Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1884-06-14

Brief History of Tilden's Cipher
Dispatches of 1876 from
Democratic Source.

The newspapers which think the "old
ticket" would sweep over the country
like Georgia cyclone. take no account
of the defensive attitude into which the
Democratic party would be thrown by
the nomination of Mr.. Tilden. 1t may
do good to jog their political memories.
When the hrst returns came in on the
night of the election in 1876, it was
clear that the result depended on the
votes of two or three Southern States.
Republican agents were promptly dis
patched to Florida and South Carolina,
aud afterwards to Louisiana. The OBJ
ject was to manipulate the returning
boards and secure votes for the Repub
lican ticket. Not to be outdone, Mr..
Tilden put his own agents in the field.
These agents were Manton Marble, Mr..
Tilden's intimate friend and champion,
and William E. Pelton, his nephew and
private secretary. On the I'D Of Dec.
a dispatch signed "Marble" went to
Mr.. Tilden's residence in Gramercy
Park, from Florida, saying that the vote
of that State could be had for $500 900,
and the reply went back: "Proposition
too high" At the same time another
person telegraphed that it could be had
for $50, Evidently to avoid the
danger Of paying twice for the same
goods dispatch was sent from New
York to Marble accepting the PROPOSE
ton, "if only done once" And the
admonition was added: Slime very
important, and there should be no divid-
ed councils" While this characteristic
attempt at cheapening had been going
on, however, thu Republican agents
"got in their work." and the Florida lot
was closed out. The failure was an
nounced in his historic dispatch to
Grammercy Park: "Proposition failed.
Finished yesterday. Last night Wooley
found me and said he had nothing, which
knew already. Tell Tilden to saddle
Blackstone favorite horse, recrea-
ton being then his only solace. From
the day after election until the 5th Of
December sixty-eight cipher dispatches
passed between Democratic principals
and agents relative to the Florida vote.
The most important and damning of
them were sent or received by Mr.. Pei
ton, at Mr.. Tilden's house.
A similar attempt at "recouping by
bribery" was made and failed in South
Carolina, and then the famous Oregon
deal was undertaken. The scheme was
to induce the Governor to issue certif-
cate to Cronin, one of the defeated
Democratic candidates, for elector, and
to bride one of the two Republican
electors to act with him, thus securing a
majority. Mr.. Patrick, an ardent friend
of Mr.. Tilden, was elected to manage
the direct negotiations, and nephew Pei
ton in Grammercy Park represented the
headquarters. On the 18th of Novem-
Der Patrick sent this word from Oregon;
Certificate will be issued to one Dem.
ocrat. Must purchase Republican elect
or to recognize and act with Democrat
and secure vote and prevent trouble.
Deposit $40 900 to my credit. Kountze
Bros, No. IL Wall street. Answer"
The secretasy of Mr.. Tilden replied,
asking how soon the Governor would
issue the certificate, and offering to make
the payment, "contingent on result in
March," Here again was fatal hesita-
ton. The Governor replied direct to
Mr.. Tilden, notifying him that he should
grant the certificate to the Democratic
elector on the morning of December 9th.
Mr.. Patrick was meanwhile calling for
the "ante," as the terse language OF this
section would have expressed it. Con-
tingencies could not enter into a game
that meant win or lose all. Partly con.
WINGED, though again too late, word
went from Grammercy Park: Deposited
eight for counsel fee y as directed.
Understand not to be used unless they
carry out arrangement, recognize Dem.
ocratic elector; and duly forward vote to
the Vice President. This deposit was
never used, as Patrick was on his way
from Oregon to San Frracisco before the
news of the deposit reached him, and,
ere he could retrace his steps, or any
one be secured to act in his place, the
electoral vote had been cast by the two
Republican electors.
We may say what we please about
Republican rascality and "hghting the
devil with fire." but it ought to be evil
dent that the sage of Grammercy Park
is hardly the right sort of person to pre-
sent to the American people as the
champion of political reform. 1t is no
sufficient defense to say that Mr.. Tilden's
agents attempted to recover by bribery
what had been taken from the Demo-
cratic party by fraud. Delicate distinc-
tions are not appreciated by the masses
Of the people, nor will the plea that
the dalliance with the Presidential
electors was futile 60 far to improve
Mr.. Tilden's Decentralization Meas