Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-08-05

Death OF samuel J. Titden'
AS announced in our extra, Samuel
J. Tilden died at his home at Grey
stone in the State OF New York, sud
denly and entirely unexpectedly, at
S:44 O'Clock a. NJ, yesterday. HIS
death was caused by failure OF the
heart, following an acute attack Of
.diarrh9a and nausea.
The brief sad news caused thrill
.of deep regret in the mind OF every
true American.
Mr.. Tilden at the time OF his death
was seventy-two years old, having
been born in New York in 1914.
Adopting the profession OF law, he
was admitted to the bar in New York
city, and during his whole life it may
be said that he was one Of the grand
central figures Of his State, up TO the
time that his name and fame became
his whole country's and mankind's.
As far back az 1876 he was member
of the Constitutional Convention
which remodeled the organic law OF
the State, and member Of the sue
ceeding Legislature in lS47. In both
these bodies his great abilities were
SO strikingly displayed and used that
thencefcrth he held position as one
of the leading minds OF the Empire
State. He speedily rose to the
head Of his profession as lawyer, in
the metropolis OF the Union. Not
only as lawyer, but as great polit-
ical philosopher man who under
stood the science Of Democratic gov
eminent beyond almost every other
man-did he achieve fame. Though
apparently caring nothing for official
position, himself, his great, wise and
pure ideas welded immense infiu-
ence. For many years he was chair
man OF the Democratic State Central
Committee and practically controlled
the policy OF his party in the greatest
OF American States. In 1872 he was
again d member OF the Constitutional
Convention, When the Tweed ring
in New York city began its frightful
career Of municipal corruption and
robbery, Mr.. Tilden was among the
first to oppose and fight them and II
was largely through his brave and
noble efforts on this occasion that
this infamous gang were hurled from
place and power and brought to pun
ishment in the States prison, where
their leader died. His glorious record
in this matter made him Governor OF
New York. he being elected in 1874
over General John A. Dix, very
popular candidate, by an immense
majority. He was no sooner in the
gubernatorial office than an era OF
genuine reform was begun. He over
threw tho gigantic Erie Canal ring
that had for years been preying upon
the State, and corrected a null
titude OF abuses. He made
model Governor. II was while in
this position, in 1875, that he was
chosen as the Democratic candidate
for tine Presidency. How he was tri-
umphantly elected President OF the
United States, how he was defrauded
OF his great office by partisan bigot-
ry, and how he chose rather to suffer
the great wrong than to plunge his
country into bloodshed by asserting
his rights, are too well remembered
TO need repetition. Since that mem
orable campaign, although urged by
his entire party to again accept the
nomination for President, he has posi-
lively refused, and remained for the
last ten years OF his life in the sta
ton of private citizen. But in this
station he lost nothing in his stand
ing amongst his countrymen. His
words of wisdom and advice, uttered
for his country's good, carried power
with them to the farthest corners OF
the Republic, and his influence ex-
ceeded that Of any other citizen. As
statesman he was the first citizen OF
the Republic. He justly wore the til
tie of "sage" that has been bestowed
upon him.
1t is true that for many years, and
even in the retirement OF his old age,
when he took no personal interest in
politics whatever, Mr.. Tilden has
been grossly abused and slandered by
his partisan opponents. But now
that the great and good man is dead,
ii is likely that calumny will cease.
Mr.. Tilden was one OF the wisest and
purest OF all American patriots, and
this will be the unstinted verdict OF
history. May he rest in peace