Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-09-28
TILDEN AND THE SOLDIERS,
A Startling Statement by an Episcopal
Minister.

Minister.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Sept. 21.-The
most sensational feature of the great
reunion in this city of the Boys in
Blue, has been the exposure by the
Rev. E. w. Flower, Episcopal minis
ter, Of Detroit, Of Sam. Tilden's
hatred for Union soldiers. The Rev.
Mr.. Flower served during the war as
a soldier in the Eighth Michigan In
fantry. At Spottsylvania Court
House, Virginia, his left leg was shot
off by the rebels. In 1865 he was
discharged from the United States
volunteer army, and the same year
was appointed to clerkship in the
internal revenue service at New York,
and afterwards transferred to the
customs service on the recommends
ton of Senator Chandler, of Michi-
gan. In 1867, Andy Johnson, having
accidentally become President OF the
United States, turned over to Sam.
J. Tilden, then Chairman OF the New
York Democratic State Committee,
the government patronage; and that
great resormer at once removed all
Of Mr.. Lincoln's appointees and re-
placed them with good sound reform
Democrats. Among others removed
was Mr.. Flower. That gentleman's
experience with Mr.. Tilden is given
in the following letter to Mr.. Samuel
Post, Pension Agent at Detroit, which
was read last evening from the bal
cony of the Bates House by Senator
Logan, OF Illinois. Mr.. Flower was
present during the reading of the let
ter, and, when Senator Logan had
concluded his remarks. verified its
contents. Subsequently Mr.. Flower
was vouched FOR by the Hon. s. ID.
Bingham, Chairman OF the Michigan
State Republican Committee, and
Gen. Trowbridge, Collector OF the
Port of Detroit The reading Of the
letter created tremendous excitement
among the veterans present, and Is
the talk of the town to-day. The fol-
lowing is a copy of the letter, the
original Of which is in the possession
OF Col. William A. Gavitt, of the
United States Treasury Department:
DETROIT. Mich, Aug. 10, 1876
Samuel Post, Esq.-MY DEAR SIR:
Press of other matters demanding
my attention has caused me to delay
putting in writing, as you desired,
the story related to you of an inter-
view I once had with Samuel j. Til
den, the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency.
The facts are as follows: In Feb
ruary, 1865. was discharged from the
United States volunteer army on ac-
Of having lost a leg in the line Of
duty during the war OF the rebellion.
was in the city OF New York, and
in March OF the same year / was ap-
pointed to temporary clerkship in
the internal revenue service. In
June, 1866, the Office of Superintend-
emit of Exports and Drawbacks for
the port Of New York was created. I
was Endorsed for an appointment in
this Office by the Hon. Zach. Chand-
Ter and the late Judge Longyear, who
knew me personally.
/ continued to perform the duties
assigned me in this Office till Octo-
Der, 1867. About that time Mr.. w.
f. Warren, the Superintendent (than
whom a more unfiinching Republican,
or man Of more unimpeachable in
tegrity and business capacity never
held office, was removed by the late
Democrat. / suspected there would
be difficulty in retaining my place,
and had talk with the new Superin-
tendent about the matter.
He told me that he wanted me to
remain at my desk, but that he could
not reappoint me without the en-
dorsement Of Samuel J. Tilden, then
Chairman OF the State Central Demo-
cratic Committee. He gave me a let
ter of introduction to Tilden, stating
my qualifications, experience, etc.,
for the place.
I called on the great Reformer" I'D
at his Office in Nassau street q think. J
Mr.. Tilden read the letter, and then
asked me il were a Democrat
replied in the negative. He inquired
again, viii you vote the Democratic
ticket this fall, and work In your dis
trict for that party?" L answered that
/ could not.
In sneering kind OF tone he asked
what claim / had on him for the
place.
I statedin reply that I had acquired
considerable valuable experience in
my particular branch of the civil ser
vice, that 1 had been instrumental in
detecting, on more than one occasion,
attempted frauds on the government,
thereby saving the government sew
eral thousands OF dollars, and that
my work lad been done in satisfac-
tory manner Added to this, said !:
II fought to sustain the government
under which you are now living in
peace and prosperity, and suffered the
loss of leg, as you can see." 0was
there on crutches) Certainly I
might have a chance of earning my
living in the civil service after this"
Mr.. Tilden flew into violent pas
sion, and with the most terrible pro-
family he cursed me for hauirg gone
to the car; said il served me right,
and IL tsas pity L hadn't lost both
tegsi He irasulted the memory of the
heroic dead teho had fallen on our
battle fields /; he cursed the Irving lcit-
nesses and actors IN that terrible
struggle
Can any man who has spark of
patriotism in him vote to place such
q heartless ~Copperhead" in the Presi-