The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-08-12

Among his noteworthy cases were the
Flagg election case, in 1857, and later |
the Pennsylvania Coal Company case,
1t was as a railroad lawyer that he |
achieved his greatest successes. From |
1855 to 1869 more than one-half of |
the great railway corporations north
of the Ohio and between the Hudson |
and Missouri rivers were at sometime, |
his clients. All this time, however, he
was not by any means withdrawn
from politics, although neither seeking
nor holding public offices. He was
always called into service during po-
litlcal campaigns, his addresses being
among the most thoughtful of those
delivered.
TILDEN AND THE TWEED RING.
The Tweed ring ruled and plunder-
ed this city from 1869 to 1871. There
was no party opposition to the Boss"
His accomplices were leaders of both
organizations. He cajoled and bought.
Legislatures at Albany were elected
with the money stolen from the tax
payers of the city. 1t was saturna-
liza of crime. By 1870 the impudence
OF the ring had grown to be SO great
that the stealings of the conspirators
amounted to nearly s15 100000. Then
it was that the movement began which
ended in the overthrow of Tweed. 1t
was a work which brought Mr.. Tilden
the applause of men of all parties. To
complete it he accepted nomination
to the Legislature in the fall of 1871,
was elected without much concern of
party and secured such amendments
to what was known as the Tweed
charter as gave the people of New
York some protection against robbery.
NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR.
In 1874, after brief visit to Eur
ope the year before, Mr.. Tilden was
nominated for Governor. He was re-
cognized as the great reformer Of the
time. His services and the needs of
the hour demanded the nomination,
and overcame his unwillingness to ac-
cept it. His election followed, simply
because the people of the State believ-
ed in him. Tilden managed his own
campaign, Of course there was no one
could do it so we'll. Five or six weeks
before the election every school dis
trict in the State was polled and it was
ascertained within a few thousand
just how the election would vote, The
returns from this canvass Tilden kept
to himself 1t indicated to him where
party work was needed. That such
work was done, and effectively, must
be accepted as certain, as a second can
vass, taken week or ten days before
the election, enabled Mr. Tilden to
predict that he would be elected by
$4,000 majority.
MR.. TILDEN AS GOVERNOR.
When Mr. Tilden became Governor
of New York, January 1, 1875, his
first important step vas to destroy the
canal ring. Soon after his inaugura-
ton he began a systematic investiga
tion of the canal business and in less
than two months he had the bottom
facts and was ready to move on the
ring. He sent a special message to the
Legislature, accompanied by volum
inous exhibits, which completely ex-
posed the ring frauds and furnished
the proofs. It was quick, decisive
work There remained, of conrse,
much to be done, but it was matter
of detail only. The result was saw
ing to the taxpayers of the State the
enormous sum of sS,0OO,0OO per an
mum.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1876.
When the time came for holding the
national convention of 1876, Mr.. Til
den was by far the most prominent
candidate mentioned for the president
ial nomination. The organization of
his forces at the St. Louis convention
was perfect. He received the nomi-
nation on the first ballot. He stood
on perhaps the best made platform
ever adopted by political convention.
1t spoke for honest money, reduction
of tariff taxes, civil service reform,
and was bold in its declarations
against the corruptions of the Grant
administration.
The campaign was one Of the most
notable in the history OF the country.
1t was under Governor Tilden's direct
ion and up to the close of the polls
was without a mistake. Its events are
sufficiently familiar not to need re-
counting here. Mr.. Tilden was
ELECTED TO THE PRESIDENCY
by decided majority of electoral
votes sustained by popular majority.
The result was astonishing to the Re-
publicans, but on the morning sue
ceeding the election everybody con
ceded the Democratic success but the
chairman and d few members Of the
Republican national committee and
one Republican paper in New York
city, which spoke at their instigation.
All that happened during the succeed
ing months and up to the Inauguration
| Of Mr. HAYES is known to every