Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-08-12
Biains's Opinion of Gov. TiIden.


In his "ifwenty Years Of Congress" James q.
Blaine says OF Mr.. Tilden'
BY fortunate concurrence Of conditions
which he partly made, and which with signal
gained the one commanding position in the
Democratic party. He held the most vital
state Of the North in his grasp rodsed ae eh, tIo
discomfort with Republicanism and the
hope Of the Democracy. He evinced power
of leadership which no man in his party could
rival. The Democracy before his day could
count but four chiefs OF the firsf rank-Jetier-
son, Madison, Jackson, and Van Buren. Mr.
Tilden was not, indeed, leader OF the same
class with these masters who for SO long a
period shaped the whole thought and policy
OF their party but he displayed political
capacity Of n very high order. lie was
trained in the school of the famous Al.
bany Regency and had exhibited much OF
its ingenuity and power. He placed his re.
lance both upon ideas and organization. He
sought to captivate the popular imagination
with a striking thought. and he supported 1t
with the most minute and systematic work. In
his own State he discarded all leaders OF equal
rank with himself and selected active young
men or mere personal followers as his heuten-
ants. He bore no brother near the throne. In
other States he secured strong alliances TO pro-
mote his interests, and called into existence a
national force which was potent as IL was COM
pact.
His political observations covered nearly half
n century and spanned the successive epochs
which stretched from the struggle over nullihca-
tion to the war OF secession and the work OF re-
construction, But through most of this long and
stirring era he was engaged In the practice OF his
profession and the acquisition OF wealth. In this
work he was peculiarly successful. TO the
subtlety of an acute legal mind he added the sa-
gacity Of keen business man. He attained es-
pecial, indeed almost unrtvaled, eminence as a
corporation lawyer and thus gained practice
which leads tol larger rewards than can be found
in other legal fields While acquiring great
reputation he amassed great fortune, and
when at last he entered upon his political ca
reer he combined the resources of n full treas
ury with the arts Of an unrivaled manager.
Mr.. Tilden has been the subject OF vehement
and contradictory judgments His friends have
well-nigh canonzed him as representing the
highest type Of public virtue his foes have
painted him as adept IN craft and intrigue:
His partisans have held him up as the evangel
| OF new and purer dispensationj his opponents
| declare that his ability is marred by selhshness
| and characterized by cunning HIS borrowers
| have exalted him as the ablest and most nigh
minded statesman of the time; his critics
| have described him as a most artful, astute
| and unscrupulous politician. The truth doubt
| less lies between the two extremes. Adrott
ingenious, and wary, skillful to plan and strong
| 10 execute, cautious in Judgment and vigorous
in action, taciturn and mysterious rs rule, ano
! yet sngularly open and frank on occasion, rest
| ing on the old tradition, yet Leading in new
| pathways surprising In the force OF his blows
| and vet leaving sense OF reserved power
Mr.. Tilden unquestionably ranks amont
] the greatest masters Of political management
| that our day has seen. Certain 10 is that MS
extraordinary success and his exceptional pos,
| tion had inspired the Democratic party Will
| the conviction that he was tho one man TO com
| mand victory, and he moved forward to tn.
Presidency with a confidence which discouraged
his ooponents and inspired his supporters will
| a sense Of irresistible strength.