Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-14
Blaine's Opinion of Tilden.

| From "Twenty Years of Congress"
| BY u fortunate concurrence of conditions
| which he partly made, and which with signal
ability he wholly turned to account, Mr.. Tilden
gained the one commanding position in the
| democratic party. He held the most vital state
| of the north in his grasp. He embodied the
| one thought which expressed the discomfort
with republicanism and the hope of the demo-
| cracy. 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
first rank-Jeferson, Madison and Van Buren,.
MIR. Tflden was not indeed a leader OF The same
class with these masters who for so long peri
| their party, but he displayed political capacity
| Of "A very high order. He was trained in the
school OF the famous Albany regency,
both upon ideas and organization. He
| sought 10 captivate the popular Imagination
with striking thought, and he supported it
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 his lieuten-
ants. He bore no brother near the throne. In
other states he secured strong alliances to pro-
| mote his interests, and called into existence
| national force which was potent as it was
compact.
His political observations covered nearly half
century, and spanned the successive epochs
which stretched from the struggle over nullifi-
cation to the war of secession and the work of
reconstruction. But throug Oh most of this long
and stirring era he was engaged in the practice
OF mis- profession and the acquisition of wealth.
the subtiety OF an acute legal mind he added
the Sagaclty OF a keen business man. He at
tanned especial, indeed almost unrivaled, emf
hence As a corporation lawyer, and thus gained
u practice which leads to larger rewards than
can be found in other legal fields. While ac-
curing Il great reputation, he amasSed great
fortune, and when at last he entered upon his
political career he combined the resources of
u full treasury with the arts OF an unrivaled
manager.
Mr. Iilden has been the subject of vehement
ana contradictory judgments. His friends
nave Well nigh canOniZed him as representing
the highest type OF public virtue, his Toes nave
painted him as an adept in craft and intrigue.
OF a new and purer dispensation; his opponents
declare that his ability is marred by selfish
and characterized by cunning. His followers
nave exalted him as the aDlest and most high
MINDED statesman o! the time, his critics have
described MIN AS u most artiul, aStute, and I'M
scrupuiouS politician. The truth doubtless lies
peeween the two extremes. Adroit, ingenious
ana wary, Skllful to plan ana strong
cute, cautious IN Judgment and vigorous in
action, taclturn anu my SterlOuS Il rule and
yet Slngularly open and frank occasions,
resting on the old tradition, yet leading III new
pathways, surprising in the force OF MS blows
ana yet leaving a sense OF reserved power Mr.
1llpen PROFESSIONALLY ranks among the great
day has seen. Certain it Is That his eXLraor-
binary success ana his exceptional position
had inspired the democratic party with the
convection that lie the one man to COM
lnand victory, and he moved forward to the
presidency with IL confidence which diScour-
aseu his opponents and inspired his supporters
Win sense vi Irresistible strength.