The daily gazette., 1880-04-03
FIRST EDITION
From Phi 'adelphia Times. 80 I. ~ q q
Samuel Jones Tilden, Of New York.

% .,r .r..H- tra fsriff lH
CAREER OF THE DEMOCRAT WHO MADE
A BUSINESS OF SMASHING DEMO
CRATIC BINGs-HIs EARLY PoIrTI-
CAL TRAINING, METHODS OF
70 THOUGHT AND WORK IN THE PUBLIC
shhVicE' 90 Ar'la-4 o. ~ 7i-
Picturesque, able and mysterious,
Samuel ]. Tilden stands as a conspic-
uous figure in the field Of Presidential
candidates. 1t is not certain that he
wants the nomination, even should he
be able to get it, and it is not certain
he could get it should he finally con-
clude,that it may be desirable but for
all that he cannot be overlooked. No
one at this time pretends to make cal
culations for the coming campaign
without giving Mr.. Tilden a very
prominent position in, the scheme. -
The success which attended him as
the Democratic leader in New York,
the Importance of that State in the
electoral vote of the year, the fact that
he was counted out and defrauded of
the Office after the election four years
ago, his conceded strength with the
people, all aid to make Mr., Tilden an
important factor He is the one DEM
ocras who cannot be set aside without
serious consideration of the effect of
such action, whatever may be said of
his being the one man who may also
not be nominated without like serious
considerations. Almost from the first
Tilden has been o politician. He came
into his majority when jackson was
rounding into the last half of his sec
ond term, and at q time when there
were the strongest manifestations OF
interest in political questions. d There
had been Q lively revival of parties
under the Jacksonian method Of dis
posing of patronage, and the bank ag-
itation and other questions of public
concern became matters of partisan
politics. Young Tilden very readily
gave his attention to the affairs of the
time, and with amind fitted for close
study and intricate research he was
heard by the public even before he had
become q voter gas
irlf THE TrLDEN FAMILY. o.
The Tilden family is of English orr
gin, and traces itself back for more
than two hundred and fifty years to
the sturdy manhood of Kent. 1t was
a leading family in that early time,
and one Of the members was Mayor of
Tenderen, in Kent, in 1928. Nearly
a dozen years later of them aided in
fitting out the MayAower, and still
anol her at about the same time went
to Massachusetts,. This was the part
Of the family from which the present
Tilden came. Samueps grandfather
settled in Columbia county, New
York, at an early day, established the
family home at New Lebanon, where
it has ever since remained. His faith
or was born there and became far
mer and merchant, distinguished for
his intelligence and good Judgment,
and man popular in his section. His
mother came from the family of Will
liam Jones, who had been Lieutenant
Governor of the colony of New Haven,
a man of decided prominence in his
time. Samuel was born in 1914. His
early education was carefully attend
ed to by his father. who was altogeth-
er capable in this respect, and he
went to college. 1t soon became APP
parent, however, that the young mans
physical strength was not sufficient to
fully sustain his mental activity, and
he shortly left college, considerably
broken down In health. Later he re-
covered somewhat and was enabled to
enter the University of New York,
where he finished his academic educa-
tion. He was at this time twenty
years of age, but had already given
considerable time to the examination
of questions of politics. and finance
He was decided Democrat and had
no trouble to give intelligent reasons
| for his faith. He was already cleal
reasoner and good and direct talker
He was not at all impulsive even as 3
boy, which may in large measure b.
attributed to the fact that he was fal
from being robust youth. 1t was hi
custom, even at twenty, to calculate
in the coolest manner all sides of ever,
question that came to his attention.
CHOICE OF PROFESSION.
Having that cast of mind it was al
natural that young Tilden should Sc
lect the law as it was that he should
concern himself about politics. Th'
one to him was part of the other
Without the law he might, and doubt
less would, have been more activ,
politician, for his mind sought EN-
ployment of the most active kind. |
found this in the law, and while Mr.
Tilden did not for moment lose hi
interest in public affairs he was neve
an office-seeker. He began his lega
studies with John W. Edmunds, il
New Y ork city, and at once displayed
in q marked degree those studious an,
sterling traits of character which hav
since become pronounced. Durin
the succeeding half dozen years it wa
an important question whether h
would drift most to law or politics, tn
fact being that he was much more aC
tive in the latter than in the former
1t was the result of mind full G
opinions much more profound and Ca
pable than are usually expected of
young law student. He entere
earnestly into public discussion. Whe
President Van Buren's independer
Treasury scheme was attacked Tide
turned from his law books and wrote
series of articles in defense of til
measure, and gave them such vigor a
to attract the attention of thinkin
! men throughout the country. He di
played thorough knowledge of I'll
subject, and had a noticeable abilit
{ to present facts sustaining his view