Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-02-20
TlLDEN SPEAKS.

There is a we'll known principl
In human nature that men do no
like those whom they have injured
In this way the boundless malicI
which the Radical press have mani
tested toward that great and gooC
man, Samuel j. Tilden, must be ac-
counted for. Knowing as they dt
that their whilom pet, Ruddy Hayes
does not occupy the Presidential
chair by the Will Of the people, but
by the wicked deeds of the Return
Board Scoundrels, they would fair
drag Mr.. Tilden down to the same
level occupied by Mr.. Hayes, by
trying to make the world believe
that Tilden tried to do what Hayes
or his friends for him actually did 10,
namely, purchase the electoral votes
of South Carolina, Louisiana and
Florida OF course this dlsreputable
work makes 4 prodigiouS amount of
lying necessary; but that Is Just
what many Radical editors seem to
take special delight in when they
speak of Mr.. Tilden. The Belle
fontc Wdtchman of last week, for in
stance, blmrts out its spleen in the
following bungling and clumsy man.
ner:
last Friday Nephew Pelton, who is the
nephew OF his uncle, Samuel j, Iildcn, was
called upon the witness stand in regard to
the cipher telegramS and although he had
lost the key his ncphewShip candidly adj
mltted the correctness OF the dispatches rs
published In the Tribune. The teStImuneY
of Smith NJ. Weed and Nephew Pcltun con
ciuSively shows that rtldeE attempted 10
buy southern electolS.'
The truth of the matter is, that
Tilden is fully Vindicated before the
world, and this is just what our
Radical friends don't like. He will
pass into history as q statesman Of
the first magnitude and OF incor-
ruptahle integrity, while Hayes, AS
far rs he will be remembered at all,
will be known aS the Fraudulent Pre-
Sidsnt for all time. That's just the
difference, and there is where the
shoe plncheS.
Mr.. Tilden was himself called to
the witness stand at his own re-
quest, and he can well afford to rest
bis case 10 the calm Judgment Of the
world. The following is q part Of
his testimony.
To thepcopie who, as believe. elected
me President of the United States 10 the
four millions and 4 quarter Of citizens who
"a 9e me their SuffraCeS, | owed duty, ser
vice and every other honorable sacrifice,
but not 4 surrender of one lot or sittle of
my sense OF right or perSnnal self respect.
Whatever the disappointment To those who
voted for me, whatever the public conSe-
QuenceS OF suffering the SubverSian Of the
elective system by which alone free gov
ernment-Selt tgovernment-can be carried
on, by whatever casuiStry different course
might have been advocated or defended,
was resolved that il there was TO be an auc-
ton Of the chief magiStracy OF my country
L would not be one OF the bidders.
i declare before God and nav country that
IL Is my entire belief that the votes and
certificates Of Florida, South CarnIina and
louisiana were bought and that the pre-
Sidency was controlled by their purchase.
l scorned to attempt to secure
my rights and title by such means as were
required 10 acquire felOnious possessions.
Pelton did not act rightly. lie may be
.ried; he NAV be condemned. Public opin-
ion may punish him. At the same time,
evsr thai :.ult is TO be judged of according
to the facts. according ~ times, according
TO what was being done, and what was
done. His act was an inchoate offence. on
the other Side, the act that was done WAS
an accom- piShed and consumated wrong.
Ii built up possession OF the presidency OF
elected, and the representatives and the
champions Of that condition of things are
the men whose conSciences are troubled
with the inchOate Wrong-dOingS of PeltOn.
which stopped and crushed Ont in the
bud.