The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-08-26
Is SanHel ]. TildGl a Rsf0rmer /?
Testimony of the New York Times.

| ne newspaper from WHICH huDlUlneu
articles are copied, is the identical New Yorl
Times that is now published in the city o.
New York under that name and title. The
Samuel j. Tiden referred to in the following
extracts is the Samuel j. Tilden who is tht
Democratic candidate for President. Thii
explanation is deemed essential, because
without il, the readers Of the Times would fai
to recognize in the present "great apostle oi
sham REFORM" the very Samuel j. Tilden who
| but four years ago was called in the Time,
ian honest and high-toned Democrat" aud
''a gallant, conscientious and efficient foe Ia
corruption" And lest it might be presumed
rs the only rational solution to a transition
so phenomenal, that the Times has become
the property either Of the Canal Ring, or oi
| William NJ. Tweed, or Of Peter B. Sweeny,
or of George g. Barnard, the impeached and
dsfranchised Judge,-one and all, the NOR
tai enemies of Mr.. Tilden not loithOH cause,
1T is but proper to state, incredible though
the assertion may appear, that the persons
who at present own and control the New York
Times, are the same parties who owned and
controlled it at the various times when the
articles that follow were published. After
perusing these pages and comparing the PAN
egyrics on Mr.. Tiden that the Times sung so
loudly and persstently four years ago, with
the harsh diatribes with which its columns
are at preseut teeming, the question that will
naturally suggest itself to the reader is, "Did
the Times speak falsely four years ago, or
does it speak falsely nowY'
The position assumed by the Times toward
Mr.. Tilden during the present campaign is
not less absurd and ridiculous than if-sim-
ultaneously with its denuncatory articles
against Mr.. Tilden--it were TO publish lead
ing editorials laudiug to the skies the honesty
and integrity of William NJ. Tweed or Peter
B. Sweeny. The Times is as consistent in its
attacks on Mr.. Tilden, as it would be in
prasing the thieves Of the late Tammany
Ring.
The following extracts from the Times,
published in that journal at period when
Mr.. Tiden was private citizen; when there
existed not even the remotest probability OF
his holding any public Office whatever; when
if any person had prophesied that Mr.. Tilden
was destined to be the Governor of New York,
and, the Democratic candidate for President
Of the United States, he would have been
pronounced an idiot and when no motive nor
incentive was offered to distort the facts, or
prejudice honest conyictions-the extracts
published at such time and under those CON
ditious, in leading Republican newspaper,
are, beyond all question, entitled to the most
implicit belief by all fair. minded men.
Did Mr.. Tilden assist Tweed and Sweeny III
passing the "Ring Charter" through the
Legislature?
In 1870 the Tammany Ring by cOrrupting
the Legislature, secured the passage of what
is now called the "Ring Charter" by which
they were enabled to obtain undisputed con.
troll of the municipal government. 1t has
l. -A..l Al ...fkl
sent campaign, that although Mr.. Tilden was
fully aware Of the nefarious scheme, he held
his peace, stood aloof, and permitted its con-
summation without demonstrating against it.
Hearken to the Times of August II. 1871, in
an editorial on the subject:
"7here pere a .feW indignant protests against
the scheme uttered BY such high-toned Demo
Gratis as Samuel j. 1itden and Others of his
character, but they were without effect, for
Tweed and Sweeny had the voters already
bought up. OF oil the Republican Senators,
Senator Thayer alone is on record as voting
against it.
DID Mr.. TILDES OBEY TwEED's ORDERS?
On October 8, 1871, the Democratic State
Convention assembled at Rochester to nomi-
nate State officers. There were two contend
ing delegations from New York city the
Tweed and Sweeny delegation, or Tammany,
and the anti-Tammany. As this Convention
was held in the midst of the great excitement
that succeeded the exposures of the enormous
frauds perpetrated by the Ring, it was cur
rently reported that the Tammany delegation
would not be admitted to seats in the Con.
vention. The day before the Convention met,
the Times published the following from its
correspondent at Rochester:
"The old guard are coming to the front
again, and such men as Horatio Seymour,
Samuel J. Tilden, Francis Herman, and the
like, who have been thrust aside for years
past by the thieves and bulies of Tammany
Hall, will tomorrow guide the councils Of
the Democracy.
Let the fact be noted and remembered that
the Times here admits that Messrs. Seymour,
Tilden and Herman were thrust aside from
the control of party politics in the State for
years, by the scoundrels Of the Tweed and
Sweeny ring.
DID Mr.. TiLDES PROVE HIMSELF 4 SELFISH
POLITICIAN?
In the Times of October 6, the Times, in
its report Of the proceedings of the Conyen.
ton, says:
"Mr. Tilden proceeded to denounce the
Tammany organization, and declared that he
would not, this FALL vote for any af the nom
nations for Assembly made by that organi-
zation, and if that was undemocratic or irreg-
uar, he would resign his position as Chair.
man of the State Committee, and retire to
the bosom of his plundered fellow citizens. "
The Times correspondent, in describing
the effect of the above speech on the Conven.
ton, and the unpopular reception ii met with,
wrote:
GAS further and conclusive evidence of this
fact, it should be noted that when Mr.. Tilden
told the Convention that he should go back
to New York and work and vote against every
local candidate nominated by Tammany Hall,
he was greeted with a storm Of Kisses, accom-.
panied by very feeble applause.
Aud in the report of the proceedings of the
same date, the following were the editorial
comments of the Times on the course pursued
by Mr.. Tilden at the Convention
"There would be no doubt where gentle
man of Mr.. Samuel ]. Tilden's character
would be found in such a contest as this. He
tried every argument and every expedient to
induce the Convention to come before the
people with clean hands. No portion of the
blame for the suicidal course OF the Conven-
ton attaches to him. He did all that an
honest and high,minded man could do to save
his party from wallowing in Tweeds sty.
WAS Mr.. TIIDES A SHAN REFoRNER?
The Convention over, and Mr.. Tilden re.
rurned to the city, to resume the arduous and
delecate work OF examining the books Of the
Broadway Bank, where the accounts of
Tweed, Garvey, Ingersoll and the other plum.
derers were kept. On October 18th, 1871,
the Times published the following
"Mr. Samuel J. Tilden, on behalf of the
Committee Of Seventy, has concluded his ex-
animation of the books Of the bank in refer.
ence to the Citys accounts, and is now en-
gagged in the preparation ofhisreport thereon.
The publication Of this report will be looked
forward to by the public with eagerness, and
by the thieves Of the Ring with fear. There
have been grave difficulties to overcome in
the tracing Of the stolen money. The bills,
certificates and vouchers in the Controllers
Office have been found apparently all right,
and it was left to the books of the Ring 8
Bank to find and fasten the men who have
profited by the losses Of the city. The forth.
coming report of Mr.. Tilden will settle this,
will set this and many other matters straight,
and it is possible that the golden circle will
find 1t necessary to devote more time here
after to their own salvation and less to the
annoyance Of the Deputy Controller"