The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-09-08
From the Detroit Tribune.

published proofs Of the charge that Mr.. Tilder
had for years Systematically defrauded the
Government out of his just share OF income
tax, and had in one of these years accomplish.
cd that fraud by perjury. That accusation
has made the tour Of the country and has every
where excited the wonder and indignation OF
honest men of both parties. No plea has been
urged IN extenuaton OF the charge against
Gov. Tilden save one that virtually confesses
judgment. No democratic newspaper has at
tempted any excuse for the cheating OF the
Government aud his false swearing which does
any more than show the low moral ideal on
which the Tilden organs are conducting their
campaign Of so-called reform According to
the Evening Post the gentleman in charge OF
the Democratic headquarters announced yes
terday that the National Committee would take
steps to answer the damaging charges against
their candidate as soon rs the foes or the party
had exhausted their ammunition and finish
cd their onset After that, we may look, II
seems, for attack and discontinue. Another
person attached to the Tilden Bureau said that
at all az II did not lie WITHIN their jurisdiction.
On the whole. it looks az If we should have to
fall back on the feebly-expressed hope OF the
World that Mr.. Tiden, in his own way and at
bis OWE time, will think it not unbecoming his
position as the candidate Of great party for
the first Office in the land, to set his foot on
the charges When he does, he may not im-
probably find them explosive"
The following are the editorial comments Of
the New York Tribune on the matter:
- The behavior of those who speak for Mr..
Tllden as his especial champions and friends,
is far more damaging than the evidence yet ad-
ducel. They treat the matter fippantly and
contemptuously, as if it we're not an objection
in the estimation Of honest citizens that can
didate for Presidency had evaded taxes or made
false returns. Or they explain that the large
sums received i, 1862. and subsequent years,
were really earned by many years OF profess
aional effort. Unhappily, this excuse Is so
shallow that, If 1t could be supposed to be made
by Mr. Tilden himself, it would justify an alb
solute refusal OF confidence In HIM as an up
right and law-abiding citizen; for he beng an
excellent lawyer must have known from the
first that the courts would construe the
Excise law, as they have repeatedly construed
il, as covering the amount actually received
during year, no matter when earned. IL Mr..
Tilden made a return based upon different
Interpretation OF the law. he made return
which he knew was not according to the intent
and judicial construction OF the act. Unhap-
PLY, forced construction OF law. for the pur-
pose OF evading taxes, were not altogether rare
during the war, and they were not quite con-
fined TO those who dissented from the Govern
ment but the fact remains that they were not
in accordance with legal Obligations or strict in
tegrity.
W.
take If they presume that the country cares
nothing about such evasions. Public opinion
has not been very swift 10 condemn them, II is
true. But we have all been waking to the fact
that demoralized public opinion did not
properly condemn many dishonest acts. Pub
lie opinion in st. Louis, for instance, did not
30 condemn men who we're known to be man
aging the whiskey ring some OF them held Of
fee, some were recognized leaders OF party,
and two or three edited newspapers, He
would be a bold man who would propose to
rely upon the same standard OF public opinion
there to-day. No doubt the conspirators man.
aged to satisfy conscience, by some excuse OF
motive or technical evasion. But they were
defIauding the Government, and no party
could now be driven to elect one OF them to the
Presidency. Unless Mr.. Tilden can show that
lie did not defraud the Government, his friends
will only involve themselves in his fate by treat
ing such an accusation as II 1t were trlfie.
The people are disposed to elect thoroughly
honest and upright man this year, and they will
not elect Mr.. Tilden ii it appears that he placed
a forced and unlawful construction upon the
Excise act, IN order to escape taxation. For
bis own sake, if not for the sake OF his party,
be should show higher sense OF honesty than
bis most active supporters are showing"
The Chicago Inter-Ocean also publishes this
letter from prominent citizen OF that town:
TO the Editor of the Inter-Ocean
You have called attention to the discrepancy
between the sworn income returns OF Samuel
d, Tilden for 1862 and his sworn answer in
ohancery to the suit OF the st. Louis, Alton
and Terre Haute Railroad Company, in the
first OF which he gives his income at S7,11S,
and in the latter he says he received in one suit
500, 600 In that year.
give you the following facts as the basis of
inquiries herein contained, and that those who
are curious to know more may be directed to
sources OF information.
At a meeting Of bondholder, etc., of the |
Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad
COMPANY held at the Office OF Winslow, Lanier !
and Co., So Wall street. New York, October 20, |
1860, a plan was adopted for selling out the |
road on certain mortgages and at the same |
time S. j. Tilden with j. +. ID. Lamar and L, |
q. Myer, OF New York, aud Samuel Hanna, Of
Indiana, and J. Edgar Thompson Of Philadel-
phia) was appointed purchasing agent to buy |
IN the property OF the road for the benefit OF |
he parties entering into the scheme. The road |
was sold to these agents October Oath, 1861,
18th, 1862. A new company was formed pur-
suant to the plan February 18th, 1862.
The purchasing agents, Tilden and others |
made final deed to the new compa-
ny March End, 1862. April 10th, 1862, the final
settlements between the agents and company
was made, and on May LIST, 1862, the road
passed INTO the full control OF the new compa-
oy Except that TIlden's name was inserted in
he mortgages given TO secure the new bonds
Of the new company his connection with the
matter seems TO have ended on or before May
st. 1862.
Did Tllden do this business for nothing. or
nd he receive pay for the same and il he re-
eived pay, did he not receive IL in 1862 when
he business was completed; and II he did re-
GIVE compensation for this job in 1862, has he
exported Il as a part Of his income for that
ear and If he has not reported 1t, had he not
,etter do a little reforming" right at this
Joint for the benefit OF the Government which
le is 20 anxious to server
The facts gwen above came to my know
edge a. the attorney OF Patrick T, Clifford, OF
'orter County, Ind, who was creditor Of the
riginal company for construction OF the road.
lis claim was among those attempted to be
at of. After obtaining judgment in Port
r county, Ind, March 4th, 1867, for S3, 200
raInst the old COMPANY, Clifford fled bill in I
ook county. ILL.,, to set aside the sale 10 I'll !
en- and others, and the conveyance by them to