Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-09-01
An Unexpected Development,
A Surprise to the Country.

lug the past week by most heApecteu
development relative to the democratic
candidate for the presidency. He is be-
ing put forward as "Retormer," while
the republicans claim that it is all a
sham and fraud, and now it is charged
that this "Retormer" has evaded his in
come tax, and thus himself defrauded
the government of rightful dues The
charge has created a most uncomfortable
sensation in democratic circles at Wash
ington and New York, and in fact over
the country. 1t appears that Tilden in
1862 gave in his income at S711S, and
made oath to it,when facts are now point
ing that he must have received from
$4,000 to 100000 1t appears that
he received $4,000 as fees from the
Terre Haute railroad alone And this
man "Reformer u
The first attempt to explain this mat
ter has been made by Tilden's private
secretary and failed, democrats and re-
publicans alike agreeing as to its fail
ure. The democratic New York World
promptly rebukes the feebleness of the
explanation" and thinks Tilden will
make an explanation in his own time.
Other democrats and other democratic
newspapers are outspoken upon this de-
velopment from whom we copy the fol-
lowing:
The Albany Times, Democratic pa
per speaks thus frankly of the necessity
for a complete refutation of the charge
"The charge has been made that Mr.
Tilden has perured' himself. in that he
has made contradictory affidavits on the
subject of his income. That charge has
not been met by those organs in which
the public would naturally look to find
an explanation. Mr.. Tilden stands be-
fore the country as the great 'reformer,
seeking the suffrages of the people as an
honest man who will rout fraud and cor
ruption wherever they are found.
Whatever may be true concerning Mr..
Tilden, we deem it but fair that a rea-
sonable time should be extended to him
in which to meet this charge with spe-
cifc denial. Mr. Ottendorfer of the
Stats Zeitung has the true conception
of the case, and expresses it as follows ::
IF Mr.. Tilden cannot give satisfactory
explanation in this matter he is certain
ly not fit candidate for the Presiden-
cy.' We will not only add that delays
sometimes prove dangerous. 1t should
be remembered that this is AN agrees
i've campaign, and the people may not
accept the faceIous remarks of journals
as an answer to the charge"
A democratic lawyer comments as fol-
lows upon the semi-official explanation
given by the Governors secretary
of that was all there was about it.
and if that is the best explanation which
the Governor, through his confidential
secretary. can make in reference to the
facts stated, then as a lawyer and "a con-
scientious man, | say that Samuel J.
Tilden was guilty of wilful, deliberate
perjury when he swore to his taxable in
come in the year referred to, leaving the
sum Of $4,000 received that year from
the Terre Haute Railroad Company out
of his statement. Will Mr.. Tilden or
Mr. Stebbins or the New York Herald,
or any one else for Mr.. Tilden, pretend
that if Mr.. Tilden had omitted to col
lect the interest upon his bonds and 9TH
er securities for number of consecutive
years, and consequently made no return
of any income from such sources during
those years, and then had, in one year,
collected the aggregate amount which
he had allowed to accumulate from year
to year, Gas Mr. Stebbins supposes to
have been the case in reference to Mr..
Tilden's fees in the case at bar and in
the latter year had made sworn re.
turn of his income, Intentionally omit.
ting therefrom the amount of such ag.
gregate interest, he could shelter him.
self behind such state of facts from a
charge of perjury for falsely stating the
amount of his income for that year, OF
that he could safely rest defence up
on that state of facts, to charge of hav
ing defrauded the Government of it,
dues ? And yet that is the defence
which Mr., Stebbins, the confidential
Secretary of Mr. Tilden, attempts t.
make for him. If that was all there
was about it, if that is the measure O
Tilden's Interpretation of the term hon
est and his measure of requirements t.
constitute an honest and truthful mar
and public officer and administrator, HI
falls too far short of what l, as private
citizen, lawyer, and an honest Demo
crat, regard as the necessary quantun
of moral sensibility to make him worthy
the confidence and support of any tru,