Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-11-10
Tilden's Promise.


Tilden's Promise.
In 1868 iIoratio Seymour was candi-
date for the Presidency, and came to
Chicago to make a speech in his own be-
half. Bob lngersoll said of Seymour and
his speech: g When the General takes
muskct he acknowledges defeat" Mr..
Samuel j Tilden has written letter: he
has taken a musket. His letter is a con-
fcssion that the South expects to be paid
for the losses Of the war. 1t IS II confes-
sion that the bills aou pe,d5Rg in Congress,
covering claims aggregating more than too
ttotsd1ld nsillions Of dolars, were present
ed n rood faith, with IL purpose to press
for their payment To the uttermost farthing.
1t is a confession that the history and rec
ord of the Democratic party do not of
themselves alone constitute u sufficient
guarantee against the assumption of these
claims by a Democratic Administration.
1t is IA confession that there is in the pub
lie mind well-founded apprehension
that, in the event of the elevation of the
Democratic party to National control, it
would double the National debt. 1t is Il
confession that the cX-rebels of the South
want to commit wholesale robbery, and
that they believe they can accomplish
their purpose through the Democratic
party. Hence Mr.. Tilden offers to pledge
himself TO veto rebel claims bills He
realizes that there is a feeling of alarm in
the public mind that in apprehension OF
Democratic success citizens grasp tightly
their pocket. books, as if in fear of thieves.
Mr.. Tilden seeks to allay this widespread
feeling OF apprehension by promising to
resist the payment of rebel claims. But
it is too late. When he was charged with
perjury he delayed mis- evasivc response
until the whole country had become thor
oughly convinced of his guilt. The sub
ject of rebel claims has been before the
people ever since last winter 1t has been
shown beyond doubt that the South Is as
solid for the payment Of these claims as it
is for Tilden 1t has been shown that eX-
rebels clamor vociferously for The pay
ment by the General Government of their
losses 10 the last dollar Now that the
country is alarmed at the menacing char
actcr Of this proposed raid upon the Treas
ury, and Mr.. Tilden feels the ground
sinking under him, he comes forward
with the tricky, pcttifogging plea that the
Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the pay
ment OF these claims. He knows that the
statement is untrue But, reduced to the
dire extremity of offering his personal
pledge to veto rebel claims bills in face of
the fact that he stands morally convicted
| of perjury, he seeks to bolster his failing
! reputation for veracity by the impudent
assumption that these claims are barred
/ by the Fourteenth Amendment. 1t will
not do, Fldcn There are bills for So
! DOC, 900, 600 of claims now pending in Con
/ greSs, against not one dollar of which the
/ Fourteenth Amendment can be set up.
I You know this To hc the fact, Mr. Tildcn
hence YOU offer the pledge of your naked
promise to interpose the veto power Is
your word good? Let us see ON the
2sth day of May last YOU filed with the
Secretary of State Il message or memoran-
dun in which YOU assumed 10 show what
retreuchments and reductions in taxation
had been effected by your Administration.
In that message occurs the following
Expenses paid out of the revenues and
funds of the State, though they do not in the
first instance affect the taxes, ultimately
come to that result when they have been re-
placed. They are, therefore, equally worthy
of attention.
REArPRoPRIArioNs.
These are paid cut of cash in the Treas
ur,;
1874 tS7S Sarirg.
SglLS7g NONE. S9!1.S79
This is a statement OF rrcord-a state
ment of your official record as Governor &,
and il is willfully, knowingly
false. On the 2Sth day of April Cess than
month before You Solemnly said, in a
state paper tina, there had been 20 reap
preparations in 1876 You signed reap
preparation bill fol $500 SOS. 50. On the
20lh DAY of May, only Eve days before the
date ct your false message, You signed a
bill rcappropriatiuE So. 600. On the very
day of the date of your false message, be-
fore the ink with which YOU signed your
name "a it WAS dry, you approved two re
appropriation bills aCgregatlng $4,000.
The word Of a man once torSworn l. for
ever after rs worthless rs the rihald slang
of the moral pronigate: " \ liar i not be
icyvd even when he tells the truth You
promise to veto Southern claims bills, Mr.
TldSn, But who will be your bondmcny
Who will take the word Of man for
sworn We know OF no other way 10
treat Mr. Tilden's letter than in
this frank, straightforward manner
He recognizes the necessity ot
removing tie conviction in the mind of
the American people that if he tTildenl
We're President he would approve bills 10
rob the Treasury for the benefit Of eN.reb-