Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-05
SAMUEL j. TILDES.
[CORtiRued from First Page.

umphantly, and in his triumph the great
aus of administrative reform would
De prOpagated not only over the whole
State. but over the Union.
He was nominated and elected, and
whatever lesson or ~elOquence could be eX-
pressed in big maiorities were not wanting
To lend their eClat to his triumph. Mr..
Tilden'S plurality over Mr.. John A. Dix,
the Republican candidate, was %, ll5. Mr..
Dix had been elected two years previous
by a plurality Of 1851.
The first message of Governor Tilden
~fOrcShadOwed with distinctneSS the con-
trolling features of his administration
Firt.-RefOrm i'm the Administration.
S,cOHd-The restoration of the financial
principles and policy which triumpned in
the election of Jackson and Van Buren,,
and which left the country without 4 dol
lar of indebtedness in the world and a
credit abroad with which no other nation
could compete.
In furtherance of his policy of admins
tratiye reform, he recommended 4 revision
OF the laws intended to provide criminal
punishment and civil remedies for frauds
bv public officers and by persons acting In
completely with them.
ON the 18th of March. and AS sOOu rs he
had secured from the Legislature such adj
ditional remedies for official d%elinquencies
rs were requisite for his purpose, the Gov
ernOr in a special message invited the at
tentiou of the Legislature to the miSman-
agement Of the canals.
He pointed out in this communication
with considerable detail the fraudulent
process by which for IN indefinite period
of years the State had been p%lundered, ITS
agents dcbauched, its politics demOralized
and its credit imperiled. The iulneSS,
boidueSs and direttucSS of his statements
produced a prO'ound impression, not only
throughout the State, but throughout the
country.
The Legislature, though containing IN
both branches many of the most notorious
canal jobbers, and constituted largely IN
that interest. was obliged to yield to the
irresistible public sentiment which the
Governors policy and message had
awakened, and granted him the authority
To name such a commission. The results
of the Investigations, communicated 10
him from time to time during the summer
of 1915 and to the succeeding Legislature
of 1876. arrested completely the system OF
fraudulent expenditure on the canals,
| which he had denounced Mt the bar OF pub
lie opinion.
Through the adoption of various other
financial measures upon his recommenda-
ton. and by the discreet but vigorous use
of the veto power, the Governor was Tor
tunate enough to secure 4 reduction OF the
State tax the first year of his admiAlStra-
ton about Il per cent, and TO lnaugurate
a financial policy by which the State tax,
which was "a mills on the dollar OF the
assessed valuation when became into olhce,
was reduced 10 / mills ut least at the
expiration of his term OF two years, N nj
the expiration of the next succeeding year
TO not exceeding 3 mills.
In June, 1876, Mr.. Tilden was noml-
mated for the Presidency of the United
states bv the Democratic National Conven-
ton at st. Louis and WAS honestly n
constitutionally elected. How he was
iuvnled out OF his seat by the Republican
marty is familiar to all. In lSSO he re-
fused a denomination and reiterated his
refusal and determination TO retire from
public life in 1874 in the celebrated letter
which is given entire below. His suhSe-
uuent life has been one oil peace and quiet
NJ his beautiful home, GrayStoae Park, IN
New York State