Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-09-28
Tilden's Explanati Ion.
Inter ocean.l

| Tilden's Explanation.
Inter ocean.l
Governor Tilden has grown shy of
oaths. His oaths are unique; they
conflict one with another; he has
subscribed to too many OF them
already, and their conflicting state
ments return to plague him. For
months the charge Of perjury has
stood against Governor Tilden,
stood undisputed; end the Ameri-
tcao people have regarded with as-
tonishment the man who had the
audaclty to aspire to the first place
In the government Ia face OF such a
record. But this stolid indifference
could not always serve. The won-
der with which Governor Tilden's
audacity inspired the people gradu-
ally gave way to feeling Of indig-
nation. The morally convicted per-
juror felt the ground slipping from
under him, felt the necessity OF u
desperate effort to reinstate himself
In public confidence. What did he
dos He gave notice through his
organs that he would make an ex-
planation of his income return fer
1852, and stated the nature Of the ex-
PLANTATION. And IL was this: that dur
ing the year 1862 he advanced sever
al thousand dollars 10 his brothers
and lost the money. To this "feel-
er" the public Immediately respond
cd bluntly: "Why, Mr.. Tilden. did
not you make this explanation Mt
once on tho publication OF the charge
Of perjury? You could not have for
gotten the loss OF several hundred
thousand dollars in 1862, II you had
lost that sum. You didn't advance
any money 10 your brothers in 1862.
You didn't lose any such sum OF
money In 1862. Your proposition to
explain was put forth TO feel the
public pulse, with view to ascer-
tain If such All absurd story would
be- credited by the public: the pub
lie secuted IL, aud the public was
right. So, OF course, the promised
explanation never came. Then I'm
sheer desperation Mr.. Hewitt wrote
TO Judge Sinnott, former law clerk Of
Mr.. Tiiden, begging for an explana-
tion; and Judge sinnott wrote TO
Hewitt aud Hewitt gave the letter
TO the public. But IL In not an ex-
planation; IL IL merely n bald denial.
The account stands precisely as IL
stood before Judge Sinnott appeared
In behalf OF his master. We say his
"master" because the letter bears
marks Of being the handlwork Of
Mr.. Tilden himself. Ii Is plain that
Mr.. 1iiden has written n letter and
procured the signature OF Judge Sin
mott. IL IN plain that Judge Sinnott
never wrote tho following:
Mr. Tfldcn received no favor from the govern
ment officers, and sought none, lie did nothing
but pay all thoy imposed on bin.
Contempt for the government
could not be- more strongly express
cd. Mr.. Tilden is made 10 exhibit
himself as disinterested spectator
OF the contest waging for the preser-
walton Of the government, having no
more interest In the issue than an
alien paying taxes as an exaction.
Who but Tilden would have pro-
sumed TO say this In behalf Of Til
den? II Is precisely such an expires
sion an might have fallen from the
lips OF JEFF Davis had be been resi-
dent Of New York during the late
rebellion. 1t will please every Con-
federate at the South, and every Con-
federate sympathizer ut the North;
but 1t will disgust everybody else.
The following IL unmistakably TIL
den's own:
He preferred In that way 10 be exempted
from the dlrrcultiss Incident " attempting
specific statement of Affairs In which he was in
tercssed and OF corporations and business in
which he was an investor. and also " bo exempt
cd from tins responsibility of adiudicatihg on
facts aud lAw applicable % annvtDiH and a'ctnat.
ing sl,m<ui, during ne rapid and rioieHt changes
qf fictitious saiufs.
The italicized passage Of the above
and several passages In Mr.. Tilden's
letter OF acceptance are as like as two
pins. Judge Sinnott, or rather Gov.
ernor Tildcn, is careful not TO repeat
the false statement Of former expla-
nations put forth In regard to the
go, 900 fec received from the Terre
Haute, Alton and St. Louis Railway
Com pany In October and Novem-
Der, 1862, namely: that 10 was earned
during a period of four of .fte years.
Governor Tilden's oath stood I'm the
way Of thnt. In his sworn answer
In that cass he states that he under
took the the tnork Of reor0a,fsitg the
oonpany's affairs IN 1861. Thus the
explanatory letter avoids the main
point. dealing only with Irrelevant
matters, according to the habit OF the
willy politician who wrote Ii and got
Judge Sinnott TO certify to Its truth.
It's a wretched business--the last
desperate effort Of a man OF crooked
practices and false oaths to bolster up
his falling fortunes with the public.
Communication