Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-02-25
4 0.sar v,.d,eas,oD.

No Democrat expected that the
Associated Press would be at mucn
pains to transmit to the Pacinc
Coast the more IncIsive portions OF
Nj. Tilden's statement to the sub
Committee which went to New
York to hear him. He was sub
jsotsd to = searching and often inn
portlnent cross examination by
the Messrs. Hiscock and Reed, the
Rapublican me mbers of the Com
nittee. The harsh and brutal edi-
thorial criticisms Of the Tribune as
60 Mr.. Tilden's personal appear
ancs and manner were telegraphed
broadcast over the country. After
careful reading of the testimony,
We are Of opinion that if Mr.. Til
den's performance was one of his
sick efforts Republicans should de-
voutly pray that he may never
more regain his health. His
statement Ia throughout character
lxed by vigor, directness aud air
OF truth which leave absolutely no
I room for doubt In the mind of any
honest man of any party. Taken in
connection with the fact that not a
sclntilla Of proof has been adduced
that Mr.. Tilden ever entertained
any scheme other than OF patri-
( otic character it is perfectly ire.
sIstible.
There are some features of this
testimony that it is right we should
reproduce and particularize. Thus
81 to his general conduct:
During the whole time from the
7th day Of November, 1876, which
was the day Of the election, until
the eth day Of December of the
same year, which was the day the
4 electors met to cast their votes for
transmissicn to Washington, 1
maintained q uniform attitude. My
purposes were by no means to en-
ter Into any competition to obtain
the vetes-the certificates of the
Canvassing Boards of the disputed
; States, even those to which be-
lievcd wo were entitled, except by
discussion, argument, reason,
truth, Justice. There never was q
time, not q moment, not an instant,
In which I ever entertained any
Idea of seeking to obtain Tia $50 GER
tti1cates by any venal inducements,
f<fM~ AA taa 0f n Nf nff aQ
Ito the men who had them to grant
or dispose of. My purpose on that
IA subject was perfectly distinct. in
M variable, and 1t was generally as
b sumsd by all my friends Without
a,discussIon. 1t may have been
sometimes expressed, and whenev-
IA or the slightest occasion arose for ii
n to be discussed, it was expressed. 1t
was never deviated from in
word or act. To the people
who, as I believe, elected me
President of the United States
te the four millions and q quarter o.
citizens who gave rne their suf
frages. / owed duty, service aut
every honorable sacrifice, but not 0
surrender of one jot or tittlc of my
sense OF right or personal self.re'
spect. Whatever the disappoint
ments to those who voted for me
whatever the public consequence
Of suffering the subversion of the
Elective system by which alone
free ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
-can be carried on, by whatever
casuistry q different course might
have been advocated or defended,
was resolved that if there was to bt
IN auction Of the Chief Magistracy
Of my country would not be on
Of the bidders.
1t may be possible to say some
thing more direct and manly thai
that but we confess we do not se
how 1t could be done. It Is reson
ant with truth and carries a sledg
hammer force. In the cross.exam
ination a Republican member o
the Committee asked Mr.. Tilden a
4 to his knowledge of attempts to bu!
the electoral vote of Florida ant
was met by the rightful Presiden
with the neat correction that they
s'were attempts to sell rather than t.
buy" After having already de
clared his personal belief that tn
certificates of the famous Return
Ing Boards were for sale, and tina
the Republicans bought them, W,
come to a passage in the cross-ex
animation of Mr.. Tilden so happily
expressed and SO weighty with the
whole merits Of the case-so inim
itably apt, in fact-that the wonder
will 60 on growing that he shoult
have been able, altogether withou
preparation, to have achieved it
We make no apology for reproduc
Ing the entire passage, question
and answer. With the portions o
his testimony supplied by telegraph
and given by US heretofore from
other sources, it will place oul
readers in complete possession o
the gravamen of the rightful Presi
dents statement and testimony
After some hair-splitting by the
Republicans, he says:
The object is to impute to N,
some guilt, some failure of duty
IfIapswer that question l propos,
TO answer 1t fully. l propose t.
raise the standard as high as / can
and we will see whether the othel
gentlemen adopt 1t.
fn 4. /.
examination the true way to an
swer . question is TO answer it 81
far as you can directly, aud no
seek to answer it by assailing any
one else. AL do not desire to as