The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-08-07
DEATH OF SAMUEL j. TILDEN.

| SamuelJ. Tilden, the great Democratic
leader, is dead. After very short Hines
he passed away at Greystone,s his home il
New York, quietly and apparently withou
pain. On Saturday evening he caught
cold from slightly exposing himself to tn
chilled air of the night which threw hi
digestive organs out Of order and pro
duced vomiting aud diarrhoea accom-
panied by much pain. He was immediate
| ly attended by his physician, who admins
tered some medicines which, relieved him
and on the next morning liz appeare'
better. Through Sunday he diverted ii1m
self 10y taking long ride, but at night h
! was again attacked and, though the restora
| tives given produced some little effect, hi!
system was enfeabled to such IN extent Of
that the coolness of the weather affected
him unfavorably. Next day he was con.
fined to the house and was SO weak after
suffering his evening attack that he had to
be carried to bed. From this time out he
ceased to speak though apparently his mind
was as strong as usual and he suffered no
physical pain. All during Tuesday night
his sleepless rest was watched over by Miss
Gould, his niece. At O'Clock in the morn
ing he was assisted to chair in his bed
room and remained seated without evinc-
ing any signs of consciousness and without
rallying Il moment until, at $50 A. NJ, his
two attending physicians pronounced him
dead. He had reciined in his chair as if
asleep, his life going out with the gradual
failure of his breath.
In his death the United States have lost
one of their greatest Statesmen and citi-
zens and the Democratic party one of its
ablest leaders. Though it was known that
Mr.. Tilden had been in had health for some
years past, his demise, not being ex-
pected, was unlocked for and, occurring
thus suddenly, has been shock to the
whole country.
Fifty years ago Mr.. Tilden com menced
his political career in New York and grad
ually and steadily worked himself up to the
leadership of his party. He set up reform
as his guiding star ard followed it without
swerying until, through it, he brought him
self into prominence in New York by over
coming and setting at naught the mighty
Tweed scheems. This struggle through,
the dauntless spirit evinced by Mr.. Tilden
placed him in the gubernatoria! chair of
New York, but hardly had he been seated
therein, when he was called upon to cone
with political ring stronger'than any which
has ever mstered and controlled any
State or set Of people. As Governor, he
stopped not to consider that those who
composed it were of the same party atfilia-
tions as himself, and his incorrupiible in
tegcity lead him to make war on the Canal
Ring which was composed largely of infiu-
entail and leading Democrats of Now York
State. Success crowned his efforts to ex-
terminate this monster and drag from it
the power it had acquired, and Mr.. Tilden
proved himself a man of the strongest
public financial and administrative ability.
So, when in 1876, the presidential cleo
ton doomed up, his party conferred on him
as the Democrat most prominently fitted
to guide the Nations destinies. The Elec-
toral Commission seated his opponent as
having been elected. In 1880 and 1884 he
WOULD have as saia candidirts Tor
the presidency had not the decline of his
health, superinduced BY great political
work. prevented. But having in 1854 re-
fused to be brought again into the field he
retired into almost absolute private life
and spent his time divided between his
home i'll New York City and his country
house, Greystone, at Yonkers, on the Hud
son River. These were splendidly and lux
nriously fitted out with all the comforts
and embellishments which a vast fortune
could supply, while well stocked libraries in
each allowed Ex-Governor Tilden to revel
in his dearest studies, finance and political
economy.
He dies at the age Of seventy three after
a long career of usefulness, aud leaves a
name which ia honOred by his conntrvuan