The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-08-12
SAMUEL JONES TILDEN.
Charles A. Dsna's Review Of His Chara'
ter and Work Of Reform.

Charles A. DRna's Review of His Charac-
ter and Work of Reform.
The following editorial upon the death
of Mr.. Tilden is from the pen of Chas. A.
Dana, and appears in the New York Sun
of Thursday:
The death of Mr.. Tilden falls upon the
mind with startling surprise. Though
he had long been an Invalid, he moved
about so freely, his bodily strength re-
mained at such steady level, his vital
ity was so tenacious, his interest In ev
erything 30 fresh and active, and his
mind so superior to every form of weak
ness, while his malady was one often
incident to prolonged old age, that his
friends fOndly believed him destined to
remain among them for years to come.
And now, suddenly, his life is gone, like
a candle blown out by the morning air.
In his personal relations Mr.. Tilden
was amiable, ffectiOnate, unpretending
and kindly. To his family his devotion
was constant and unTeserVed. A very
large portion of his tOilsOme life was
occupied in their service, and the fruits
of his professional lRbOTS were literally
surrendered to them. His friendships
were cordial and lasting, ard many of
his most distinguished c0temporaries
were included In their circle. No man
was fOnder than he Of the company Of
intellectual and agreeable persons, and
no one knew better how to exercise
large and elegant hospitality. His read
ing was extensive and varied. In his.
tory and in the science Of politics he
was peculiarly we'll informed. In every
thing belonging to the sphere Of leg
islatOr, statesman or lawyer his intel
lect was broad, minute and comDrehen-
siVe. He at once apprehended the prin-
ciDles, the antecedents and details OF
every question. The two octave vol
umes In which his public writings and
speeches are collected are Q mine OF wis
dom, and whether we wish to under
stand the politics, the finances, the pub
lie works or the constitutional doctrines
Of the country, we must resort to them
as precious st0reh0use OF instruction.
The intellectual gifts Of Mr.. Tilden
were of the highest order; but the most
remarkable quality Of his mind next to
Its moral courage and its fidelity to pr1n |
ciple was the comprehensive nature Of |
his Judgment. he saw the whole Of o |
subject. he studied 1t through and
through. He mastered Ii in every re-
spect. He pursued 1t In all Of it's remote |
and when he came to dis |
cuss 1t In public his views were so ex-
pansive, his arguments 30 clear, and his |
so luminous that all In
telligent minds were carried along with |
him, and the results at which he had ar
rived were transferred to his audience,
tn hia raadnfe To th0 DubIiC,
As politician Mr.. Tilden's power has,
perhaps, not been appreciated at Its full |
value, even by experts. To the arts
Of commonplace political management
he was q stranger. he never sought to
beguile any citizen out Of his vote, OF to
win by trick, fiattery OF fawning the
support of the people. No man was ever
less Of q demRg0gue than he. Tact, his
tory, argument, suggestions to reason
and to patriotism were his appeal to
voters, He understood the value of or.
and when he was at the head
Il the New York State Committee every
county, town and school district Of the
State was duly attended to In this re-
gard. He kept list OF the influential
men In each district, and not only sent
public documents and papers to them,
)ut sent personal correspondence also.
These letters were usually Autographed
In fac-simile Of his writing and were
signed with his own hand. The labor
of sending them out was immense, sew
sral clerks beiDg sometimes employed
Vt IT; but such correspondence was
worth all 1t cost. 11n9
The difficult investigation, the bring
Ing out Of what was hidden, the revela-
ti0n Of secret wrongs committed against
the people, possessed charm for Mr..
Tilden, and some Of his great successes
were achieved In that way. Familiar
examples Of this fact are his investiga-
Eion into the frauds of Tweed and his
In this city, and the over
throw Of the canal ring. Here we saw
The acute intellect, the indefatigable
student, the tireless intellectual detec-
i've, dragging to light vlllainies com
nitted with unexampled cunning, and
Dut behind c0ncealments almost beyond
,he power Of human penetration. But
hey had not reckoned upon the genius
hat set to itself the task Of knowing
he truth. We suppose that no other
nan could have done what Mr.. TlldeE
lid In these matters. Other portions Of
his career were greater and more Inn
a - a -n.k II. L. Auk Il