The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-10-03


On Thursday evening of last week 8.
N. Cutcheon, of YpsiAnti, spoke in
Allegan, and during his speech read a
letter from an Episcopal Rector, form
erly of Detroit. and now of Manistee,
which discloses some facts which ought
to make every Dmeocrat hang his head
in shame when he is crying for Tilden
and reform. This reverend gentleman
lost leg in the United States service
and was subsequently engaged in tho
civil service at tho port of New York.
But the letter explains itself and We
give it as it appears in the ALegaa
Journal. II is as follows:
DETROIT, Mich, Aug. II, 1876.
SAMUEL PosT, Esq.-My Dear Sir:
Press of other matters demanding my
attention have caused me to delay put
ting in writing, as you desired, the
story / related to you Of an interview 1
once had with Samuel j. Tilden, the
Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency. The facts are as follows: "In
February, 1865, was discharged from
the United States volunteer army on
account of having lost leg in the
line of duty during the war Of the re-
hAllids, tvas IN tho city of Now York
and in March of the same year I was
appointed TO temporary clerkship in
internal revenue service. In June 1865,
the Office of Superintendent of the
EAPe..a and Drawbacks for the port of
New York was ceased. 4 was endorsed
for an appointment in this Office by the
Hon. Zachariah Chandler and the late
Judge Longyear who knew me person.
ally. / continued to perform tue duties
assigned to me in that Office until Oc-
tobar 1867. About thai time Mr.. w.
L. Warren, the Superintendent, Chan
whom q more unhinching Republican,
or a man of more unimpeachable integ-
rity and business capacity never held
oifice) was removed by the late Andrew
Johnson TO make way for a Democrat.
/ suspected there would be difficulty III
retaining my place and had talk with
the new Superintendent about the mat
ter. He told me that he wanted me to
remain at my desk, but that he would
not reappoint me without the indorse-
ment Of Samuel J. Tilden, then chair
man of the State Central Democratic
Committee.
He gave me q letter of, introduction
experience &C., for the place. called
on the great "9eformer, "(?) at his Of
flee in Nassau street, I Think Mr..
Tilden read the letter and then ask
cd me if was Democrat. 1 replied
in the negative. he inquired again, will
you vote the Democratic ticket this fall
and work in your district for that
party? / answered that would not.
In a sneering kind of tone he asked
what claim had for the place. / stat
ed in reply that had acquired consid-
erable experience in my particular
branches of the Civil Service;and that 1
had been instrumental in detecting on
morethap one occasion attempted frauds
on the Government, thereby saving the
Government several thousand dollars,
and that my work was done in a salts
factory manner. Added to this, said
fought to sustain the Government un-
der which you are now living in peace
and prosperity, and suffer the loss of q
leg, as you may see. q was then on
crutches.) Cestainly 1 might have q
chance to earn nay living in the Civil
Service after this. Mr.. Tilden flew in
to a violent passion and with the most
terrible profanity he cursed me for
having gone to the war. Bald 1t served
me right and pity L hadn't lost both
legs. He iusulted the memory OF the
hersic dead, who have fallen on our
battle fields. He cursed the living
witnesses and actors in that terrible
struggle.
Can any man who has a spark OF
patriotism in him vote to place such q
"copperhead" in the Presidential chair
Of our glorio ous Union cemented to-
gether by blood and unfaltering de-
votion?
Yours truly, L. w. FLOWER.