Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-03
TILDEN,S MANIPULATION.
4 Queer story Related by a Connect
cut Democrat

\ Queer story Related by a Connecti-
cut Democrat
In an article published few day since the
Hartford Couant charged that in 1880 Mr..
Tilden, who had great power, "took good
care to upset many plans of the Hancock
This assertion the New York
Sun. fatty pronounced untrue. Replying,
the Courdnt makes public a conversation its
representative had last week with gentle.
man whom ii describes as prominent Dem.
ocra' who has been an active worker in Ma
tioA'al rs well as State politics, and presents
the Iarc qualities of never being an office
seeker and always contributing literally for
his party both in work and money and still
more rare one Of bodily and openly opposing
those whom he believes to be unfit Candi-
dates when nominated by his party" This
gentlemen, being Intercepted by the repre-
sentative of the Courant said:-
NOW, understand Inc, will give you
facts which am prepared with the proof of +;
held"
Therefore the reporter will simply use the
appelldtion Judge.
Judge -. AS you are aware, during
the latter part OF the Presidential campaign
of 1880 was speaking every night. During
the days when | could do so went to the
headquarters of the National Committee in
New York to learn what could Of the state
OF the canvass. On Wednesday forenoon,
October eth, l called in as usual. My
voice was much broken and it was with dir
ticulty that | could speak aloud. One of my
friends, connected with the committee, sat
down hpciI. fpn o,,I said, TO-
to kill yourself; Hancock is defeated now"
| said, What do you mean ?" His reply
was, "Thc old man means to defeat him." |
lmportuned him to give me his authority.
lie finally said, Come up stairs and will
tell you all about it,"
Charge OrTrcachery.
went up to one OF the private rooms of
the committee, when my friend, after rcqur-
ing promise that would not speak of the
conversation, proceeded substantially as fol-
lows: 'Mr. Tildcn sent for me and went
up to see him yesterday. After some pre-.
liminary conversation about my county and
| district he said, Hancock must not get more
majority in your county than got, and
- - Che Democratic candidate fol-
Congress) must be defeated. He continued
to converse about theSmanner he had been
| treated in 1876 and the action OF the Cincin-
natl convention toward him and said his
| friends must stand by him now. | left, thor.
| oughly disguised and discouraged, but an
so situated that l must hold my peace,
tell you now that Hancock is beaten by
treachcry. The work will be done in Brook
Ign in the lower district of this city, where
the old man is running Nick Muller, an up
north where Smith Weed runs the machine
but will show them that my county and
district can not be thrown away by treach
cry"
Judge - continued II left my flieut
| feeling very much disturbed over what hat
heard. did not doubt his statement, but
could not believe that any considerable mum
Der OF Democratic votes could be controlled
by MIR. Tilden. knew his moral turpitude
l knew that he would act covertly in what hi
| did, but did not think he could act as effect
lively as he did. l talked with several mem
beIs of The National committee about thu
probability Of such detection as my frcnc
predicted but they all secuted the idea that
such detection existed was compelled tC
leave the matter there, and went on with my
work with very serious misgiving respecting
the result.
| Startling Figures.
| Well, the election took place and we al
know the result. When the canvass of vote
was completed closely watched the figure
in the localities mentioned by my friend.
found his predictions verified to the letter
Kings country controlled by Hugh Nc
Laughlin, hcnchman of Tilden. gave Gen
Hancock majority of only 93l1, while /
had given Tilden, in 1876. 1890, a fallin!
OH OF 91s9
In the Fifth Congressional district "Nick'
Muller ran as an independent candidate TO
Congress (his expenses being paid by Til
dem and received $3.50 votes against II, Al
for ben" Wood, the successful Democrat,
candidate. The Republican candidate TO
Congress polled the full Republican vote o
the district, 21l4, while General Garfield
whose tickets were run from Muller's boxe
received 1881 votes. 5767 votes more thai
he would have received but for Tlden'
treachery.
Clinton county, the residence OF Smith NJ
Weed, OF cipher despatch notorcty, gave
majority against Tilden in 1876 of 706, ant
gave majority against Hancock of 1880,
Republican gain OF 1924 To show tina
there were no local causes for the grea
changes in Kings county and the lowe
(Fifth) district of New York county, / will
call your attention to the fact that Richmond
county, bordering on them both, gave Gen
eral Hancock majority of 60 greater thai
Tilden received in re-
say without hesitation that but for tn,
damnabe treachery of Tilden in 1880 Gen
eral Hancock would be President to-day
This fact has been well known to Genera
llancook's friends ever since the election. |
ought to be known to every democrat in The
country, and will be when their attention il
called to the figures that ! have given you
Evidence Preserved.
Judge, have you taken any means to per
petuate the statement made to you by you
friend that you have narrated?"
Judge -.-Ihave Immediately after th,
election in 1880, | saw the gentleman ant
urged upon him the proprety Of putting hi.
conversation with Tideu in the form OF at
affidavit and swearing to it. After much
solicitation he did so. l now have thai
affidavit in my possession and may see the
necessity OF using it. Until then shall with.
hold 1t as have so promised him would.
Such Is the statement made by an earnest
worker for the Democi attic cause in 1880 II
was made with evident belief in its truthful
ness, and he stands ready, when necessity
requires, to furnish the evidence upon whict
his belief ia based. The Courgnt pubishe.
this story as another contribution to the his
tory Of the Hancock campaign.