The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-04-18


during the past week concerning a statement tnai
appeared in the "Random Notes. column of The
HERALD on Sunday last about Congressman W.
l.. Scott's connection with the Tilden campaign
and especially the part played by him In the events
which succeeded the election of Tden. do not
desire TO do injustice to any man and surely no
injustice can be done when the simple facts are re-
lated-by comparing the vacilatng and timid course
Of Hewitt seconded by Barnum, with the more manly
position occupied by Scott. The facts are briefly as
follows:
Immediately after the election OF Tilden-the very
day following that eection-the Tiden and Hem
tricks Club OF this city determined to hold as speed
lily as 1t could be done grand mass meeting and
torchlght procession, in which our neighbors OF
Maryland and Virginia were invited to participate.
1t was proposed to have IL possible, some.twenty-
five thousand men in line. with grand display of
mounted men from the adjacent counties. The
proposition, when announced, met with enthusiastic
responses from Democrats, hut with burst of ndig.
nation and denunciation from Republicans and
weak.backed independents" The New York
Herald announced that there was serious danger OF
an attack by q mob upon the vaults of the United
States Treasury, and 1t was suggested that troops
be sent to Washington to prevent the awful conse-
quences predicted In case the demonstration should
be held.
Everything was being put In readiness for the cee-
bration, when about the goth OF November Mr..
Hewitt, OF New York, then chairman Of the National
Democratic Committee, wrote the club that In his
opinion such meetings were premature; that we
should await final returns that under the circum-
| stances the meeting should be postponed especially
as the Administration was assembling troops at
Washington, which might lead to collision between
the citizens and the troops. OF course, the club
bowed to the decision OF the head Of the party the
close and confidential friend OF Mr. Tilden, and sup
posed to speak his sentiments.
Now am Informed that MIR. W. H. Scott opposed
from the start this do-no,hng policy OF inaction.
| know Of my own knowledge from what he said ant
did shortly afterwards that he thought the House OF
Representatives, acting under the provisions of the
Constitution should proceed to elect Mr.. Tilden and
that he believed the country would stand by the
House.
In January the National Committee so far re.
axed its grip upon the people kindly permit them
to hold series OF protesting public meetings. One OF
these-and the most important-was held In this city
at FOrd's Opera House, at which Representative
waterson made his celebrated threat OF 100 900 men
being In readiness to come to Washington to see
Tilden inaugurated. This was truer than he knew
although he afterwards qualified the statement by
saying they were coming with petitions not weapons
in their hands.
Shortly after this meeting an enrolment was begun
OF Union veterans who believed that Tilden was
| elected, and Gen. John NJ Corse, of Alatoona fame
was placed at the head of it. This not paper
organization. 1t had Its branches In every Northern
State and in this District as well. and an actual en-
rolment was made, which showed an army large
enough to back up the House In the exercise OF III
constitutional prerogatve of electlng a President.
This being the case, have often been asked whI
| the Democratic party backed down? The answer II
| patent TO every one who was acquainted with tn,
| transactions OF that period. II was because the
moneyed men OF the Democratic party, who were II
the lead In Its councils, were not willing to take tn,
bold stand In favor of the exercise by the House
Its prerogative OF election. Mr.. Scott on the con
rary, believed In the bolder and better course, ant
was willing for to stake his fortunes on the sid,
| Of right. When the "last dtchn meeting was helt
at Tamadge Hall In this city Just proceeding tn,
| nnal counting In OF Hayes Mr.. Scott countenancet
| 1t and attended 1t. lie showed them no lack OF
courage. on the contrary, he was determined in thu
belief that even then 1t was not too late for the
| House 10 retrace its steps and elect Tilden.
| As an Instance OF the feelings that swayed meu
from their better judgment In those dark days
will relate an Interview held with the late Senator
| Bogy. OF Missouri, by two gentlemen, who called
upon him to invite him to address the proposed cele
| bratlon OF Tilden's election. Senator Bogy, upoI
being asked to address the meeting, declined mOs
| peremptorily. "YOu remind me" he said, ''of the
little boys who lighted haystack Just for the fur
OF seeing II burn, and VIII thus destroyed the barn
Now, gentlemen" said he, continuing, "the only
| course to be pursued Is a conservative course.
have here In my drawers" and the Senator, who
was seated at table, opened drawer and pulled
out handful OF letters, communications from the
leading business men OF IT. Louis They write me
to go slow. They say that they have been notified
by the st. Louis banks that the New York banks
have given them notice that II there Is any prospect
OF trouble all loans will be called IN at once, and
that the st. Louis banks will have to pursue the
same policy with their customers. Gentlemen,
said the Senator, "the money OF the country ID
against agitation, and we must do the hest we can
but no ncendary meetings must be held"