The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-08-13
AbFam 3. Hewitt on the PPcsidon>
tial Fraud Of 1879.


WAsHINorop. AuR. o. The people Of
Indiana especially remember The promi-I
nent part taken IN the celebrated TiIden|
md hendricks csmpaign Of Copgressman|
Abrsm q. Hewitt, who IN many ways|
was Mr.. Tilden's manager. The death
of Mr.. Tliden revives many Of the scenes
and incidents enacted 10 those trying
times, and there are many which
have never been told. The last inter-
view | ever had with Mr.. TlIden," said
Mr.. Hewitt, TO the Sentinel c0rrespons
dent, ~Wss when Mrs. Hewitt and my
oelf were about starting fcf Europe In
1889. Mr.. Tilden sent for my wife and
TO come and see him before We sailed.
We did %. and ! found him then very
feeble and did not expect him TO live
until / returned from abroad. Our intl-
macy and friendly relations were of
moro than forty yeare' duration. For .
long time after was married Mr.. Til
den was daily visitor at our house. He
used 10 come aud talk at great length
about matters OF public and general In
interest. He had habit Of walking up
and down the floor while be talked. So
continuously did he do this that traces
Of his footsteps were plainly visible iu
the carpet. always hsd . great admi-
ration for him. He was : man Of great
intellect and most wonderful powers.
From the time We first knew each other
until he became the candidate Of the
Democratic party for President We had
been the warmest and closest or friends.
had his confidence and be had mine.
During the great struggle OF 1876 we be-
came somewhat estrAnged, and from that
time until now We have not been at all
intimate. There werc many things
which took place during the time that
the Electoral Commission bill was pend
ing that the country knows nothing
about. Mr.. Tilden had attributed to
me want Of courage during those ex-
citing times. and l have no doubt has
often thought that WAS responsible for
his not having been inaugursted Presi-
dent. But II this he IVES mistaken. ]
did I'll In my power that vas honorable
to have him seated in the Office to which
there can be no doubt Of bis election.
II was Mr.. Tilden himself wao taltered
at the critical moment Had be taken
my advice be would have been the Pres
ident spent three deys In framing .
sV@t0g lOl MT AuuvuS ooy to8 ~ e&o
American people that be believed him
self to be the President-elect. and that
'on the 4sh day Of March, 1877. be would
come to Warrington to b inaugurated:
This letter took to Mr.. Tilden, and
did everything l could to get him q
Isign Il, but he refused. David Dudley
fFieId and myself spent . great while
with Mr.: TiIden, hoping % have hin
yield and sign the letter. It threw The
Presidency away By his refusal. still
have the letter with me. end TiIden's
writing on the subject, giving bic rea-
sons for not signing II. Il will al Be
made public some day. There 10 much
OF the history that has never been writ
ten. The letter Of Mr.. Tilden's upon
the subject OF the situation q the South
was written by me, aud l was over six
weeks In getting him % sign t. Thcso,
with many other instances when known
will show, l believe, that Il We Ar.
Tilden himself who was lacking in the
courage necessary for the trying situa-
tion OF that time.n