Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1886-08-12
DEATH OF TILDEN.

den had been in very feeble health
for some time, but his sudden death
was not expected. For some time
he had boon suffering from paraly-
sis, and physically he was wreck
although he retained his mental
faculties unimpaircd till the last.
From a sketch OF his life publish
ed in the Galveston News we con-
donce the following: Samuel
Jones Tilden was born IN New lie.
banon, Columbia county, N. Y,
February 9, 1914. He came of a
sturdy and honest race. His an
cestors were among the pilgrims OF
Massachusetts. In 1890 John Til
den the grand father of Samuel J.
TIlden removed from Massachu'
sets to New York. Tildcn's pa,
rents were well-to-do people, and
Samuel had tho benefit of q
thorough education. He entered
politics at the age of Is and living
in the same neighborhood with
Martin Van Buren, was thrown fire.
quently in his company. He en-
tered Yale college but his health
giving way from too close attcr-
ton to his studies he was fore
ed to retire. At Yale IN 1887 he
was . member of the class to which
William NJ. Evarts, Chief Justice
Waite, Edwards Plcrrepont and
other famous men belonged. He
completed his academic course at
the University of New York. He
was admitted to the bar in 1871
and opened an Office in New York
and was successful from the start.
He made himself master of 4 case
before he undertook TO prosecute
or defend it. This was his rule
through life. AT one time he was
the editor of tho Morning News a
leading Democratic paper in New
York. He was elected to the leg
lslature in 1S45 and q member OF
the Now York constitutional con-
vention of 1916. In 1855 he was
the Democratic candidate for at
torney general ofNew York, but
was beaten on account of his anti
prohibition views. From 1855 to
1860 he was engaged in all the
leading and most lucrative cases
before the higher courts of New
York. He was famous for his ox-
posure of Tweed and the breaking
up of the Tweed ring IN New York
in 1872. As reformcr he had no
equal. In 1876 at the National
Democratic convention, held IN st.
Louis, he was nominated for the
presidency and was elected, but by
a conspiracy Inaugurated by the
Republicans, he way swindled out
of the Office by the celebrated 8 TO
I vote. He refused TO countenance
any attempt to seat him in theWhite
House by outraged Democrats.
He refused TO accept tho nomina-
ton in 1880 and again In 1884.
The civil war had well-nigh de-
stroyed the Democratic party,
which tor more than half contu-
ry, had ruled the country. Mr..
Tllden, by his power of organiza-
ton and his special aptitude in
party management, by his skill in
graphing with and his persistence
in waging war against corruption
inside and outside his own party,
made possible the reinstatement
of the Democratic party.
Seven years ago he determined
10 retire to enjoy that repose which
years of arduous work IN public
and private affairs entitled him to
have, and which an ample fortune
enabled him to find. In 1879 he
bought Greystone, one of the state
lest places on the Hudson river,
near New York city. There he
spent the greatostor part of his
life for the past seven years.
As political manager Mr.. Til
don never had a superior IN this
country. He always managed, in
advance OF party conventions, 10
direct the peoples thoughts toward
certain issues, and the men whose
character and services most fifty
illustrated them. lie trusted very
little TO chances, and still less to
combinations on the eve Of con-
ventions.
MIR. Tilden was q statesman and
a patriot, and he will rank IN his
tory is one of the greatest men Of
his age. He was never married,
but he leaves 4 number of noph,
ews and neices.