The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-04-23
FROM JEFFERSON TO TILDEN.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
The hirelings of Tilden are making great
parade of his letters praising Jefferson. Some parts
OF these letters are suggestive of comparisons which
do Tilden good. jefferson. after long life spent
In the service of his country, died poor. Tilden, on
the contrary has 50 administered numerous trusts as
to possess himself Of much OF the property OF which
lie trustee. lie has accumulated enormous
wealth by wrecklng and reorganlzing companies for
which he had become counsel. No man living ever
heard him accused Of single act OF unselhsh care
the Interests Of individual stockholders, while lie has
been constantly Involved In litigation TO defend his
possession Of moneys which others claimed he had
wrOngfully taken from them. Even In the dark days
when his country was engaged in desperate struggle
for existence Tilden laying the foundations of
fortune that has become colossal, and there Is no
record Of any act OF patriotism devotion by him;
gbDo - apps~rs that h, tlion ooDooaiine
his Income as to eyade contributing his proper share
TO the expenses Of the war that saved the
Union. The wealth accumulated by such
means has been used to debauch our
political system, already suffering from the per-
nlclOus influences that always follow Ciyil wars At
period when the party IN power had become ready TO
sink under its accumulated load Of corruption, when
the State and Congressional elections had proved that
the country was n po for change this selfish pluto
cIat came forward and for the first time I'm the history
Of parties a candidate for the Presidency was nOmi-
mated because he was rich and was determined to use
his wealth TO rule or ruin. For the first time paid
agents trayersed the length and breadth Of the
try to corrupt the sources Of power and procure dele
gates to national convention favorable the noml-
nation of Tllden. by the illegltimate use Of his
wealth aud free resort TO promises and threats on
the part Of his satellites, he secured the nomination,
By its subserYenQy to money lusead Of to worth the
Democracy deserved defeat, aud Its surrender TO Til
denlsm kept out Of power for eight years. and
can tell for how much longer.
In the face Of these facts Nj. Tldeus letter Is ono
Of the most remarkable specimens IN existence Of
unconscious irony. When ho says Of Mr.. jefferson,
| "by his precepts, his influence, aud his example,
"eeyated the standard Of political morals, - we eau
not help thinking that Just tho contrary must be tho
verdict Of history upon the man who BET the example
Of using large sums Of money IN procuring nom-
nation that could only be honorable, aud ought only
| 10 be successful, when coming uusOught and uu-
| bought from the people.
Samuel j, Tllden, the millionaire writes Uf Thomas
Jefferson;
| Ia his personal practice he was not only pufo, but
| TO make his example more effective, he Tefraned
| while administering the greatest OF Oniclal trusts
from az attempts TO Increase MS own iortuher even
| by methods open TO every private citizen.
| with these words we need only recall the fact that
Jsnorson's homestead sold after his death for the
palTy Of g. 500, and that IN tho language Of bis
| granddaughter "tho little graveyard at Monticello
only one hundred fest sluar0-is an Of tho TO- 900
"acres Of land owned by Jefferson when he entered
puDlic no which Is left IN the possession Of his
descendants. What profound Irony inheres Ia
| this comparison.
Mr Tllden writes ably but there i8no citizen Of this
Republic who, to paIaphrase his own closing words,
has done much 10 change this Government " into
" an elective despOtlsm aud 80 much TO prevent
| "the teachings ana example Of Thomas Jefferson 70
from being 'lnyoked to Keep alive the gliumerlug
! "spark of oncIal virtue aud pubic honor. H.