New-York tribune., 1877-06-15
Mr.. TILDEN'S "REMINISCENCES.

"Seyen wears ago. said Mr. Tllden on re-
cent occasion, ga corrupt dynasty had estab-
"lished its ascendency over the million OF
"people who live i'll the City of New York.
"I It had obtained all the powers OF govern
"ment and of administration. 1t corrupted or
"bribed or flattered and won almost
everybody into acquiesccnce. 1T appeared
"to be invncible. A year or two later
"its members were in the penitentiaries
cor in exile. History abounds in SINH
lar examples" We do not hesitate to pro-
nounca this good story. 1t is founded on
fact is thrillingly narrated seems to have
good moral, and for the place and time was
appropriate, for the reason that it brought up
"reminiscences of absent friends The touch
ing reference of Mr. Tilden TO the former
Democratic leaders whose skillful management
and consummate ability in city and State
politics had brought to scores OF his hear
crs both fame and fortune ard themselves TO
exile and the penitentiary, must have affected
that gallant host almost to tears. 1t Is well
on such occasions that we break off for mo-
ment from our cups and our hic-cups
and recall the memories of our friends
who through their zeal for our interests
have got into the penitentiary or been
driven into exile. History" says Mr..
TIlden-aGd especially the history of the
Democratic party" abounds i'll similar ex-
"amples.n This should not be lost on us. 1t
was quite natural on this occasion that the
Imagination of Mr.. Tilden should hover over
Ludlow Street, Blackweli's Island, and Belgium,
and eminently proper that he should recall to
the statesmen before him the unfortunate ex-
amples of the statesmen whom they knew so
well and to whom they owed so much.
We must consider the story simply in the
light of pleasing "reminiscences 1t came in at
Il time of night and point in the order of
exercises when the sentlmentally inclined are
apt to remember their departed friends and
mingle their tears and their toddy together.
1t has been intimated that Mr.. Til
denis "reminiscences of the period when
he and Mr.. Tweed and Mr.. Sweeny
were laboring together for the public
coed were intended for effect upon the ADJ
ministration. as showing what finally happens
to corrupt dynasties." We hardly think
this is true. We can recall but single Incl
dent that could serve either as illustration or
precedent for it, Mr. Sylvester Potter,
Connecticut person whose circumstances
horse whose cut feed was curses
and a hickory stick, and his regular pasturage
any good place that MIR. Potter found with the
bars down. Mr.. Potter, though in the most
moderate of moderate circumstances, was not
poor through any neglect of his to ask for
what he wanted or seize what he could reach.
TO Mr. Potter, leading his Gaunt steed through
the half-open gate into Deacon Elijah Dav
enp0rt's clover field the Deacon presented a
mild but resolute front, denying admittance.
" Deacon Davenport said Sylvester :" this
horse has had hard usage and been out all
"Dight and is hungry. | think you mean to
keep him out of the clover by fraud. How
:" ever, / shall not resort to violence. But I'll
81 tell You one thing. Three years ago had two
"pardners in the clam peddling and garden
" sass trade. peddled the clans and garden
truck, an they furnished 'em; an ! never
"asked where they got 'em. Well, what hap
opened We was dom good business,
"and aspired to social recognition, when
"all at once-Sping! they catched one on 'em
"'gon through a garden patch and t'other
"bu'stin' INTO a fish market"
And now, Deacon Davenport" continued
Sylvester, with kind of tremulous defiance in
his tone, "where air they! where air they
~ One on 'ems ip New-Haven Jail and tothers
/" moved TO Sag Harbor. History's full of such
Examples, Deacon Dayenport-full of em !;
"and all I've got to say is-Bew-a-i-r!
Bew-a-i-r-r!m
This incident is the only thing that occurs
to us in the line of precedents for Mr.. Tilden's
remarks concerning his former associates, if it
be true that he intended them as a warning
to the present Administration. The persons
who are keeping Mr.. Tilden and his