New-York tribune., 1876-06-29
TIE CANDIDATE.
SAMUEL j. TILDEN.


Puritan stoeG one of his ancestors Nathaniel Tdeh,
was Mayor Of the City OF TenteIden, Kent England In
1923 He was succeeded in that office by his eoa In
John as he had preceded by his uncle John IN l5S3
and 1900 In 1884 with nue Other gentlemen OF hah''
Nathaniel sailed for America the snip Ann, and Wa
cne Of tho fOun ers OF the town OF scitie, Mass his
Hannah Bourne. one OF whose sisters marreG
brother of Gov Winsow aud another s0n Of Gov.
bradford. brother Joseph TlGen was one Of tn
ccnsignors Of the May Flower, AMI among his "a
sociates was Timothy Hatherby. VINO afIervard mar
ned the widow OF Nathaniel, and leading citizen
Of Scituatc until expelled from pdbc life for refusing to
ptrsecute the Quakers Gov. fldens grandfather John
Tlden came from Connecticut IN 1880 and settled In
Columbia County, " sIo, then the residence of this
branch Of family His father farmer and mer
chant OF New-Lebanon, and man OF great natural
ability ard sound practical sense. HE mother wac
descended from VIM Jones, observation-disclosures OF the
Colony Of New Haven. When Samuel fitted TO ener
Yale College his father had already become prOmins AZ
man In his county, and the correspondent and in-
tmats friend " silas Wright Martin Van Buren, Michae
Hoffman, the LiyingsOns, WIN. Marcy, and other lead
ing politicians OF that day. BY these asso-
citations young Tdcn WAS inspired 20 become student
Of tue great questions Of government and political
afae At the age OF Is he prepared TOR college.
In the campaign OF that year. which resulted in the re-
.ieton of President Jackson, there was coalition be-
tween the National Rcpubl lcans and the AntiMasons.
The # the Democratic party depended on the
breaking this coalition. Young Tilden who had even
then mastered the leading questions OF government,
quietly analysis of the political SITUATION, show
ing that there could be no honest alliance 1t was pub
Ishod in The Albany Argus, and at once attributed to
tie pen Martin Van Buren, the Democratic candidate
for Wee President This was of denied in self
defense, aud when the real author was discovered,
Il brought hin at iuto full fellowship
with all his fathers distinguished friends Ii gave him
high rank among seniors Of the party. which lie held
for period OF twenty years, until the death OF Dean
Richmond, when he became its leaier
Two years later he entered Yale College, year In cd
vance of the noted class in which Wm NJ Evdrts,
Clie,Justce Waite Judge Perrepont and Profs Lyman
and srlmdn Here he became proficient in all branches,
but continued his studies with such close Application that
he obliged 10 leave college before completing MS
course His health seemed irretIievaby gone. and ne
taken home by his father, without any idea OF re-
turning After some rest suitable treatment however
he 80 his be allie to make several
speeches in the Fall upon Gen. Jacksos great contest
with tie Bank OF the United States In 1854 be entered
the University OF NewYUrk, where he cOmpleted GiS
academic education. He then ertcred the law office Fl
the iae judge John W. EdmOnds this city, where he
eniOyed peculiar fscl ties for the prosecution Of his
fayoIite studies OF law and politics. The accession OI
Martin Van Buren to the Presidency IN 1887 as fol-
lowed by the trying financial reyuison that had
yet OccLrred in history During Mr. Tlldens sum
vacation tue University the President Issued
message calling for special session OF Congress and
recommending the separation of the Government from
the Treasury, and the creation Ot fiscal sys-
ten known as the Independent Treasury Ilis
measure provoked vOluminOus and acrmoni-
ous debate throughout the country. In September
se-es of papers, sigued Marshall" appeared in The
Abaay Argas coutesting the wisdom of the Presidents
and inviting resistance 10 their adop-
ton. Mr. Tilien defended the Presidents policy IN
series OF articles signed Crno which were for long
fine attributed 70 tue pen oil Esek Cowsn then one OF
the Justices OF tae Supreme Court OF the State. His
nN, In .l4 nfl
also added his growing fame as public debatcr
Upon his admission the bar. Mr. Ullen opened an
Office Piuo-si, which will long be remembered as a
favoIite for the leading Democrats In 1914 be
founded, in connection with John L. OSullyan, news
paper called Tie Daily Neos The journal was
a success, and had great influence IN the Pres
idential campaign. After the election Mr.. rlden
presented his entire interest in the property 10
his colleague IN 1916 Mr. Tiidcn returned from
this city as member OF the Assembly "a also 40
member Of the Constitutional Convention In all the
Important discussions in tine two revisous OF thc
State Constitution of 1916 and 1867 Mr. Tlden bore
conspicuous part. About this time tlS47 various cir
cumsances resulted Mr. Tlden's partial withdrawal
from politics. He devoted himself to his profession,
anl it not many years before hc became as well
known at the bar le had before been known "a poll
tcau He inherited fortune aud hs labors tor the
State and in ais had not thus iar been lucr
tive. From 1857 until 1869 politics was not allowed To
Interfere with his professional duties. During THIS
lucrative practice the country conducted By any sin
Gle lawyer His is imperishably associated with
some Of remarkable forensic struggles OF our
time. His connection with the Burtell-Cunnng-
ham case will be wellsremombered More than half tins
railroad enterprises of West, north Of the OHIO and
be ween the Hudson and Missouri Rivers, during the
last twenty years have in way another stood In
the relation OF centage to MI Tilden lie had also in
this long period made thorough study of all the ella
both canals and raroaI to the interests Of the
people and the state.
During the hight Of the power OF the Tweed Ring
IN 1869 an effort made to supersede hiIu
as the head OF the State Committee TO which he had sue
ceeded on the death OF Dean Richmoad. He accepted
the contest and sustained by nearly seveneghthS
OF the Convention. Early 1870 began the celebrated
controversy concerning the new charter Of the CITY
of New-Yolk Although standing well nigh alone, Mr.
Tllden went TO Albany, and on prl II, 1870 made
speech in scaing denuncaon Of the charter which re-
stored the Tweed dynasty 70 power not by the vote OF
the people but by the vote OF the legislature Bribery,
however had been successfully carried on that the
bill passed unanimously and under it the notor-
ous robbery occurred In l5l he led the re-
volt of 10000 Democrats against the Ring and openly
announced the Democratic state Convention that he
should oppose the Tweed nominees, and endeavor 10
crush their power in the legislative bodies OF the state
He further declared that If this were considered
ire ;ulag would resign his chairnanshp Of the State
Committee and, going among Lis pluBdered eilowclu-
gems make common cause with them for emancipation.
That Autumn he elected TO the Assembly for the ex-
press purpose Of punyng the Judiciary His success IN
that direction well known TO be dwet upon here
by his famous anay OF the accounts OF the broadway
Bank aud silnar Investigations. lie furnished all the
judicial evidence by wnch the suits against the Ring
could be ma.ntaind. After his ardlOus labors IN this
cause Mr.. Tden made short visit 10 Europe in 1873,
his only extcIded vacation tOr a score o: years.
BY MS bold acts against the Ring, Mr. Tilden made
himself prominent the WORK of Reform and in 1874
tho n.ftll pFptna