The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-26
THE SAGE OF GRAMERCY.
Hark from the Tombs, a Doleful
Sound for Blooms.
Samuel Jones Tilden, a Man Not Unknown
to Fame, Alive, Well, and in the
Ring for 1884.

Reports have reached Albany within the
last few days that fall upon the Democratic
ear like a voice from the tomb. The Autter-
ing among the party leaders who have heard
the welcome or unwelcome news is an indi-
cation of the Joy or the trepidation that will
seize upon the rank and file of the Democ-
racy when the facts become more generally
known. The tidings are that Samuel j. Til
den, the whilom sage of Gramercy Park,
but more recently known as the hermit OF
Greystone, has got "a new lease of
life, and proposes to re-enter the po-
litical arena. Gentlemen who have
visited Greystone during the last month
are surprised and delighted at the marked
and rapid improvement in Mr.. Tilden's bod
lily condition and health. They say his voice
is fully restored and is now clear and firm,
his eye is brilliant and penetrating, his nerves
are steady, his carriage erect, his tread almost
martial in its evenness and solidity. His
mental vigor, which always remained uninl-
paired even in his worst bodily state, now
acts tremendously with restored physical
strength ard recuperated energy. In a word,
he appears to be and thinks ne is about en-
tering upon that Indian summer of life
WAASh AAOWOo Viz oShNAC ANU U Aio
friend Charles 0'Conor, and which has been
vouchsafed to SO many distinguished men Of
the present and past generations. In fact, he
attributes his restoration to health in great
part to his following the example of O'Conor,
who, after escaping from the jaws of death,
dismissed his doctors, "threw physic to the
dogs" and, retiring from the active duties
and cares of the world, lived a regular
m~ethodical life, and allowed nature to recu-
perate. Mr.. Tilden fully understood what
he was about when he retired to his country
home at Greystone and allowed it to be given
out that he was no longer in the field of poll
tics and might not much longer be in the
land of the living. He desired to escape for
a time from the politicians, and he succeeded.
Many of them we're foolish enough to inter
pref him literally, as they did at Cincinnati.
These are the men who have been running
around telling everybody for the last eight
months that "Tllden was no longer a factor
in politics." that he twas little better than a
corpse, and would never be heard of any
more" Some of them really believed it, but
with more the wish was father to the
thought" The hermit of Greystone heard
their voices through. his telephone, and was
grieved to detect among the iubilant the tones
Of some who had always professed TO be his
warmest friends, but he allowed the jabber to
go on while he smiled and regained his
health. How quick these fellows will change
their tone and swear they never said so,
when they behold Sammy's head looming
up again above the political horizon. They
will ind that the surviving factors Of the
Democratic party have a lively corpse on
their hands when. the next presidential
camp align opens. A few of Mr.. Tilden's
intimate friends have understood the situa-
ton all the while, and have known the
motives and objects of his retirement, but
the public generally have accepted the re-
ports OF the politicians as true, and have
come to regard the Sage of Gramercy Park"
as a defunct politician, and almost a dead
man. And yet there has been some mis-
giyings about it when they read in the news
papers that Mr.. Tilden was expanding
$4,000 on a banquet hall in the Gramercy
Park residence. Such extravaganza appears
to the common mind uncalled for in the
corpse of a bachelor and not in accordance
with the usual prudence and foresight of
Tilden if he was SO near his end as reported.
But the public will learn in due time that
the $40, 600 dining-room was destined for the
future use of its owner and his friends, and
not for the mourners at his funeral. Its fres-
coed ceilings are yet to echo the sounds of
revelry by night and maybe to resound
with the cheers of future Democratic tri-
umph. There are shrewd politicians who
believe that the Gramercy Park mansion will
be the real headquarters of the National
Democratic party In the campaign of 1884.
Mr.. Henry Tilden, the brother of Samuel j.,
has been in Albany the last two days, and
fully confirms the reports of the great i'm
provement in his brothers health, although
he is reticent about his future plans and
prospects. But Samuel was never in the
habit of pouring into the ears of Henry his
political secrets or private schemes. He re-
serves these for his special friends and ad-
mirers in the world of politics who are sin
cerely devoted to his personal fortunes. He
is reported to have had a recent accession to
to his secret circle in the person of Roscoe
Conkling. Something in the nature of an al
| lance, offensive and defensi We, is said to have
been lately contracted between these two
disappointed statesmen. 1t is well known
that Mr.. Conkling was in favor of counting
Mr.. Tilden into the office in 1876. on the
ground that it would ultimately be for the
best interests of the Republican party.
What he was willing to do IN 1876 for Repub-
licanism he is said to be anxious to do now
for revenge.
Mr.. Tilden gladly accepted him as an ally
without scrutinizing his motives. If success
crowns the alliance Conkling will get his re-
ward. In any event it cannot be less than
he has a right to expect from his own party
in the future. Mr.. Tilden is reported to have
been led to the idea of re-entering the politi-
cal arena not more by reason of his i III proved
health than his great disgust at seeing the
Democratic party frittering away the great
opportunity gained by the tidal wave triumph
of last fall. 1t grieves him to behold the
shortsightedness of the Democratic politi-
clans who are running the party, and the
pettiness of the motives that actuated them.
He and his friends see the need of an ex.
perienced and level-headed pilot to grasp the
helm before the Democratic ship gets much
nearer the whirlpool of the presidential cam
paign. 1t is with some reluctance that he
consents to take the helm again, but if his
country, or the Democratic party, which he
considers the same thing, demands it, he
will obey. The autumnal period of his life
was one of trials, and was crowned with q
great political disappointment, but hi.
friends believe that his wrongs will vet be
righted, and that the Indian summer on
which he is now entering with rejuvenated
vigor is destined to be a period of triumph,
and that his life will be rounded out in
peace, contentment and glory.