Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-07-03
The Fate that Threatened =. j.
Tildeu.
tJohn F. Mines, in N. Y. World ]


revolution. Mr.. Tilden would take
the oath OH the steps of the City
Hall at the hands of one of the
| Democratic judges, and simuItane.
ously the Custom House and the
Sub Treasury would be seized.
Boasts were made that the business
men of New York would make no
opposition, buf acquiesce in TIE
situation from fear of their homes
4 being given over to an incendiary
mob.
"Do you think, General, there
was any truth in these rumors 2"
Il am afraid there was only too
much Truth in them. lad the Sc
Iles of great Democrats mass
meetings that were proposed for
al, the large cities been held there
is no telling how far the passions
of the multitude might have been
kindled and to what extreme they
might have gone. I know that
President Grant and his ad-
visers were very much al, aid of
the result. But Grant, though he
was anxious, never hesitated about
the course he was to pursue. lie
had determined to use every sol
dier and sailor ard gun at his com
mand to put down anything like "A
Democratic rebellion. If it had
been anybody bGt Grant who stood
in the way Tilden might have been
/ inaugurated ard have gotten pos
session of the revenues in spite OF
Congress and the Electoral Com.
mission. = lie COP
suited with his friends and decided
that it was best to have Il soldier
in this office-somebody who had
smelt powder and would not be
afraid of New \ ork mob. | was
sent for to Washington, and there
consulted wi h the President and
Cabinet and his miIi'ary advisers
in regard to the situation. Grant
told me frankly that there might
be trouble here; that he was seli-
ously anxious i'll view of the great
irritation of the public mind that
if there was an attempt at revoIu-
ton the blame might be laird at his
door, and that he was determined
to secure the inaugui alton of Mr..
Hayes at all hazards. He then
asked me 20 accept the position OF
United States District Attorney at
New York and insisted that it was
my duty to do So lie freely aG--
mittea the possible perils of the
position, and that ! might be plac-
ed so that my nerve and Judgment
could alone aYelt troubie-slt Ce
any attempt to inaugurate Mr.. iii
den must be crushed out on the
spot. Under these circumstances,
aud by the advice aud solicitation
of Senator Coukling, | accepted
the appointment, received my in
structirns, aud have had very
quiet and peaceable time ever
since.
The danger was rea1-I can as,
sure you of that. | believe that
dining the month that closed the
Administration of Giant and open
ed that of Eayes the country stood
on tie brink of IA civil war more
terrible than that which We passed
through, and it would have dreneh-
ed the whole North ia blood. Ii
Mr.. Tilden had listened to his more
energetic advisers and insisted on
:. attempting to assume the reins Ci
Government We should have had
war In these strt cts, and | should
have been mrelled to take al
: active part in it. No doubt there
; was a Plan to inaugurate Mr.. Til
, den IL this city, but his natural
timidity and irresolution would nc'
let him assent TO it. | think he
was wise in lis refusal, but there
are many of his followers who viii
always speak bitterly of him be
cause he did not carry out the
J. scheme If revolution they had 81
u nicely arranged. You see, they
u have not yet got bold of the Gus
tom House plumber"
{; but, General, suppose that Mr.
Ti!den had been inaugurated Il
the City Hall-what could yo,
It have done about it, here III Dem
Y ocratlc city?
e "Mv plans were all laid system
o aticaIly you know my old habits
a of system) and approved by Pres
d ident Grant We had quietly ia
y ken some very effective precau
: tions before hand. You Smile, be
cause you will never realize how
e near you were 20 grand expio
e sion, and that all the materials 70
. coup d'etdt were lying loos,
around vou-while good homes
:, citizens went to bed unmoved a
night, thinking that all the talk o
: resistance was mere campaigl
y thunder. | confess that ! do no
= want such another experience
i When a man like Grant grows Sc
@ rious over the prospect of war, W
= may take it for granted that the,
lie is something moro than threats i
lie the air.
~ 'Rut you havo asked what | III