The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-08-12
documents. and gave Mr.. rildsn national rep.

Documents, and gave Mr.. Tilden national rep
utation.
In 1874 he engaged as partner in the publ
cation OF the New York Daily Nears. and In the
following year was electfd d. without personal
effort, To the New York Assembly. where he
used his best efforts to secure call for State
convention. At the convention Mr. Tflden be-
came a prominent figure, and many OF the most
important reforms in the Constitution, with n
view TO secure an honest administration, were
made ut his suggestion.
Owing TO the growth OF his legal reputation
and the consequent increase I'm his clientage he
spent the next twenty years In the practice OF
his profession, taking part, however, ihpoliticai
matters at recurring elections. This devotion
TO his legal profession and his successful bust
ness investments having made him wealthy he
soon after the close of the war again began TO
interest himself in politics, and in 1866, when
Horatio Seymour was the Democratic candidate
for the Governorship of New York, Tilden was
Chairman OF the Democratic State Committee.
II was at this time that he displayed his shrewd-
ness political manager for the victory OF
Seymour in the midst OF the general disaster
was due much to Tilden as to the personal
popularity OF the candidate
The great fight against the old Tammany
crowd-Tweed, Sweeny, Genet, and others-was
the next event in the history of Mr.. Tilden. His
training as lawyer admirably fitted him for
the work, and although Tweed and his Tam
many Hall associates controlled the State con-
vention OF 1860, Tilden obtained hearing. and
when finally hooted and Kissed down, shouted
his prophetic words: You may refuse 10 give
me audience, but the people OF New York
whom you have robbed will hear me-" Suisse
quently after consultation with Ex-Governor
Seymour Charles OConor, and others, the re-
dOubtable committee Of seventy" was formed,
and Tilden led the attack
With view TO stopping the supplies, the first
attack was on Connolly, the treasurer who, after
consultation with Tiiden, turned the treasury
over TO II deputy named by the committee, ana
any attempt of the corrupt judges to GUST him
on Tweeds order was prevented by an opinion
by Mr.. O'Conor sustaining the appointment
which was confirmed by the corporation coun-
sci, O'Gorman. Then followed the examination
of the Broadway bank, and Mr.. Tilden's dis
covery of the percentages that seemed 70 be
added TO the accounts Of the ring, exposing
Sweeny and Tweed, ms well as the smaller
scoundrels.
The fight was continued in the next Demo-
cratic State Convention in 1871, at which ticket
was nominated which was favorable TO the Tam
many ring. Mr.. Tilden was elected by the AS
sembly, however, and there secured some
amendments to the famous Tweed charter
which rendered robbery by public officials less
easy. The result was, as known, that the ring
Judges were impeached, and its members, ox-
cept those who escaped, served time in the peni-
Tertiary. To Samuel j. Tildcn is due, more
than any one else, the success OF the raid on
Tammany.
MIR. Tilden then entered upon his career as
Governor. In the fall Of 1874 the Democratic
State Convention nominated him for that posi-
ton, and it was the still hunt" policy which
afterward made him famous that gave
him his 81 600 majority over his popular
opponent, General John a. Dix, who had
at the prior election defeated the Demo-
cratic candidate by $4,000 votes. Tildens
reputation in the crushing out OF the Tweed
regime brought him many Republican votes.
As Governor he broke up the canal ring, in
which both political parties had participated in
the spois. He refused appointments to men
unfit for the places sought, and by reason OF
such refusals incurred the enmity and hatred
of John Kelly, the sachem of the recognized
Tammany Club.
The success OF Mr.. Tilden as Governor had in
Great al the fame he had acquired by his disrup-
tion of the Tammany ring, and as the spring OF
1876 approached his availability as n Democratic
candidate for the Presidency was very generally
canva5sed. Believing there was an Augean sta
BILE to be cleaned out in national affairs, Mr. Til
den expressed his willingness 10 attempt its pu-
rihcation with as much hope Of success as in
the other cases. He carried the delegation from
his own State, and the first ballot in the
convention at st. Louis received 4O3 votes.
two-thirds vote being necessary, he was nomin-
ated on the second ballot by sos votes, and an
enthusiastic campaign was entered upon, con-
Quoted by Mr.. Tilden in person.
On the morning after the election the success OF
Mr.. Tilden generally conceded, he having
carried all OF the Southern States, and New
York New Jersey, Connecticut, ana Indiana, the
popular majority being over quarter OF a mill
ion. The question whether Mr.. Tilden favored
the Electoral Commission or not at the time
was not. clear, and has been the subject OF
much controversy since. IL was learned some
months afterward that he had strenuously OPP
posed the adoption OF the extra constitutional
scheme recommended by the Joint committee,
leaders that he might lose the Presidency but
that he would not rattle for IL.
The proceedings of the electoral commission
or