Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-19
Tilden's Answer.

Mr.. Tllden has made his answer to the
indictment contained in the cipher tele-
grams. 1t is simply that he knew moth
ing of them, had no part in sending or re-
ceiving them, and made no attempt TO
buy his election in Florida or South Caro-
lima. He does not deny the genuineness
of the cipher dispatches. or the correct
ness of the Interpretation of them present.
ed by the Tribune, so that there remains.
the fact that somebody resorted to brihe,sI
In his interest. Is it possible that Tilden
knew nothing of this ? Nay, verify. 1t
could not be. The Tribune anticipated
Tilden's defence in the following article:
Mr. Tilden. 1t is whispered, is busy on
"a statement" Mr.. Pelton. Mr. Smith
Weed Mr. HavemeyPr. and even that es-
timable patriot, Mr.. Coyle, are to unite,
we are told. in another. Perhaps. BIT
il any statement is to be made. we can
tell very well. in advance. about what it
is to he.
|. Mr.. Tilden will saw. as he has al
ready said to the editor OF the Tribune.
that he knew nothing whatever of what
was going on about him. that he sent no
cipher dispatches. received none. knew Of
none. and believes that none were deliv-
cred at his house. But he will not cx-
plain who furnished the large sums of
money. He will not explain how it hap
pened that he never asked his nephew
what was going on. He will not explain
how he. continues to use the same cphers
to this dav in his private business. He
will not show how Tweed's man, Smith
NJ. Weed. came 10 be working so jealous
IL for him by Tweed's methods He will
not say that he has Indignantly broken of
all connection with the corrupt gang, and
turned nephew that deceived and dis
graced him out OF his house. We shall
take no issue with such statement. We
have brought no charges against Mr. Ill
den. We have discovered and declared
The facts; and we leave people to decide
for themselves whether they prefer to
think of him as candidate who Icould be
surrounded and unconsciously used by
such gang. or as a candidate who drew
to him and skillfuly employed the tools
he best knew how to work with.
2. Mr. Pelton. Mr.. Weed. Mr.. Coyle ct
al. will protest that they are themselves
the scape-goats who should forthwith be
laden with the sin of the ciphers. and
driven into the wilderness They will say
they meant no harm; that they were
merely buying their own; that they were
run down by republican emissaries from
each of the disputed States, offering to
sell electoral votes at extortionate rates !;
that thew thought it well TO deal with the
principals direct, at least to draw them out
They will insist that they knew the repub-
licans were bidding against them. They
will protest, as far as they dare. that the
dispatches are not fairly given or faith
fully translated. Above all, they will de-
clare upon honor that the guileless
and unsophisticated Mr.. Tilden knew
nothing whatever of their efforts to buy
for him the Presidency Of the United
States. Well. out with il? The public
will listen--and laugh.
3. Mr.. Marbles defence is already
made. He transmitted the offers to sell
the Presidency as a part OF his duty to his
chief. bat he never advised their accep-
lance. He may yet supplement this by
saying that Coyle, being trusted with the
ciphers. and being used as the go-between
and telegraph-boy, abused his trust and
sent, as il from "Moses" himself, the
things he thought "Moses" ought to send.
A. Coyle Is the cheap rascal of the
crowd. He will take upon himself any
disgrace they want him to bear, provided
they pay him reasonably well for it.
There really isn't any excuse for delay
in getting up SO simple defence. Out
with it