The Van Buren press., 1876-09-12
THE VOICE OF A TRUE MAN.
Gen. w. +. Bartlett. of Massachusetts,
declares for Tilden and Reform.

The Boston Post says: Among the
people of Berkshire cunnty there is per.
laps no one whose sentiments on politi
al topics are entitled to greater weight
than are those Of Gen. Bartlett His gal
ant services during the war. and his wide
reputation AS an able, conscientious, and
upright citizen since the surrender at Ap
pomattox have secured for him warm
place in the hearts Of his countrymen
Gen. Bartlett has been well-known hith
erto as belonging to that class of indie
pendent voters, and that these people
may know the sentiments Vt So distin
suisheda member OF their ranks, | am
kindly permitted to make public the sub
stance of brief interview which had
with the General, to-day.
Il have no hesitation in saving that |
am earnestly and heartily in favor of the
election Of Tilden and Hendricks" said
Gen. Bartlett, in answer to question rs
to his position in the present campaign.
{" think the early prosperity and well
fare of the country are entirely depend
ent ON their success"
"Do you think you express tie senti
ments of the class OF voters to which
you helnngY' | asked.
Whether they are the sentiments of
a majority of the independent voters OF
the .,,nntry. am nut able to say" re
Piled Gen nartIett; !" but they seem to
be entirely consistent with what I regard
as the platform Of the Independent reior.
mers. aatnely the F's.h Avenue Address
| entirely AZ ee with h.. P-.a.- G.,dwin.
in his Interpretation of that address.
Mr. Hayes may be very respectable
gentleman, but in my opinion he is nev-
ertheless the man described in the ad-
dress as the man whs ought not to be
nominated. While Gov Tilden appears
to me to be exactly til. kind of man
which the address described as the man
who ought to be nominated As Gov
ernor OF New York, he has shown that
be possesses both tie ability and the
courage to institute md carry out the
reforms which are somuch needed in the
administration Of tht national Govern.
ment, aud which the people SO earnestly
desire. To quote tn, address His Ca.
pacity and courage fer the work of re.
form are matters of 'ecord rather than
of promise,
Then you have no faith in the prom
ises made by Gov Hayes in his letter of
acceptancer =
"Gov. Hayes may mean we'll enough,
but LOOK at the men vho are supporting
him! Does anybody suppose that III the
event of his election, Gov Hayes is
going to say to Mr. Blaine. Mr., Chand.
Ter. Mr. Morton, Mr.. Conkling. Gen But
Ter and the rest of them, You are the
men whG have brought the country into
dis sgrace,' and then turn his back upon
them? Such appsitlon is absurd on the
very face OF it Look a, Gen. Kllpat
rick s letter to Gov Haycs That shows
the kind Of meh that are supporting the
Republican candidates l regard that
letter as simply infamous, aud il it can
be shown that Gov. Hayes received the
letter without denouncng it's author
openly at once, it ought to defeat him by
ITSELF
" Being a soldier, yourself. General,
what is YOU opinion of Gen Dlx's cir.
eular calling for the organization Of the
Boys in Blue to aid in the election OF
Gov Hay es %
=. That rireular" relliad the General
forclbly, is simply Infamous, and j,
viii hurt Gov Hayes aud his case faI
more than it can help him. ! am conf.
dent that the soldiers who carried a mus
ket IN the army will not be influenced by
any such appeals. Inc war is over, and
what the country wants is peace and good
feeling through all sections | notice,
by the way continued Gen. Bartlett
that some of my independent f lends, in
cludng Carl Schurz, who joined the Lib
eral party. IN 1872, and cordially sup.
ported Mr. Greeley, now attempt to ex.
plain their opposition to Mr.. Tilden. by
stating that they fear the influence of the
ex contederates, in case Mr.. Tilden is
elected. Now, the absurdity Of this ex.
cuse APP ears when it is suggested tina,
they did not entertain those fears in 1879
when they obtained in ten fold proper
tlon to what they do now
In further conversation, Gen Bartlett,
expressed himself somewhat disappoint.
ed At the attitude taken Dy such men as
the Hon Car, Schurz and Mr., Brstow in
the present campaign. He did not See
how it was possible for them to overlook
the influences which are ut work for Gov
Hayes, and having observed them, they
could scarcely fail to see what the resul,
of such influence would be on Gov
Hayes administration. In conclusion,
the General spoke in terms Of highes,
praise of Gov. Tilden's reform record,
and his noble and statesmanlike quail
ties He was satisfied in his own mind
that Gov Tllden was an earnest sympa.
tlizer with the cause of the Union du.
ring the war, and the attempts Of the re-
publicans TO prove anything else, only
showed in what desperate straits they
were placed He suspected the repubi
cans were conscious of the inicriority OF
Gov. Havea as reform candidate. and
and that they were trying to dodge tina,
paramount issue by appealing to the old
war feeling
Gen Bartett's long silence on the po-
litical questions Of the day, it should be
stated, are entirely due to his i'll health.
The terrible wounds he received in the
war, which left him but with one leg,
shattered his health terribly, and la,terly
by -exertion IN business, he has
brought himself down to sick bed. He
is now able To take a short ride during