The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-14
s. J. Tilden.

The voice of the Democratic and non-
partisan press throught the country con-
ours in clearing President Samuel J. Til
den from the charge Of being, in any way,
connected with the frauds and briberies
that formed such prominent part OF the
last general election. Vigorously, merci-
lessly cross-examined by Mr.. Reid and
Mr.. Hscock of the committee, he met all
their questions by the same frank denial,
without wagering in the least important
part of his testimony. That our readers
may know the full appreciation in which
Mr.. Tilden is held by his opponents, we
quote from the New York Express an arti-
Gle on his testimony and its results.
The Express, although Democratic
paper, was one of the bitterest opponents
of Mr.. Tilden, both before and after his
northumberland election, and throughout
the cipher business has remained neutral,
with slight leaning against Mr.. Tilden.
This paper is the organ of the
we'll known Tammany Leader, Mr.. John
Kelley, and the private feud between Mr..
Kelley and the then Governor of New
York, Mr.. Tilden, was carried by the
former into public life aud discolored the
articles in his paper. The Express has
been very pronounced in its opposition to
Mr.. Tilden, and.the following from its
columns conveys more than ordinary
weight:
Nobody cares for Pelton and bis pals.
The sole question of interest is whether
Tilden suggested or knew of their corrupt
negotiations. This question has been def
nitely settled 10 the negative by the search
ing investigation Of the committee of the
house, 10 this city last week. Every effort
that legal skill and Wit could devise was
made to implicste Tildeu in knowledge of
these guilty transactions. But their fail
ure was complete. Every witness declared
10 the most positive terms that Tilden
knew nothing of the business. Weed con-
tessed that he studiously managed to keep
Tilden 10 ignorance. Pelton exhausted bis
ingenuity 10 keeping his uncle totally in the
dark as TO his operations, and did not even
let him know that he had gone to Balti-
more, when he had gone there to conclude
the infamous arrangement with Weed and
the South Carolina Republicans. Marble
was utterly mum in TIldeu's presence.
Cooper swears that when no went to Til
den with Pelton's telegram calling for
$4,000, the old man was astonished aud
indignant, and peremptoriy demanded
that his nephew should Immediately re-
turn homo. Tilden himself declared, I'M
Il ~ -. L.
that he neither directed, knew of, nor sus
pected these corrupt negotiations, A rigid
aud searching cross-examination failed to
weaken this positive denial in the least,
1t stands mistaken. Let Mr. Tilden
have the full benefit of it. 1t was
unfortunate that he did not cut his connec-
ton with Pelton, Weed, and the other men
on the instant when their damaging opera
tions came to his nowedge. 1t must be
membered, however, that the knowledge
came to him piecemeal, and hot until the
publication OF the cipher dispatches last
fall did he know the full extent of these
negotiations and the wrong that had been
done him. 1t must be borne in mind that
Pelton was the son Of his favorite sister
and the head of his house; that Pelton
stood TO him almost in the relation of an
adopted son; that Pelton had always shown
the best side Of his nature towards him 10
years Of faithful service: that Pelt0n and
his family lived under his roof-and, under
these circumstances, ienieucy was not
merely an amiabe inGrmity but almost a
duty.
The most stuuendous blunder ever com
mltted by political party was made by
the republicans when they cheated Tilden
out OF the Presidency. But none the less
was be grievously, terribly, irreparably
wronged. To have the highest office in
the nation, the browning honor to which an
American citizen aspire to reach, stolen
from bis hand by,,conspjrators who resort
cd TO almost every crime short of murder
TO effect their purpose, was a wrong done
TO him which nobody can compute. and
for which no future act can possibly atone
His deep personal grievance should for
ever seal the lips Of his enemies and make
his political opponents hang down their
heads in shame. Let him have the fullest
measure of justice that can be meted to
hin, by all means; and, above all, let him
Low be acquitted of guilty completely with
or knowledge Of corrupt negotiations for
the purchase of electoral votes.