Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1886-08-20
Official Paper of Griggs County
SAMUEL j. TILDEN.

SAMUEL j. TILDEN.
When it became clear that if the
Tweed ring was mot routed the demo-
cratic party was doomed, Mr.. Tilden,
following up the attacks of the New
York Times, with the shrewdest busi-
ness and legal skill, pursued them
through the courts. and sent them to
prison. For this the democratic party
was forced to reward him With the nom-
imation for governor of New York. and
lie was elected by Il majority of 10000,
reversing Il majority as large for his
predecessor. So the exposure of the
democratic ring of tins city. so far from
running the democratic party, became,
through the ability, astuteness. and far
sightedness of Mr.. Tilden. the occasion
of making the party supreme in the
state.
AS governor. Mr.. Tllden was shrewd
and brave enougll-and why should we
not say honest encugh?-to carry on his
work of reform by a magnificent war on
the corrupt canal ring, in which conflict
he was once more brought into opposi.
tion to those who were most active and
corrupt in his own party. but here
again, he was successful and won great
honor for himself and again made the
corruption in his party the occasion of
its victory. This superb courage
which could throw overheard the Jonahs
for the Safety OF the Ship, is quality
which General Grant never had, and the
lack of which was the occasion of seri
GUS INJURY TO the republican party. 1t
is a part Of the excellence of great
leader.
After two such great achievements,
proving that, as represented by him, the
democratic party might be able to pos
ture as the party of reform, there was
no course open to that party but to
nominate him for president i'm 1876.
New York gave him its vote; and so
mach Of the Solid South was in the
hands of violence and fraud that it was
hastily assumed that Mr.. Tllden had a
majority of the electoral votes. They
were claimed loudly enough; but the
certificates CT election were given in
Florida and Louisiana to the republican
electors, giving Mr.. Hayes a majority
OF just one single vote. The charges of
fraud were banded back and forth, and
and public opinion was almost equally
divided. That under free election
both Florida and Louisiana would have
given an overwhelming majority to
Hayes there was no doubt. but whether
they had done SO was Il more difficult
question to answer 1t seemed at last
the only way to settle the doubt for con-
gress to refer the evidence to commits
sion composed of five democratic and
five republican senators, and five judges
OF the supreme court. of whom two
were republicans and two democrats.
and the fifth was David Davis. who was
supposed to have democratic leanings.
by one of the cleyerest devices ever
known i'll American politics, Judge Da-
Wis was elected by the transfer of repub-
llcan votes. United States senator from
Illinois, no doubt much to his relief;
and his place in the commission was
necessarily taken by Judge bradley, a
republican.
The democratic party having consent
ed to the commission when its compo-
sition was in its favor, could do nothing
but submit to its result. Mr.. Hayes
having preserved most dignfied atti-
tude. could do nothing but accept the
office when it was decided by the COM
appointed by almost the unani-
nous vote Of congress, to be his.
Tilden's private secretary, and prom
inent democrats. with or without his |
attempted to seduce one of the
republican electors to vote for Mr. Til
den; and perhaps the attempt might
have been successful if it had not been
Any elector who had con-
sented to barter us vote would hardly
have found his life safe. This attempt
being made from Mr.. Tilden S own head
quarters the responsibility of it was at
tributed to him. and it forms the dark