The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-06


life occupied Ia their service, and the fruits
of his professional labors were literally surren-
dered to them. His friendships were cordial and
lasting, and many Of his most distinguished con-
| temporaries were included in their circle. No
man was fonder than he of the intercourse OF in
| tellectual and agreeable persons. and no one
knew better how to exercise a large and elegant
hospitality His reading was extensive and va
ried In history and in the science of politics he
was peculiarly well informed. In everything
that belongs to the sphere of legislator. a
lawyer or statesman his intellect was
broad, minute and exhaustive. He apprehended
at once the principles, the antecedents and the
details of every question The two octave vol
unes in which his public writings and speeches
are collected are a mine of wisdom, and whether
We wish to understand the politics, the finances,
the public works or the constitutional doctrines
of the country, we must resort to them as pre-
cious store-house of instruction.
The intellectual gifts of Mr.. Tilden were of
the highest order; but the most remarkable
quality of his mind, next to its moral courage
and its fidelity to principle, was the comprehen-
sive nature of his judgment He saw the whole
OF a subject He studied IL through and through.
He mastered 1t in every respect He pursued it
In all OF its remote ramifcations, and when ne
came to discuss it in public. his views were so
expansive, his arguments SO clear, and his pre-
sentation SO luminous that all intelligent minds
were carried along with him, and the results al
which he had arrived were transferred to his
audience, to his readers. to the public
AS politician, Mr. Tiden's power has, per-
haps, not been appreciated at its full value even
by experts. To all the arts of commonplace
political management he was stranger He
never sought to beguile any citizen out OF his
vote. or to win by trick, fattery or fawning the
support of tie people. No man was ever less of
q demagogue than he. Tact, history, argument.
suggestions to reason and to patriotism were his
appeal to voters He understood the value of
organization, and when he was at the head Of
the New York State committee, every county.
town and school district of the State was duly
attended to in this regard. He kept list Of the
influential men in each district, and not only
sent public documents and papers to them, but
sent personal correspondence, also These let
ters were usually autographed in fac-simile of
his writing and were signed with his own hand
The labor of sending them out was immense,
several clerks being sometimes employed at it;
but such correspondence was worth all it cost
The difficult investigation, the bringing out of
what WAS hidden, the revelation of secret wrongs
committed against the people, possessed a charm
for Mr.. Tilden, and some of his great successes
were achieved in that way. Familiar examples
of this fact are his investigation into the frauds
of Tweed and his confederates in this city, and
his overthrow Of the canal ring Here we saw
the acute intellect the indefatigable student the
tireless intellectual detective dragging to light
viilainies committed with unexampled cunning
and put away behind concealments almost be-
yond the power of human penetration. But they
had not reckoned upon the genius that set to
pose that other man could have done what
Mr. 1ilden did in these matters. Other portions
of his career were greater and more important,
but nowhere else was his vast ability or his
faithfulness to public duty more admirably dis
played.
In both these cases the offenders were promi-
nent and powerful In the political party with
which Mr.. Tilden was identified and any ordi
nary politician would have left it to some mem
Der of the opposing party to attack them. But
this was not Mr.. Tildens style. Heidi not so
understand the obligations of party fealty. A
Democrat who had defrauded the people and
plundered the treasury was to him even more
an object Of detestation than a Republican of
the same sort. In striking at the canal ring he
struck at one of the mostpotent political forces
in the State, but his blows were all the more I'M
sparin: because well-known Democrats were the
chief offenders
In this way Mr.. Tilden was one of the greatest
reformers we have seen. He reformed the State
government, ard made New York better Com
monwealth to live in, and the people of the State
stood by him, and, IN spite of all the enemies he
had made. gave him in 1876, when he was a can
didate for the presidency q majority OF more
than thirty thousand
In 1876 Mr.. Tilden was elected President and
through Republican conspiracy was deprived
of the office. OF these facts there is now no
question among intelligent and candid men in
any party. He has been blamed by some for
not asserting his rights, calling the Democratic
masses about him, and raising the standard of
resistance against the outrageous decision. We
have never been able to agree with this blame,
and it seems to US that history will justify
his conduct in that memorable crisis. 81
will never" he said to as at the time "be party
to any course which will array my countrymen
| in civil war against each other. will not have
| a stain of bloodshed on my garments" He pre-
ferred rather to leave the controversy to the
Judgment Of time and the justice of the people
That Judgment was promptly formed, but it
never had an opportunity of authoritative ex-
preston. This was due. in a measure, to the
same moderation and dignity of character which
he exhibited at the contamination of the fraud
In 1880, and again in 1884, he refused to enter
into any competition for the honor OF the presi-
dency. He would not present himself as can
didate. He would not allow it to be supposed
that he desired the nomination of the convention.
In truth. he did not desire it. We thought at
the time that he carried too far this
instinct of independence, this scrupulous
unwillingness to compete for the office;
and we felt especially in 1880 that the conven-
tion was in the wrong when it failed to nominate
him without regard to his word or wish. Ger
tanly profound impulse of dissatisfaction has
prevailed throughout the country ever since
Millions OF men. the men of all parties, have de-
sired that the great wrong should be righted, and
that they might be allowed to give him their
SURFACES. This feeling has remained ardent and
intense to the very hour of his death. Many
friends of his were ready to urge that willing or
unwilling, well or ill, he should be nominated
and elected 20 the presidency to vindicate the
right of the people to correct the unspeakable
infamy committed in 1877. But his death has
put an end to all these hopes, and the man who
more than any other represented tho very prin-
ciple of the Republic. and whose part in Its his
tory is unique and imperishable, has passed
away from among us forever.
Ex-President Hayes's Sentiments.
CLEVELAND, O., Aug. ga special from Ere
mont, says: Last evening the editor of the
Democratic Messenger requested an interview
lxxr;sl h e L.