The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-06-29


1 fhe country. But for these considers.
lfions Mr.. Tilden would have allowed
himself to be made the candidntesOf the
Democratic party for the Senate Of the
United States, q position more congo
NAL to his tastes, and for which his per-
sonal preferences were we'll known.
| He was nominated and elected. and
whatever lessons or elOqueHce could be
expressed In big majorities were not
wanting to lend their eclat to his tri-
umph. Mr.. Tilden's plurality over John
A. Dix, the Republican candidate, was
50, 1916. Mr. Dix had been elected two
years previously by a plurality OF SO, f51.
The first message of Gov. Tilden fora
Swallowed with distinctness the control
ling features Of his administration.
First--Reform In the Administration.
Second The restoration OF the finan-
cial principles and policy which tri-
umphed in the election Of jackson and
Van Buren,, and which left the country
without dollar Of Indebtedness to the
world and credit abroad with which
no other nation could then compete.
In furtherance Of his policy Of ad-
ministrative reform, he recommended n
revision Of the laws intended to provide
criminal punishment and civil remedies
for frauds by public officers and by per-
sons acting in completely with them.
These Communications, during the
same session carefully wrought into the
legislation OF the State, bore especially
upon those forms Of administrative
abuse which the exposure and arrest OF
William M. Tweed had recently re-
vealed, and also upon another and
kindred class OF abuses In the manage
ment Of our canals, with which the
Governor was already acquainted, but
Of which the public as yet had only an
imperfect realization.
But the feature of the message which
produced, perhaps, the most profound
impression, not only upon his. own Inn
mediate constituents, but upon the
whole nation, was that which related to
the financial policy of the Federal Cow
eminent. A generation had grown up
who had never seen or used any other
money than u printed promise Of the
Government. and it had become a wide
spread conviction among the aspiring
politicians Of both the great parties that
the current public opinion in favor of
an inflated and irredeemable currency
would overwhelm and destroy any pub
lie man who would attempt to stem it.
No convention of either party In any
State Of the Union had ventured the ex-
pertinent; the active leaders Of both had
either avoided or yielded to the current.
Mr.. Tilden deemed it his duty to loose
no time In advocating the only financial
policy which ever had insured or can
insure q substantial and enduring
national prosperity.
On the 10th OF March, and rs soon as
he had secured from the Legislature
such additional remedies for official de-
as were requisite for his
purpose, the Governor in a special mes
sage invited the attention OF the Legis.
lature to the mismanagement of the
canals.
He pointed out In this communication
with considerable detail the fraudulent
processes by which for an indefinite
period of years the State had been plum
aered, it's agents debauched, its politics
The fullness, boldness and directness of
his statements produced a profound inn
preston, not only throughout the State.
but throughout the country.
The Legislature, though containing in
both branches many of the most noto-
rious canal jobbers, and constituted
largely In that interest, was Obliged to
yield to the irresistible public.sentiment
which the Governors policy and mes
sage had awakened, and granted him
the authority to name such Il commits
SION. Inc results OF UUe luVeSblRHblO DS,
to him from time TO time
during the summer OF 1875 and to the
succeeding Legislature Of 1876, arrested
the system OF fraudulent
on the canals which he had
at the bar OF public opinion.
Through the adoption OF various other
financial measures upon his recon-
and by the discreet but
vigorous exercise OF che veto power, the !
Governor was fortunate enough to Sc
cure a reduction of the State tax-the
first year of his administration, about
seventeen per cent--and TO inaugurate a
financial policy by which the State tax,
which was seven and a-half mills on the
dollar of the assessed valuation when
he came into office, will be reduced to
four mills at least at the expiration of
his term Of two years, and at the expira-
ton OF the next succeeding year to not
ex ceeding three mills.
Mr.. Tilden is now In the sixty-third
year Of his age. He is five feet ten
inches in height, and he has what ply
Biologists call the purely nervous tenn
with It's usual accompaniment
Of spare figure, blue eyes and fair com
plexion. His hair, originally chestnut,
is now partially silvered with age.
sAt the Utica Convention resolutions
were passed presenting his name as a
candidate for the Presidency, and re-
luesting the delegates to vote as a unit.