Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-12
TIIDEE's TESTIMONY.
Clear, Decisive, U~aequlvOoaI =. Cam.
meuts Of the New York Herald.
New York Herald. rai.0.i.,

New York Herald, EDITORIAL
MIR. Tilden's appearance before the
vongresSl0hal committee at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel yesterday naturally ex-
cited more than ordinary interest in the
proceedings. No person doubted what
his testimony would in substance he.
The ingenious and searching cross
examination to which Colonel Pelton
and Mr.. Marble were subjected had
Jailed to elicit one particle of evidence
showing that Mr.. Tilden had n
knowledge of the cipher kilograms or
the negotiations to which they referred
until the information was conveyed 10
MN that an offer had been made IN
give the State of South Carolina To the
Democratic candidate for a ann Of
money, when he instantly denounced
the proceedings and rebuked those
participating in them. EVERYBODY WAS
satisfied that Mr.. Tilden would con-
hrm the witnesses who had preceded
MN In these statements; neyertbe-
less there was much curiosity TO see
how well he would stand the ordeal of
an examination in which no l%eniency
was likely to be extended to him
while many of his friends reioiced
at the opportunity afforded him of
refuting the SANDERS that have been
50 literally INDUCED in byhis enemies.
1t is just to say that Mr.. Tilden's eyi.
denee-clear, decisive and uneouiyo.
cal-leaycs him in a better position
than he was in before it was given.
His denial of any knowledge. wbatso.
ever, OF the cipher dispatches or If
any offers, proposals or negotiations To
use any money to purchase any return.
ing boards o. votes until the occnr-
renee OF the Baltimore affair. which
he rebuked and stamped out. Is as
strong as language can make II His
testimony is in entire harmony with
his card published in the Herald of
October. Is, last. In that paper he
denied that he had any knowledge Of
the Florida offers until casually in
formed Of them as of a past event
long after the 9th of December This
denial is reiterated in his evidence
yesterday, and is confirmed by Mr.
Marble. In his card he affirmed that
no offer to give the certificates of apv
State to the Democratic electors for
promises of office, money or pronertv
was ever entertained, considered or
tolerated by him, and this also Is
confirmed by his W testimony and
That OF Mayor Cooper and Colonel
Pelton, which shows that the first and
only intimatiOn conveyed to him of
such an offer met with bis rebuLe and
condemnation.
In reading Mr.. Tilden's Testimony
II is proper to remember that he an
pears as a witness in a case in which
ne no doubt fully and conscientionslv
believes, that he has suffered a
g%rievous and unparalleled wrong,
The very evidence now produced
proves the infamy of the men who
controlled the canvass of the States
which he feels assured were carried
by him, and seems to confirm the be-
lief so emphatically announced by the
witness that the votes and certif-
Gates OF Florida and Louisiana were
bought by the Republicans. Under
these circumstances it is not to be
wondered at that the witness in
dulged in denunciation of acts which
he believes 1t gave the Presidency to a
man who was not elected" and. while
many will think that Mr.. Tilden
would have done better to have alto
gether avoided such charges, thew
ought in fairness to be looked upon
with liberation. At the same time
Mr., Tilden should not forget the DO
sltlon in which he is himself placed.
While there is no particle of evidence
to connect him with a KNOWLEDGE
of or conniyance in the acts of his
nephew and others, appearances have
been against him, and many persons
may still sheer at the idea of his igno-
rance Of the doings of his closest
friends. 1t would be most unjust.
however, now that this investigation
is over, to continue to assail Mr.. Til
den az an accomplice in the cipher
telegraphic negotiations, no matter
how suspicious some of the surround
ings may be. AS there is no actual
proof that the Republicans did buy
the returning boards of South Caro-
lima and Florida, it is not quite Just
that Mr.. Tilden should charge them
with the Offense because suspicious
circumstances induced him to believe
in their guilt. Right-minded people
will with qualification and relief ac-
cept in good faith Mr.. Tilden's solemn
asserveration that there was never
one single moment when he enter
tanned the idea Of obtaining the cleo
toral vote by yenal means but that
he determined hat if there was to be
an auction of the chief magistracy of
his country he would not be among
the bidders. Let Mr.. Tilden dispense
to Others the justice he expects to
receive.
QATTEpFn WITH Tnnc