Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-10-04
TILDEN's PATRIOTISM.
A Startling Disclosure Mad |.
by am Episcopal Clergyman.
His Brutal Copperheadism Shown
Against the Soldiers.
Special 10 the ChicaQo Tribune,

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Sept. 2l-The
most sensational feature of the great
reunion in this city of the Boys in
Blue, has been the exposure by the
Rev. +. w. Flower, Episcopal minis
ter Of Detroit, of Sam. Tilden's hatred
for Union soldiers. The Rev. Mr..
Flower served during the war as a
soldier in the Eight Michigan Infant.
ry. At Spottsylvania Court House,
Virginia, his left leg was shot OFT by
the rebels. In 1865 he was discharged
from the United States volunteers,
and the same year was appointed to
a clerkship in the internal revenue
service at New York, and afterwards
was transferred to the custom service
on the recommendation Of Senator
Chandler, OF Michigan. In 1867,
Andy johnson having accidentally
become President Of the United States
turned over to Samuel ). Tilden, then
chairman Of the New York Demo.
cratic State Committee, the govern
ment patronage, and that great re.
former at once removed all of Mr..
I4incoln's appointees and replaced
them with good, sound reform dem.
Ocrats. Among others removed was
Mr.. Flower. That gentleman's ex-
perience with Mr.. Tilden is given in
the following letter TO Mr.. Samuel
Post, Pension agent at Detroit, which
was read last evening from the bal
eony of the Bates House by Senator
Logan, of Illinois. Mr.. Flower was
present during the reading of the let
ter, and when Senator Logan con-
Guided his remarks, verified its con-
tents. Subsequently Mr.. Flower was
vouched for by the Hon. S. d.
Bingham, Chairman of the Michigan
State Republican Committee, and
General Trowbridge, Collector of the
port of Detroit. The reading of the
letter created tremendous Excitement
among the veterans present, and is
the talk of the town to-day. The
following is copy of the letter, the
original of which is in the possession
of Col. William A. Gavitt, of the
United States Treasury Department |:
DETROIT, MICH, Aug. 10, 1876
SAMUEL PosT, EsQ.-My DEAR SIR
Press of other matters demanding my
attention has caused me to delay put
ting in writing, as you desired, the
story l related to yOu of an interview
I once had with Samuel Tildcn, the
democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency.
The facts are as follows: In Feb
ruary, 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
rebellion. h qW u org ,
I was in the City of New York, and
in March of the same year was APP
pointed to clerkship in the internal
revenue service. In june, 1865, the
Office of Superintendent of Exports
and Draw backs for the port of New
York was created. was Endorsed
for an appointment in this Office by
the Hon. Zach Chandler and the late
Judge Longyear, who knew me per-
sonally.
continued to perform the duties
assigned me in this Office until Octo-
Der, 1867. About that time Mr.. w.
F. Warren, the Superintendent (than
whom more unfiinching republican
or man of more unimpeacha BILE integ-
rity and business capacity never held
ofiice), was removed by the late An
drew johnson to make way for a
Democrat suspected there would
be difficulty in retaining my place,
and had talk with the new Super
intendent about the matter.
He told me that he wanted me to
remain ut my desk, but that he could
not re-appoint me without the en-
Of Samuel j. Tilden, Chair
man of the Democratic State Central
He gave me letter of
to Tilden, stating my
qualifications, experience, etc., for the
place.
/ called on the "great rcformer" { p
at his office in Nassau street Il think).
Mr.. Tilden read the letter and then
asked me if was democrat. ! re-
Piled in the negative. He inquired
again, "Will you vote the democratic
ticket this fall, and work for il in
your district ?" ! replied that ] could
not.
In sncering kind of tone he asked
me what claim had on him for the
place.
stated in reply that had acquired
valuable experience in
my particular branch of the civil SER.
vice, that had been instrumental in
detecting, on more than one occasion,
attempted frauds on the government,
thereby saving the government sever
eral thousands of dollars, and that
my work had been done in a satisfac-
tory manner. Added to this, I said
81 fonght to sustain the government !