The sun., 1886-06-03
TEE aRnhr pEMocRAr.
san,usl .. Tide. sna the Deveiepuaent or his
Political Philosophy.

Political Fhnossphr.
FROM me Critic
It is striking tribute to the excellence Of
sbceShes and writings oi Samuel j. Tilden.
that both here and abroad tho two volumes
Biography & Of the statesman. not merely an ap.
pendix-like collection OF miscellaneous docn.
PSs9 M sn SSPs Ss has ss
have a sketch Of. his public career and an esti:
or H Justice. g. % The plan followed by the editor in
nS he Gt 'oG o Is So ndeou
80 lucid are the brief chapters in which Mr..
Bigelow carries the reader from paper to
paper, explaining circumstances and relations.
that the book has the interest OF q continuous
Mr.. Tiiden seems never to have been a very
young man intellectually. In tho earnest lot
tors In which the poy Of 10 attaeked the heresy
Il Tho mena spp and d G and
reasoning which distinguish the more. impor-
tant papers q his later years. sparipg Of speech
awonderfu degree tho faculty Of analysis and
pose. and aiming constantly at results to be
reached by strong argument presented In tho
be q
philosophy than any American statesman
Tho is Or has been his contemporary
who dissent from his, views of the Fundamental
principles will be alike impressed with the
lie has been for half ace. century tut o one OF tho few
original thinkers In American po!itics-one OF
tho very few who have succeeded throughout
pedIeney bend always to philosophy. with al!
Mr.. Tilden's consummate skill in the arts. of
partisan, in tho narrow sense. appears in his
declarations. lis ca IN thought aud wise fore
great questions OF the last flity years. ' and yet
whose recorded utterances. considered as q
whole or In detail, can better stand the test OF
follows Mr. FfIden's s" Career ser from KindsrhSos
cal philosopher as. Of the man Of action, There
is. as we have said. no .crudity even in his car.
liost political ESSAYS. Nature gave him at tho
faro. His treatment Of tho difficult problems
affecting the national finances. under Jacksons
ance Of tho sii.a.T;cno;Ging siiaT powers attompt to
mako the NATURALIZATION OF slavery the test ar
tice Of Democratic faith. his loyal efforts to
predletea. are al Ii oharas.srIzsd .i By the sane @
in his pubo wriinss and speeohes p after Ibis bis
idens had begun to dominate the party. The
evolution the progressive movement that may
OF Mr.. Tilden's personal Influence on party
counses and the. country's airairs-a steady
iame. and through municipal. state. and ma. a.
what gives the book a! unity and ,dfanatt-
combinations. The good taste and skill Of Mr..
Dgeow's unobtruslve management OF this
theme deserve the highest praise; 4 hundred
made more significant the story which the sim;
ple Chronological sequence OF letters and
Naturally; there is little in the book that OK
hibits Mr.. Tilden as tho practical politician
the greatest master in his time 81 the arts Of
cipllne.. It is In this aspect alone that many Of
Mr.. Tilden's fellow citizens have persisted In
regarding him. "A remark that has been at
tributed to Mr.. Tilden. rightly or wrongly is
characteristic enough. and contains the true
s1panation Of his success success q as a party leader.
whispered to friend who approached him on
the subject Of his rotations with the, party Of
which he was then the active CHIEF We think
that tho bittorest political onemy Of Mr.. Tilden
cannot study his life record as here presented
ip its entirety without reaching the c9nyiction
by virtue Of the highest qualities Of statesman
ship. nor without increased respect for the sin
certy. Of his motives. the wisdom and un-
syerylng loyalty Of his patriotism. and the un-
selashness OF caroer that ends with dignity In
tho memorable letter declining for second
time a nomination that meant election to the
office that is statesmanship's greatestsprize