The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-13
Tnden's Testimony.

The testimony of President Samuel j.
Tilden, before the cipher investigating
committee in New York, will 60 upon rec
ord as the true version of the charge made
against him, that of endeavoring to pur-
chase electoral votes. His testimony. as
published in THE ARGUS the Sth aud 10th
Of this month, was very incomplete re.
port, printed as it was furnished by the
Associated Press, and was all we could
learn of it. The last New York papers
especially the New York Herald, contain
full verbatim reports of bis statements be-
fore the committee, and we have made
several extracts therefrom which will be
found in another column OF this issue.
The very impartial manner in which
the Herald makes it comments upon
Mr.. Tlldeu, the well known independent
political character of that journal, renders
it an invaluable aid, so far as the reliance
that may be placed upon its published re-
ports of prominent political events.
Mr.. Tilden went upon the stand. not in
response to call from the committee, but
at his own request, in order that he might
present some points that he thought were
german to the inquiry they were making.
The words he there uttered, falling, as
they did, from the lips Of man who has
been made the victim of the foulest wrong
that the history Of this country records,
we're at times tinged with bitterness; but
the clear, ringing tones, in which he denied
any and all knowledge Of the negotiations
for the purchase of votes, until after such
negotiations had been made by Col. Pei
ton; aud then the immediate stoppage
put upon such transactions; the few
we'll chosen words in which he arrsigned
the administration for its venslity, charging
upon the Republican party the RESPONSE
bility for all the frauds and the perjuries to
which the last presidential contest gave
rise; these. aud the noble words that stand
at the head of this column fell upon the re-
publican members of the committee like
the oft-repeated blow Of the blacksmiths
hammer, carrying weight aud conviction
with them.
A few lines from the leading article in
the Herald upon the testimony of Mr..
Tilden vii! not be amiss, but will furnish
conclusive evidence of the estimate placed
upon him by the leading and only thorough
independent paper in this country.
Everybody was satisfied that Mr.. Til
den would confirm the witnesses who had
preceded him in these statements; never.
theless. there was much curiosity to see
how well he would stand the ordeal of al
examination in which no leniency was
likely to be extended to him, while many
of his friends rejoiced at the opportunity
afforded him of refuting the ISLANDERS tina
have been SO literally INDUCED in by bis
enemies. 1t is just to say that Mr.. Til
den's evidence-clear, decisive and IN
equivocai-leaves him 10 better position
than he was in before il was given. Iii,
denial of any knowledge whatsoever of thu
cipher dispatches, or of any offers. pro
posals or negotiations to use any money
70 purchase any returning boards or vote
until the occurrence of the Baltimore affair
which he rebuked and stamped out, is a
strong as language can make it, His test
mony is 10 entire harmony with his carr
published in the Herald of October Is
last"