Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-09-11
Tilden's Election.
G-n. GrMnt's H-iief about II.

MI II lllS, Ill lilc y. l . lTlbuilt.
Gen. Grant was staying with me
during the canvass of the election
between Tllden and Hayes, and on
the morning of the momentous day
he accompanied me to my Office.
In few moments an eminent Re-
publican Senator and one or two
other leading Republicans walked
in, and they went over the returns
These leaders said Hayes is
elected an opinion in which the
others coincided. Gen. Grant lis
tened, but said nothing. After they
bad settled the matter in their own
minds he said: Gentlemen, it
looks to me as if Mr.. Tllden was
elected" He afterward sent for me
in Washington and said: "This
matter is very complicated, and the
people will not be satisfied unless
something is done in regard 10 it
which will look like justice. "
" Now," he continued, 81 have
spoken of an Electoral Commission,
and the leaders Of the party are op-
posed to it, which l am sorry to see
They say that if an Electoral Com
mission is appointed you might as
we'll count in Mr.. Tilden. l would
sooner have Tildtn than that the
Republicans should have a Presi-
dent who could be stigmatized as a
fraud. If l were MIR. Hayes would
not have it unless it was settled in
some way outside of the Senate.
This matter is opposed by the lead
ing Republicans in the House and
Senate and throughout the coun-
try
President Grant invited the lead
ing Senators to dine with him that
day to get their sentiment. He said
to me: You see the feeling here.
l find them almost universally op-
posed to anything like an Electoral
Commission" l named q leading
Democrat in the House who was,
perhaps, one of the most prominent
men in the country, a man of great
influence and Of great integrity of
character, whom it would be we'll
for Gen. Grant to see in the matter,
and the suggestion was acted on.
l sent for this gentleman and put
the dilemma to him in President
Grants name as follows: 1t is very
hard for the President and very EN-.
barrassing as to men on his own
side that this matter does not seem
to find favor with them as we'll as to
have Democratic opposition. Re-
publicans think you might as well
count Tilden in, but as the feeling
throughout the country demands an
honest count of the thing as posi-
BILE, this Electoral Commission ought
to be appointed" The answer at
orce was that the Democrats would
favor it. and it was through that
gentleman and Gen. Grant that the
matter was carried through. Grant
was the originator of the plan. He
sent for Mr.. Conkliug, and said with
deep earnestness: "This matter is
serious one, and the people feel it
very deeply. I think this Electoral
Commission ought to be appointed.
Conkling answered, "Mr. Presi-
dent. Senator Morton [wlo was then
the acknowledged leader of the
Senatel is opposed to it, and op-
posed to your efforts; but if you
wish the Commission carried, I can
do it," He said. "I wish it done"
Mr.. Conkling took hold of the
matter and put it through. The
leading Democrat I have spoken OF
took the initiative in the House and
Mr.. Conkling in the Senate. Gen.
Patterson, OF Philadelphia, who was
an intimate friend of Gen. jackson,
and lifelong Dem ocrat was also
sent for. He had large estates in
the South and great deal of infu-
ence with the Democrats, and par.
ticularly with Southern Democrats.
Gen. Patterson was upward oi
eighty, but he came down there and
remained .one or two weeks, work
ing hard to accomplish the purpose
in view. After the bill had passed
and was waiting for signature, Gen.
Grant went to State fair in Mary
land the day it should have been
signed, and there was much pertur-
baton about it.
Gen. Grant acted in good faith
throughout the whole business. II
has been said that the changing
complexion of the court threw the
matter into Hayes hands, and il
the court had remained as it was,
Tilden would have been declared
President. Gen. Grant was the
soul of honor in this matter, and no
one ever accused him or even hintcd
that he was untruthful in any way
l, for one, don't believe that he
could tell u lie or act deceitfully.
The sweetest wstermelons grow in
somebody else's patch.