Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-08
Wind nrr. TiIden NnId.

1t was at Greystone, his charming
estate near Yonkers, that Mr.. Tilden
was found Sunday by a reporter of the
New York Tribune. The visitor in
quired as to Mr.. Tilden's health, and
was told that but for slight cold it
was very good. He looked very we'll,
and the interest which he pointed out
favorite heifer or a pet chicken
showed the delight he takes in rural
occupations. His first inquiry was as
to the latest news from the White
House. In reply to a question from
the reporter, he said:
u received dispatch from Wash
layton at 1890 to-day, which gave
very encouraging aud hopeful view of
the Presidents condition and pros
poets. | still hope that this intelligence
is true"
Nv hat was your impression when
you first received the news?N
u received yesterday the informa-
tion Of the attempt to assassinate the
President with incredibly, which
soon changed into horror"
What did you think of it in
national point of view ?"
This: Our young American civil
cation and our system of elective con.
stitutional government cannot afford
the frequent recurrence of attempts to
change the administration of govern
ment and the possession of individual
power by the act of an assassin. |
don't mean to say that our fifty mil
lions Of people can in any way be made
responsible for the crime of single
integer of that vast aggregate. OF
course such acts may happen in any
country or any age, but the conse-
quences are none the less calculated
to fill with dismay and disgust the
whole community, and to weaken the
confidence In a system like our own.
where they are less excusable than
anywhere else in the world"
What effect do you think the
attempt will have"
At present we are all filled not on.
ly with concern for the public effects
of such crime, but with sympathy
for the distinguished victim, his fami,
ly and his immediate friends. 1t is
too early to moralize upon the subject,
but two things are soobvious that they
cannot escape consideration even now.
The first is the great peril that attend
the enormous and increasing DOW r of
the Chief Executive Magistracy. 1t ad-
dresses temptations too strong for pub
lie safety to the interest and passion of
millions of persons"
DO you refer to the civil SER
vice ?"
Partly only. More particularly
this The putting up periodically az
the end of every four years of the vast
power Of the government of fifty mil
lions Of people, the enormous expendi-
ture that it involves and the redistri-
button Of the 100000 Offices at rattle
in which the whole people actively
participate, must be fruitful of evils
yet unseen. Civil commotions, fraud
and violence are the natural results"
What is the second consideration
to which you referred?"
"The second,Oue perhaps grows out
OF the first. 1t is the unbounded IL
oentiousness that characterizes our
party competitions and political dis
sentions, the assassination of q private
character, and the unscrupulons
methods resorted to TO influence the
public judgement. All good men of
all parties ought to do their utmost to
limit and restrain these mischief.
The undue stimulus to bad passions
arms the hand Of the eccentric indi-
vidual who assumes to himsefto work
out results perhaps under the insane
ambition for notority Of infamy.
But | turn from the subject with tho
feeling that nov, when every public
sensibility and every private sympathy
is wounded, | am not equal to drawing
the lessons which the deplorable
event suggests to our people. Let US
hope that President Garfeld's recOv-
cry will reduce 10 a minimum the pub
lie evils of his assassination, while it
will remove the weight of the private.
bereavement which fills us with con-
Germ and sympathy"