Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-15
TiIden called to Answer.

TO the exposition made by the New York
Tribune of the cipher dispatches en-
ployed by his agents in Florida. Those
dispatches as deciphered by the Tribune
plainly show that an attempt was made
by bribery-by the offer of large sum OF
money-to secure the electoral vote oil
Florida in 1876 for Samuel j. Tilden. Who
was the author of this base attempt to buy
the vote of State, to overturn by bribery
the rightful decision of the people of the
United States in regard to the Presidency ?
Was it Mr.. Tilden, for whose benefit the
fraud would directly operate, or was it
the sole act of some of his tools. without
his knowledge. at great expense OF
money to themselves. and with no posi-
BILE accruing advantage except what they
might obtain at his hands in the event OF
their corrupt scheme being successful
The answer which at once rises to the
lips of the multitude is that this attempt
could not have been made without his
knowledge. Mr.. Salsontall may say that
Mr.. Tilden knew nothing of it, but he
does not believe it when he says it, and
nobody else believes 1t whatever Mr.
Salsontall or any other friend of Tiden's
may say. The Tribune in its Saturdays
issue makes the following loud and bold
challenge to Tilden and his agents to
answer. if they have any denial or de-
fence to make:
The Tribune has now placed before the
people a mass OF proof rs to the doings
OF Mr.. Tiluen's agents in Florida. That
the evidence is terribly strong no one will
DENY. The absolute silence of those who
for any reason wish to believe it untrue
bears witness to its power. Journals
which secuted the forth coming revelations
at first. including some which have sup
ported and defended Mr.. Tilden hitherto
at all lengths, now declare that silence on
the part OF those who are implicated is
equivalent to a confession of guilt. There
are others, however, who still wait for
some answer. The Herald, which recog-
nizes in powerful article the force of
the proofs submitted thus far. and the i'm
mense political importance of the issue
raised, nevertheless suggests, as a reason
for the silence of Mr.. TIden and his
agents. the answer of the Irishmsn to the
question. "Guiltv. or not Guilty P" "Be-
CORA, how can | tell till hear the evil
denceP"
But we must tell those whose charac-
tiers are chiefly at stake that no such re-
ply will serve them. This is no case for
foolng. The Tribune has not spoken at
rar dnna hos FOL 10, ha GnrtifiaI
at every point. 1t has not only given to
persons implicated opportunity to be
heard, but has urged them. again and
again. before its publication of dispatches
and since, publicly and by jealous re-
porters. TO place before the public any ex-
planation they have to give. They are
silent, and they best know why. They
know, as we do. what they did in Flori-
da and South Carolina. They know of
necessity. as we do. what their kilograms
reveal. They have seen that we now
have in use every key or cipher in which
any OF their messages was sent. But
they do not know how complete our file
OF their messages is. and they are not
able themselves to recollect distinctly all
the minor points these messages cover
If there is an honest defence 1t Can be
prohered at once but a successful de-
fence cannot be invented until they have
before them in plain print all the points
of the case to be covered That is pre-
cisely what they are not going to get in a
hurry. They know the arraignment, and
if they are innocent they can plead
promptly. As TO the details of the story,
they may rest assured that we shall pub
fish so much and at such times as may
meet our judgment as to the public inter-
est. We are in no haste as TO any of it.
IL will keep. Ii they wait for "all the
evidence" they may wait forever. In
the Florida case, for example, we have
told the facts as they appear to be estab-
lished by dispatches. Enough has been
told to force conviction in every reason
ing mind, if no reply be made. Whether
1t will be necessary TO produce all or any
of the corroborative evidence at our dis
posal, we shall Judge when any reply is
offered. If none is offered, we know
what the verdict of the people will be,
and so do Mr.. Tilden and his friends.
Three replies are possible. The persons
implicated can say that the dispatches are
forged. In that case, we should be very
glad to have any responsible person make
the assertion. He will learn quite soon
enough for his convenience how we shall
meet it. 1t is possible to say that the
TRANSACTIONS are incorrect. In that case,
we demand the only proof which will ever
satisfy the public-production of the orig
inal keys and vocabuaries used. Then
the public will judge. Finally, it is pos
sible to say that the dispatches were sent,
but with no criminal intent In that case
the public will demand, Uhat acaS he in
tent? Sooner or later, the persons accused
will be forced 10 take one or another oil
these three defences, or to confess guilt
and take judgment.
But it will be fatal to the accused if they
wait much longer They know what the
world must inevitably thiuk-what it will
surely and justly believe-if man con
fronted with such charges has no answer
to make. The innocent man, in such an
emergency, waits not an instant His in
dignant reply is as swift as the hot blood
which leaps to his cheek. No matter how
umld-and Mr.. Tllden and his agents arc
not bashiul maidens in timiditv-no mat
ter how startled by the shock of unmao
ined shame, the innocent man never fail.
to say, "Not guilty" the instant an at.
tempt is made TO place on his brow the
brand Of guilt The whole country de-.
mands an answer from Samuel ! Tlder
and his agents. Millions of free citizens
who voted to place him in the seat a,
George Washington, demand from him !