The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-12
sAMUELJ. TILDEN DEAD.

New Labanon, Columbia county, NJ T.,
February 8, 1914, where his grandfather
John Tilden, settled in 1890, and where
his father Elan Tilden, was a farmer
and merchant. Tllden entered Yale col
lege in 1888, but soon left the institution
and graduated at the university of New
York. He was admitted to the bar in
1871, and began practice in New York
city. In 1874 he became the editor of
the Morning News" a paper established
in New York city to advocate the election
of James X. Polk to the presidency.
In 1845 he was elected to the New York
assembly, and in 1916 was chosen mem
Der of the Constitutional Convention. In
1855 he was defeated as the "Soft Shell"
democratic candidate for attorney-gen-
eral of New York. His practice at law
was large and remunerative, and he sue
cessfully handled some of the most i'm
portant cases mentioned in the New York
Law Reports. He was chairman of the
Democratic State committee in 1866, and
was leading member of the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1867. He became
an indefatigable laborer in the cause of
judicial and political reform i'll the city
of New York, and in 1SG9-70 was active
in the organization of the Bar Associ-
alton. When the contest was waged
against the members of the "Tammany
ring" holding city offices, who were
charged with defrauding the city treas
ury of many million dollars, Mr.. Tilden
rendered invaluable services to the cause
of reform, by his famous analysis of the
accounts of the Broadway bank, showing
concluslvely how the alleged culprits had
shared their spoils, and furnishing legal
proof for ther conviction. In 1872 he
was again elected to the General Assembly.
In 1874 he was elected governor of
New York by plurality of 50,317 votes
over Republican and Prohibitionist can
didates. He was inaugurated January |,
1875, and soon after declared war against
the Canal Ring" which resulted in the
overthrow of that organization. At the
national democratic convention assembled
in st. Louis in June, 1876, Governor Til
den, on the first ballot for the presidential
nominee, received 4O315 votes out of 713
cast. On the second ballot he received
$50 votes in whole vote of 1873. The
nomination was made unanimous, and he
was declared the democratic candidate for
the presidency. His letter of acceptance
of July 81 is a most interesting and valu-
able state document. All are acquainted
with that famous canvass and the iniqui
tous results brought about by the electoral
commission swindle. In letter bearing
date June IS, 1880, to the delegates
from the state of New York to the
democratic national convention, Mr.. Til
den thus speaks of this commission: AN
electoral commission, for the existence 0i
which have no responsibility, was formed
and to it the two houses of congress abdi.
Gated their duty to make the count by q
law enactl.g that the count of the com
mission should stand as final unless over
ruled by the concurrent action of the two
houses. Its false count was not overruled
owing to the completely of republican
senate with the republican majority of thf
commission. Controlled by its republican
majority of eight to seven, the Electoral
Commission counted out the men elected
by the people, and counted in the men not
elected by the people"
Mr.. Tilden's conservative and submis
sive action at that time of the greatest
public excitement, and when his wore
could have precipitated the most far
reaching and terrible confusion and pos
sibly bloody anarchy, was indeed excep
tional, and stamped him statesman. and
in every sense, a patriot, most careful o
his country's veal and regardless of him
self. The men of that ticket, Tilden anC
Hendricks, are both gone, but the shame
of that decision will ever stain the nam
of honest government. Up to the tim'
of his death Samuel j. Tilden held as hi
dearest object his country's glory and sue
cess. Congress has but just acted on sug
gestions of his in December last, mad
with burning words of truth, convincing
to action. And now the increased harbol
Notifications draw their inspiration anC
backing from his hands.
Samuel j. Tilden was a politician, bu
a scrupulously honorable one-the rar,
exception in this latter day. He was {
man of fine ability, successful lawyer
an impartial and statesmanlike executive
official. He was an honorable gentleman
universally respected, and the most popu
lar leader in the United States. In tn,
! list of the honored dead of the last year
no name will rank higher, or is dearor tC