The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-27
THE SAGE OF GREEsT0NE.
Interesting Reports in Regard to Sam
mel j. Tilden.
He is Fully Restored to Health---Prol,-
ability of His Remittance
into Politics.


NEW YoRk. March 24.-An Albany
special to the Times says that reports
have reached there within the past few
days that fall upon the democratic ear
| like a voice from the tomb. The fiutter-
| ing among the party leaders who have
heard the welcome or unwelcome news is
an indication of the JOY or trepidation
that viii seize upon the rank and file of
the democracy when the facts become
more generally known. The tidings is
that Samuel j. Tilden, the whilem sage of
Gramercy Park, but more recently known
as the Hermit of Greystone," has got
new lease of life, and proposes to re-enter
the political arena. Gentlemen who have
visited Greystone some during the past
month are surprised and delighted at. the
marked and rapid improvement in Mr..
Tilden's bodily condition and general
health. They say his voice is fully re
stored, and is now clear and firm, his eye
brilliant and penetrating, his nerves are
steady, his carriage erect and head almost
martial in its evennees and sol.dity. His
mental vigor, which always remained un-
impaired even in his worst bodily state.
now acts tremendously with restored
physical strength and recuperated energy,
and nervous power.
In work, he appears to be. and thinks
he is, about entering upon that "Indian
summer" of life which followed the
severe prostration of his friend Charles
OConnor, and which has been vouch-
safed 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
OConor. who after escaping from the
jaws of death, dismissed his doctor,
threw physic to the dogs" and retiring
from the active duties and cares of world,
lived regular lnethodical life and al
lowed nature TO recuperate. Mr.. Tilden
fully understood what he was about when
he retired to his country home at Grey
stone and allowed it to be given out that
he was no longer in the field of politics
and might not much longer be in the land
of the living. He desired to escape for a
time from the politicians. and he sue
ceeded Many of them were
foolish enough to interpret him
literally, as they did at Gin
cinnati. These are the men that have
been running around telling everybody
for the last eight months that Tilden was
no longer factor in politics, that he was
little better than a corpse. and would
never be heard any more. Some of
them really believed it the ewish was
farther TO the thought"
Mr.. Tilden is reported to have had
recent nc cesson to his select circle in the
person of Roscoe Conkling. Something
in the same nature of an alliance offensive
and defensive, it is said to be lately con
tracted between these two disappointed
statesmen. 1t is well known that Mr.
Conkling was in favor of counting Tilden
into the office in 1876 on the ground. as
he claimed, that it would ultimately be
for the best interests and permanent sue
cess OF the republican party What he
was willing to do in 1876 for republican
ism 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 reward. In any
event it cannot be less than he has q
right to expect from his own party in the
future.
Mr.. Tilden Is reported to have been led
to entertain the idea of re.entering the
political arena, not more by his improved
health than by his great disgust at seeing i
the democratic party fritter away the OPP
portunities and privileges gained in the
tidal wave triumphs of last November
1t grieyes him TO behold the short-sight-
edness of the democratic politicians who
arc running the party and the pettiness OF
the motives that sactuate them. He and
his friends see the need of an experienced
and leyel-headed pilot to grasp the helm
before the democratic ship gets nearer:the
whirlpool of the presidential campaign
It is with some reluctance that he con
sents to take the helm again, but If his
country-or the democratic party. which
he considers the same thing-demand it
he will obey. The aatumnal period of |
his life was one oftrialss andswas crowned
with great political disappointment, but
his friends believe that his wrongs will |
yet be righted, and that the Indian |
summer" on which he is now entering |
with rejuvenated vigor is destined to be q |
period of triumph and that his life viii |
be rounded out in peace, contentment and |
GLORY