The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-07
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.

ruined the fortunes of the great Napoleon
One of his ancestors, Nathaniel Tilden, was
mayor of the city of Tenterden, Kent, Eng
land in 1929. He was succeeded in that Of
fee by his cousin John, as he had been pre-
ceded by his uncle John in 1885 and l6Oo'
He removed with his family to Scituate, in
the colony of Massachusetts,, in 1854 HIS
brother Joseph was one of the merchant ad-
yenturers who fitted out the Mayiiower.
This Nathaniel Tilden married Hannah
Bourne one of whose sisters married broth
or of Gov. Winslow and another a son of
Gov. Wnslow.
Governor Tilden's grandfather, John Til
den, settled in Columbia county. The Gov
ernor's mother was descended from William
Jones. Lieutenant Governor Of the colony OF
New Haven, who in all the histories OF Con-
| necticut is represented to have been the son
of Col. John Jones ,one of the regcde Judges
of Charles l., who is said to have married
sister of Oliver Cromwell and cousin of
John Hampden. The Governors father, n
farmer and merchant of New Lebanon, was
| n man of notable Judgment and practical
sense and the accepted oracle OF the county
upon all matters of public concern, while
his opinion was also eagerly sought and just
ly valued by all his neghbors, but by none
more than by the late President Van Buren,
who till his death was one Of his most cher
ished intimate and personal friends.
From his father Governor Tilden inherited
taste for political inquiries, and in his
companionship enjoyed peculiar opportuni-
ties for acquiring an early familiarity with
the bearings of the various questions which
agitated our country in his youth.
Young Tilden entered college in his
eighteenth year. The fall of 1882, when he
was to enter college, was rendered memora-
BILE by the second election of General Jackson
to the Presidency of the United States, and
of William l.. Marcy to the Governorship of
the State of New York. In that contest an
effort was made to effect Il coalition between
the National Republicans and the anti-Ma-
sons. The success of the Democracy depend
ed upon me defeat of that coalition. SAM
uel heard the subject discussed in the fami-
ly, and was especially impressed by what
fell from the lips of an uncle who deplored
his inability to "wreak his thoughts upon
expression Samuel disappeared for two
or three days, and in the secluson of his
chamber proceeded to set down the views he
had gathered upon the subject, and in due
time brought the result to his father, at once
the most appreciative and the least indul-
gent critic of his acquaintance. The father
was so highly pleased with the paper that he
took his son to see Mr.. Van Buren, then at
Lebanon springs, to read it to him. They
found so much merit in the performance
, that they decided it should be published
with the signatures of dozen or more lead
! ing Democrats and it shortly appeared in
! the Albany 1rgus as an address, occupying
about half a page of that print, and from
which it:was copied into most of the Demo
I cratic papers of the State. The Ecenins
5 Journal paid it the compliment of attrbut'
t ing to the pen of Mr.. Van Buren,, and the
e Albany Argus paid it the greater compli
t ment of stating "by authority" that Mr.. Var
4 Buren, was not the author.
| hT, lllueu lldu noJ Detll lonS hio Noi
e lege before his health gave way, and obligec
n him to leave. After some rest he was ena
: bled to resume his studies, and in 1884 Ell
r tered the University of New York, where HI
completed his academic education. He thel
n entered the law office of the late John w
l. Edmunds, in the city of New York, wher
', he enjoyed peculiar facilities for the pros
n ecution of his favorite studies Of law am
politics.
The accession of Mr.. Van Buren to tn
'e Presidency in 1887 was followed by the mos
er trying financial revulsion that had yet oc
Cured in our history. During that summe
n appeared the Presidential message callin
y for special session of Congress, and recon-
le mending the separation of the Governmer
ID from the banks and the establishment of th
,e independent treasury. This measure pre-
voked voluminous and acrimonious debat
Is throughout the country, even before it er
"a gagged the attention of Congress.
IN Mr.. Tilden, though still student, spran
is to the defense of the Presidents policy, an
n wrote a series of papers, marked by all Il
III characteristics of his maturity, and advoca
ing the proposed separation and the redeem
:" ability of the government currency in speci
p These articles were signed ''Crino"
In the fall of 1888 Nathaniel 7. Taimadg
- Senator of the United States from Ne
York, who had separated from the Dem
ih cratic party and joined the Wings in oppo'
nc ton TO the financial policy of President Vi
D" Buren,, was announced to speak OH the issu
G. of the day in Columbia county. A meetil
ef had been arranged very quietly, at which
ey was hoped he might exert an influence
on the doubtful men and change the polite
la' complexion of the party. The Tildens hea
el' of the proposed meeting about noon of t
''e day upon which it was to be held Th
icy promptly sent word to all the Democrats
the vicinity, and the result was one of
largest meetings ever known in that regi,
ell Talmadge, in the course of his speech, to
der great pains to convince his audience tina
us was the Democrats that had changed tn
position, but that he and his friends W
unchanged. At the close of his remarks
754 of the Wing leaders of the movement of
'ir- ed Il resolution, which passed without op
the sirion, inviting any Democrats in the asst
up bly, that might be so disposed to reply to
for Senator. The young Democrats, who
ter mostly gathered in the rear of the hall
nti- garding this as challenge to them, shou
one for Tilden. Samuel, yielding to the obvi
'n's sentiment of the meeting, came forward,
dg- took the place just vacated by the Senat
two After discussing the main question of
an controversy, he adverted to the personal
rom poets of the Senator's speech, and especi
/ TO to his statement that the Democrats
leir changed position, while he himself hat
,sh- mained consistent. by way of testing