Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-05
THE DEATH OF SAMUEL J. TILDEN

TIE Or SEAhl
Almost Ikea lightning bolt from u clear
sky m the news of the death Of Hon.
SAMUEL JONES TILDEN, ex-President Of
the United States. Although it was
known that Mr.. TILDES had been in deli
cate health for some time past yet the an
noucement was a shock, and in many
quarters was received with incredulity.
The news, that the brave and staunch old
heart, that has sustained and sent the life
blood rushing through the veins Of the
Democratic party in many a trying hour,
had suddenly failed, was put aside as n
hoax. The country had scarcely ceased
reading a letter of advice to Congress, from
the venerable leader, written with n mind
ofpristine yigOr and clearneSs, when the
news flashed before its eyes that death had
palsied the writer's hand and snatched
from the country one of its greatest and
grandest men.
1t cannot be said that he left his life's
work unfinished, though through the most
gigantic fraud of the country's history, was
taken from him the means Of rounding
and concentrating his great career. But
even this circumstance has gained him the
sympathy of his enemies, whose hands
were unstained by participation in the out
rage and endeared him a hundred fold to
his eountry's heart. That dark page in
our history is now brought wildly to mind
and bitter regret and renewed condemna-
ton come from all sides. 1t was n foul
blow that struck from his hand n well
earned triumph which he was too old ever
again to regain.
In Mr.. TmDEN's death the country
loses one who was a friend to it in its
greatest need, a loyal and patriotic sup
porter from loyalty and patriotism alone.
But the State of New York loses even
more than this, it loses a benevolent and
wise parent, who, single handed, battled
for it's rights and overthew the most flag
rant system of public fraud in the history
of the United States.
For the past ten years OF his life Mr..
TILDEN had lived in quiet and seclusiOn
at his beautiful home in New York State,
but ever keeping a watchful and fatherly
eye upon his country. His advice upon
public measures has ever been readily and
mOdestly given when sought and up to
the hour of his death his word has been
weighty in the councils Of the nation.
The Democratic party which he loved so
well and so truly has lost a tower of
moral strength and down to the bottom of
every Democratic heart bitter regret and
sadness will reign. The party had IN
bounded confidence in his wisdom and re-
garded his word as prophetic and will
mourn him as q wise and loving father.
Long, in our hearts will the memory Of
this grand and noble old man be kept
fresh and green, and in the generations to
come, when the bitterness of rank party
strife, intensified by recOllections and hates
of q great interneeine wal, is forgotten,
the impartial historian will accord the de
ceased statesman, not only the greatness
which is his, but also the indubitable right
to the title of Chief Magistrate of the
United States for the term to which
he was elected. Already, so great has
been the change in the public mind since
Mr.. TILDES's election, that the quotation
below from the Hon. j. S. BLACKS argu-
ment before the Electoral Commission
assumes prophetic accuracy:
The refuge oflies shall be swept away, and the
hiding place OF falSehood shall be uncovered