Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-08-03

Gated. The simple statement of d
clsive facts In their chronological ol
der settles the matter. Mark thes
points:
l. Mr.. Tilden was Chairman {
the Democratic State Committee fror
1856 down through 1861, 'cs, 60, =
and II, the very hey-day of Tweed
Tammany thievery. and during al
that time he never, by word or aci
did anything to oppose or check thi
rascality. AS Chairman OF the Com
mittee he could not be ignorant of ii
II he was not in actual completely
yet he raised no arm to stop it.
III. As Chairman Of the State Com
mittee he received and acknowledge
the money of Tweed for political
purposes, when he knew ii was stole,
from the public treasury and il
1865 his name was associated with tn,
fiagitious scheme to cheat the peopl,
OF their rights and their chosen Off
GERS bygigantic frauds upon the ballot
box. Hes out tho famous circulal
which. asked the Democrats of the
interior to telegraph Immediately on
the close OF the polls the probable
vote In their localities In order that
Tweed might know how much 10
count up In New York In order to
overcome 1t.
III. Though thus prominent In
public affairs, he did not oppose any
of thefnfamous legislative measures
Of 1870 and III, under which the most
stupendous robbaries Of the Tweed
'Tammanyring wereperpetrated. We
say exactly what We mean. lie did
oppose the charter, but that was not
the fountain of the robberies at all.
The robberies were committed under
the Board Of Audit bill, the tax lev
les and similar measures, and we chal-
lenge tho production Of a word from
Tilden against any one OF them.
During these same years Of 1870 and
III, he stood side by side with Tweed
In the State conventions, and neither
said nor did II single thing In opposi-
tion TO his interests.
". The great explosion against
Tweed and his confe,lrates occurred
through the publication Of the Times
figures in July, III. Long before
that time Tweed's immense thefts
were known to every intelligent pol
itician, and had Mr.. Tilden been an
honest reformer" he should then
have resisted them. But even If
there had been any possibility OF
excuse for inaction before, there GER
tainly was none after tho Times ex-
posure. That gave crushing proof
il fixed the brand OF thievery so that
every man could see it; itseaIed tho
doom of the Ring. From that mo-
mant Tweed's overthrow was inevit-
able. Yet still Mr.. Tildcn was silent.
lie had not liftei a finger to strike mt
Tweed, and he did not even then.
V. The great meeting Of the citi-
zens OF New York against the Ring
WAS held September 18th, 1871. IL was
called out by tho startling exposure
of tho Rings colossal robbcries. ID
was irrespective OF party. IL was the
meeting where was appointed tho IA
NOUS Committee OF Seventy which
organized the campaign for tho over
throw Of the Ring. Every promi-
nent citizen OF New York Of either
party who was allied to tho cause OF
good government participated. Mr..
Tildcn was asked 10 take n part In
this anti ti-Ring, reform meeting, and
he refused. He did not yet, In spite
OF the popular movement, feel that II
was safe 10 declare against Tweed
and the Ring. In the State Conven-
tion Of tho Democratic party which
was held at Rochester a month later,
Tilden united i'm refusing to admit
the reform delegation which was OPP
posed 10 Tweed into the Convention
and pursued just tho course that
Tweed desired.
vi. At last, years after Tweed
character was fully known, months
after the overwhelming exposure,
weeks after the great popular upris-
ing, and when 10 was absolutely cer-
tain that Tweed's downfall was sure,
Mr.. Tilden took q safe position
against him and rendered some SER
vice towards his punishment. lie
was instrumental in presenting the
accounts Of tho Bradway bank hi
such way that they aided In socur-
ing tho legal conviction Of tho cub
prit. But this was not done until
the last Of October, long after TIE
overthrow OF Tweed had been as
sured.
such are the plain indispntabl'
facts. They show that Mr.. Tiiden WA
Chairman OF the State COMMITTEES
during the long period OF Tweed
worst rule that he co-operated witt
him In political work that he made
no opposition 10 his thievinf
schemes; that he di d absolutely moth
towards the overthrow OF Tweed
and that no never did aught agalns
him Till his downfall had already
been seen. We give Mr.. Tiidcn al
the credit he deserves. After Twees
was down, he did something To pun
ish him, but he did nothing to pu
him down.
Our Wasising t0n Letter.