The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-12
Samuel y. Tllden Dead.

Samuel J. Tilden died on Wednesday, Aug
4, at Greystone, aged -. Although he had
long been in failing health his death was sud-
den and unexpected. Year by year, for six
years, he had grown weaker. His voice failed,
his step grew stumbling and his attire careless
The facial paralysis from which he suffered
made him uninteligible, but he retained his
old powersGkanaged his own affairs aud held
in tight reiNrhe details of his vast estate.
Mr.. Tilden first came into prominence many
years ago as a lawyer. He was the attorney of
various corporations in several important cases,
and his abilities attracted much attention.
Wealth was certain 10 a man who added these
powers Of administration to great legal abili-
ties Road after road became his clients, and
in the course Of 10 years twO-thirds Of the
roads west of the Alleganies had paid him re-
tanners. To his dealings with two there at
tached serious charges Of sharp dealing so near
the limit of the law and SO far beyond the
claims of generous and Just solicitude for the
rights Of others that they stayed the tide Of en-
thusiasm in lS76, and played their full share in
making hopeless to the Democratic party the
States in which the history of those transac-
tiOns was best known. The consolidation of
the Chicago & Galena, solvent, with the Chi
cago & Northwestern, a bankrupt, corporation,
10 the bitter loss of the small stockholders of
the one and the large profit of the operators
IN the other, was one of these transactions.
Profitable as these railroad transactions were,
the largest addition 10 Mr.. Tildens fortune
came from mining investments in Michigan,
of which the most conspicuous was the New
York Iron Mining Company, owning mines ut
Negaunee, whose profits from 1S65 TO 1871
yielded Mr.. Tilden Si55,000. The circum-
stance that during these years Mr. Iiiden's
total income was assessed by the officers of the
Government at only $685. led TO a protracted
suit for arrears of income tax.
Mr.. Tilden's administration as Governor of
New York was marked by the breaking up of the
Tweed ring which had long been plunderiug
the treasury of the city of New York. In 1876
he had come TO be for a large and enthusiastic
party the embodiment of reform and of the
impulse toward administrative efficiency and
fiscal economy which stirred all the land. His
nomination al st. Louis, on the second ballot,
was made more easily and after briefer strug-
gle than any before since in the Democratic
party. For some unaccountable reason he took
little share in the earlier stages Of the cam
paign, and strange whispers began even then to
be ahoat of his real condition, but in September
he assumed personal control Of the uncertain
progress of the fight and the tide turned. The
campaign was not over election night. There
lasted through four months the most serious
civil conflict in American history, and il was
Mr. Tilden's misfortune 10 lose the confidence
of majority Of his fellow-citizens in his per-
s0nal relation 10 the attempt 10 bride certain
electors in the Southern States while he created
among the leaders of his own party the inn
preston of being unwilling to act with decision.