The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-03
TWEED AND TILDEN.
Some Interesting Facts.
[From the Albany Evening Journal

The relations of Mr.. Tlden to the Tweed
Tammany business may be very briefly and
conclusively indicated. The simple statement
of decisive facts in their chronological order
settles the matter. Mark these points:
l. Mr. Tilden was Chairman Of the Demo-
cratic State Committee from 1866 down
through 1867, 1868, 1862 1870 and 1871 the
very hev-day of eed-Tammany thievery, and
during all that time he never, by word or act
did anything to check or oppose this rascality.
AS Chairman of the committee he could not be
ignorant of it, if he was not in actual COM
plicitv vet he raised no arm to stop 1t.
g. AS the Chairman of the State Committee
he received and acknowledged the money of
Tweed for political purposes, when he knew it
was stolen from the public treasury and in
1868 his name was associated with that of
Tweed in the fiagitlous scheme to cheat the
people of their rights and their chosen officers
by gigantic fraud upon the ballot-box. He sent
out the famous circular which asked the Demo-
Gratis of the interior to telegraph on the close
of the polls the probable vote in their localities
in order that Tweed might know how much he
would have to count up in New York to over
come it.
3. Though thus prominent ia public affairs,
he did not oppose any OF the infamous legisla-
tive measures of 1870 and 1871, under which
the most stupendous robberies of the Tweed
Tammany ring were perpetrated. We say ex-
actly what we mean. He did oppose the char
ter, but that was not the fountain of the rob
berries at all. The robberies were committed
under the Board of Audit bill, the tax leVies
and similar measures, and we challenge the
production of word from Tilden against any
one OF them. During these same years of 1870
and 1871, he stood side by side with Tweed IN
the State Conventions, and neither said nor
did single thing in opposition to his interests.
4. The great explosion against Tweed and
his confederates occurred through the publica
ton of the Times figures, in July, 1871. Long
before that time Tweed's immense thefts were
known to every politician, and II Mr.. Iuden
had been an honest "reformer he should
then have resisted them But even if there
had been any possibility of excuse for inaction
before, there certainly was none after the
Times exposure. That gave crushing proof.
1t fixed the brand of thievery so that every
man could see it. It sealed the doom OF the
ring. From that moment Tweed's overthrow
was inevitable. Yet still Mr.. Tilden was silent.
He had not lifted finger to strike at Tweed,
and he did not even then.
S. The great meeting of the citizens of New
York against the ring was held Sept. 4, 1871.
1t was called out by the startling exposure OF
thu rings colossal robberies. 1t was irrespec-
tive of party. 1t was the meeting where was
appointed the famous Committee of Seventy
which organized the campaign for the over
throw Of the ring. Every prominent citizen OF
New York, of either party, who was allied to
the cause of good government, participated. Mr..
Tilden was asked to take part IN This antl-rlng
reform meeting, and he refused, He did not
vet, in spite Of the popular movement feel
that it was safe to declare against Tweed and
the ring. In the State Convention of the DEM
ocratic party which was held at Rochester a
month later Tlden united in refusing to adj
nit the reform delegation, which was opposed
to Tweed, into the convention, and pursued
lust the course that Tweed desired.
6. At last, years after Tweed's character was
| fully known, months after the overwhelming
| exposure, weeks after the great popular up
rising, and when it was absolutely certain that
Tweed's downfall was sure, Mr.. Tilden took a
safe position against him. and rendered some
| service toward his punishment He was in
strumental in presenting the accounts OF the
Broadway Bank in such a way that they aided
in securing the legal conviction Of the culprt.
But this was not done until the last of October,
long after the overthrow of Tweed had been
| assured. gr n
| Such are the plain, indisputable facts. They
show that Mr.. Tilden was Chairman of the
State Committee during the long period of
Tweed's worst rule that he made no oppo-
/ sition to his thieving schemes that he did alb
solutely nothing toward the overthrow OF
/ Tweed and that he never did aught against
him till his downfall had already been seen.
We give Mr.. Tilden all the credit he deserves.
/ After Tweed was down, he did something to
punish him, but did nothing to put HIM down.