The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-10
RIaIne,s NrInIon Of TIIlen

In hip "Twenty Years OF Congress
James g. Blaine says OF Mr., Tildsn:
BY fortunate concurrence OF Ccndi
lions which he partly made, and which
with signal ability he wholly turned to &C
count Mr. Tilden gained the one COM
manding 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 disNon,
tent with Republicanism and the hope oil
the Democracy. He evinced power oil
leadership which no man in his party
could rival, The Democracy before his
day could rount but four chiefs OF III .
first rank-Jetferson, Madison and Van
Buren,, MIR, Tilden was not indeed leader
OF the same class with these masters who
for 80 long a period shaped the whole
thought andpoliCy Of their party, but he
displayed political capacity Of a very high
order, He was trained in the school Of the
famous Albany Regency, and had exhib.
tied much OF its ingenuity and power. He
placed his reliance 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 slate he discarded all leaders Of equal
rank with himself, and selected active
young men or mere personal followers as
his lieutenants. He bore no brother near
the throne. In other States no secured
strong alliances to promote his interests,
and called into existence a National force
whiCllwas potent as 1t was compact,
His political observations covered near.
ly hall century, and SPAWNED the success.
Bive epoChs which stretched from the
struggle over notification Of the war OF
secession aud the work Of reconstruction.
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 tho subtlGty Of an acute legal mind he
added the sagaCity OF keen business
man. He attained especial, indeed al.
most unrlValed eIninence as a corporation
lawyer, and thus gained q practice which
leads 10 larger rewards than can be found
in other legal fields. While acquiring q
great reputation, he emassed q great for.
tune, and when at last he entered upon
political career he combined the resources
Of a full treasury with the arts Of an un.
riValed manager,
Mr.. Tilden las been the subject OF ye-
hement and contradictory judgments.
His friends have well nigh Canonized him
as representing the highest type Of public
virtue; his foes have painted him as an
adept In craft and intrigue. His parti.
sans have held him up as the evangel Of a
new and purer diapensation; his oppo.
nents declare that his ability Ia marred by
selhshneBs and characterized by cunning.
His followers have exalted him as the
ablest and most hiSh-minded statesman OF
the time; his critics have described him
as most artful, astute, and interruptions
politician. The truth doubtless lies between
The two extremes. 4droit, ingenious aud
wary, skilliult plan and strong to execute,
cautious In judgment and vigorous in
action, taCiturn and mysterious as q rule
and yet singularly open and frank ON oc.
casions, resting on the old tradition, yet
leading in new pathways, surprising in
the force Of his blows and yet leaving q
sense OF reserved power, Mr.. Tilden un.
questionably ranks among the greatest
masters Of political management that our
day has seen. Certain 1t ia that his ex-
traordinary success and his exceptional
position had inspired the Democratic
party with the conviction that he was
the one man to command victory, and he
moved forward TO the Presidency with o
confidence which discouraged his oppo.
nents and inspired his supporters with q
sense OF irresitsble strength.