Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-10-06
JOHN A. DIx's OPINION OF TILDEN-
CUNNING BUT NOT H0NEsT-UNPA-
TRIOTIC, INSINCERE, AND WEAK.

history Of our country presents, delivered,
in New York city, on Tuesday evening, a
powerful and vigorous address to the "Boys
in Blue, discussing chiefly the record, char
acter, and qualifications of the Democratic
candidate for President. General Dix, like
Mr. Tilden, was a Democrat before the
War, but unlike Mr.. Tilden, he did not be-
lieve that the soldiers of the national Gov
ernment would be committing trespass il
they advanced to meet the rebel armies.
On the contrary he stood in the very front
rank of that most praiseworthy class OF
Democrats who would not betray the Union
for Slavery's sake, ,andIhe deserves not only
the chaplet of laurel with which the nation
has crowned him, but the grateful thanks
of people preserved from ruin and humil-
iation.
General Dix's speech on Mr.. Tilden is of |
more interest andimportance, from the rea
sons stated. His judgment is that of a War |
Democrat-one who cherishes in reality the |
Democratic principles which demagogues |
profess with their lips and insult by their
acts. His tests and measurements ap
applies them strictly and candidly. First,
said the old Governor, "let us consider Mr..
Tilden as a patriot for he who does not,
when his Government is in peril, come out
earnestly and openly in its defense, should
never be trusted to administer lt'-a senti
ment and conclusion Of logic 30 true that
it must wake an Amen in every American
Il. j / A.~ .~,,I,,, A1,ek
when, at the outbreak OF the rebellion, men
of all parties, in New York city, including
even August Belmont, VIM. Havemyer,
Oswald Ottendorfer, and many other DEM
ocrats, called meeting ''to uphold the
government of their country, and maintain
the authority of the constitution and the
laws" not only did not Mr.. Tilden sign the
call, not only was he absent from the meet
ing-which included, it was estimated, 250,
900 people, and was, III General Dix's Ian
guage, ''not only the greatest demonstra-
tion but the greatest occasion the world
ever saw"-but he refused to attend. Gen.
eral Dix said:
'I had from the lips OF Democrat Of the
highest character the statement that he
called on Mr.. Tilden aid urged him to unite
in it; chat Mr.. Tilden declined; that hI
begged Mr.. Tilden to reconsider his refusal
that he called on Mr.. TIlden the next da!
and renewed his request, and when Mr. Til
den again refused, he said to him, 'Iht
time will come when you will regret yon
determination Fellow citizens, the timt
has come and thank Heaven there is ut
statute of limitations for disIoyaity to th
Union"
But General Dix remarks with justice
that there was nothing surprising in Mr.
Tilden's course; his refusal to- attend
grand meeting where patriots were to form
new resolutions, and freshly pledge thei
sacred honor to the service of the Uniol
was both natural and consistent A yea
before, he had said in his letter to Judg
Kent that the trainers of the Consttutio
had left to the States power "to snap tn
tie of Confederation at will, and he coul
not take part in meeting held to proven
the rebellious States from that very act
All down through the war, Mr.. Tilder
said General Dix, did nothing for the Unior
mo word in favor of the war, no wor
against its authors has been quoted frol
any speech, document, or paper which en-
anated from his lips or his pen during th
whole course of the rebellion" At last,
1864, he joined, at the Chicago Convention
with the other members of the committ(
of resolutions, in framing and reportir
that now infamous declaration which pr
nounced the war failure, and demaudt
immediate efforts for cessation of hosti
ties. Now, Mr.. Tildens friends want to
ny3Jhat he joined in that resolve, but, aa
General Dix
e This resolution was reported to Il
Convention with the approval of all Il
members of the committee Mr. Guthri
of Kentucky, said the committee were una
imOus. Mr.. Tllden said there was no d
sent among the members; MIR. Brown,
Delaware, said they were unit from t
first; and Mr.. Smith, of Wisconsin Gall me
bers of the committee), said there was
difference. except upon mere matters of {
preston"
We cannot even summarize, much i
quote so copiously as we should like. @
Guiding his review of Mr.. Tilden's and
patriotic course, the old veteran conclu
that to elect him President would
60 proclaim to the country that
man who had refused to take part in its
fense In the darkest hour of its adver
in it's confidence, and crowned with
highest honors, as he who had faitht
sustained it by his counsels III the Cabii
or by facing Its enemies in the held.
forbid that the second century of cur
tlonal existence should commence v
such an impeachment of our intellige
and our Justice, and such rebuke to e'
sentiment of patriotic devotion !.
What, then, as reformer? Trie
the measure of patriotism, Mr. Tide
found unworthy. AS an administrato
civil duties has he better record
eral Dix describes2him as the ASSOCIATE
Tweed for years; as the chairman OF
party committee from 1867 to 1871, W
more than ever before, ..Tweed's robb
were boldly practiced under the party c.
as the accomplce in the fraud of 1868, '
10000 fraudulent votes went into the