OF
me he came to the bar. He first opened an
1lee in Pine street, but for awhile he de-
pled himself to politics as we'll as to his
foiession. In 1845 he was elected to the
ssembly from this city, and the next year
was chosen member of the State Con-
llutional Convention. In both bodies he
Sstinguished himself, but his biograpers
II us that already at that early period ne
as able to discern the Importance in this
Puntry, at least, of a pecuniary independ-
zee for the prosecution of a successful po-
lcal career. A fter 1S47 Mr.. Tilden gave
mseIf up to his profession, and it was not
any years until he became as well known
lhe bar as he had before been known as
Pll'lcan. His business developed rapidly
Pd some of his cases are among the most
Iable in the history of the New York Bar.
1886 he successfully defended Azariah o.
agg, elected one of the city comptrollers
the prayious municipal election, although