Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-06
Gov. Tilden as a Patriot.

We copy the following from the speech Of Gen
Dix At Cooper Institute last Tuesday evening, ad
dressed to a crowded meeting of Boys in Blue, In
which the unpatriotic course of General Tilden in
the time of the war i, stated in plain times.
Let us consider Gov. Tilden in the first place as
patriot; for he who does not, when his Govern
ment is in peril, come out openly and earnestly in
Its defense, should be trusted TO administer
it. No man ever had better opportunity to prove
his fidelity to the country than he had at the out
break Of the rebellion, when the city of New
York came forth with an enthusiasm never sur
passed to save the Union from destruction. II
was, in truth, the very crisis Of our fate for
Washington was almost defenceless, and there
was imminent danger that 1t would be seized, with
the public archives, by the secessonsts II was to
avert this apprehe nded disaster, which would have
made them the de facto Government that the city
of New York was appealed TO by the Administra-
ton FOR aid. There was preliminary meeting at
the Chamber of Commerce on the 18th Of April,
1861, when notice, which will read to you, was
agreed on:
"The undersigned invite their fellow. citizens of
New York and its vicinity, without regard to pre-
vious political opinions or associations, to eet at
such time and place as may be arranged hereafter,
to express their sentiments in the present crisis of
our national affairs and their determination to up
hold the government Of their country, and main
tain the authority Of the Constitution and the
laws"
All Of the notice after the word determine
tion" was printed in the newspapers in capital
letters. Appended to it were the well known
names of Fish, Phelps, Sloan, Cooper, Evarts,
Minturn, Bancroft, Brsdish, Draper, Astor, Bel
mont, Hunt, Opdyke Morgan, Chittenden, Dodge,
Marshall, Blunt, Ruggles, HaveDeyer , Butler,
Hoffman, Stevens, Winston, Duer, Ottendorfer,
Grnnell, Gallatin, King, Wsdsworth, and several
hundred other prominent citizens, indicating a
harmonious fusion Of the political elements. The
meeting was beld 10 Union square on Saturday,
the 2oIh Of April. 1t bore for years the name Of
the monster meeting. 1t was asserted and believed
that there were quarter of a million OF human
beings In the square and the streets leading into
H. IL was not only the greatest demonstration but
the greatest occasion the world ever saw. 1t was
TO determine whether Government extending its
protecting arm over more than thirty millions of
people should be upheld or overthrown .bv trait
ors. The presiding officers chair which had
the honor OF hlllng, was opposite the equestrian
statue of Washington, in whose hand was held
the tattered flag brought by Major Anderson and
his heroic band from Fort Sumter The excite
ment prevailed all classes and all ages. No man
with spark of patriotism 10 his heat could have
resisted it. / read TO the meeting noble letter
from Bishop Hughes. 1t was addressed by the
most eminent men of all parties. The Mayor,
Fernando Wood, was present and made patriot
&c speech. l remember he declared that if the
rebel nag, as q Confederate Secretary of War had
boosted, would fly over Faneuil Hall, "it would
be carried over the dead body of every citizen OF
New York" lie ought to have excepted the body
OF one citizen, who, shall see, refused to at
tend the meeting. At the tia,e of this great pa
triotic demonstration Jefferson Davis had issued
ais proclamation Of secession, and called for the
service OF priyaieers to depredate on our COM
merce. The first rebel loan of five million to des-
troy the Union war reported to have been taken.
The outrage on Fort Sumter, had been comsumat-
ed. Our arsenals, minis, forts, and revenue cut
tiers in the South had been seized, and the ration
al flag had been trampled under foot. The rail-
road had been torn up at Baltimore few days be-
fore, and Massachusetts regiment on its way to
Washington to defend the Capital had been as.
ssuited and several Of its members killed and
wounded.
Now. appeal to you to say fellow-citise ms, and
sd ess myself TO all without regard to political as
socistions whether any man In whose breast there