Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-05
SAMUEL j. T1LDEN.

The greatest statesman OF his age in
this country passed away when Samuel
j Tilden expired. HIS sagacitY in .he
council was perfect; his judgment was
unerring; his knowledge of men and
things in political connection was COM
prehensive; and his craftsmanship was,
though partisan, broad and catholic. His
weakness--for he had weak point, as
all mortals have-was lack of decision
when promptness was demanded. The
judicial cast of his mind led him to inves.
tigate thoroughly before acting, that his
course might not be hastily ineXact, and
this untitled finn Tor positions where
promp. and instant decision in sudden
emergencies was necessary. But beyond
this fault the character Of the dead chief
tain of the Democratic party challenges
the criticism of the most ceusorious In
the perception of the tendency of the
popular mind ne was siDgularly accurate,
and IL was the possession OF this faculty
that made him so successful in ali Of
his political undertakings. He measured
the mind of the people, and having
ascertained their wants, he declared for
that cause. But in this he was no dema-
gogue. While following out the will OF
the people he appeared to lead them, and
gained for himself the reputation of a
pioneer in reforms, when he was only
the skillful agent of the people in accom-
plIshing these reforms.
Above all things he was an organizer of
men in political campaigns 1t has been
said that he knew how every man in New
election when he was the Democratic
candidate for president in 1876, and this
is probably true, III certain sense His
system was so thorough that every voter
in the state was catalogued by divisions,
and the TRUSTEES in charge Of these divls-
ions reported TO a higher authority, who,
in turn, reported to Mr.. Tllden, and thus
he was able to know the exact
situation of the canvass before the elect.
ion came off. No campaign was ever
so scientifically managed as the presiden-
tial campaign OF 1876, and II complete
history Of 1T could be written 1t would be
an unrivaled textbook for political use,
1t is doubtful II any other man but he
could have led the Democrats to- victory
as he did, for, despite his exclusion from
the presidency, his legal election is NO
longer disputed even by his political enc
mics.
There are two kinds of men who are
made presidential candidates, One is Sc.
lected because Of his availability; the
other because of his mental ability. The
two classes were represented In the con.
test Of 1876. The Republicans put NJ
Hayes because he had not been consplcu
GUS enough to engage In any political in.
trleues and quarres, aud the real leaders
Of the party were not afraid of his
rivalry. He became president by
means not neediul to detail here,
and after four years he was re-
tired. Nobody ever heard Of him there
after, except as his name was brought up
in disgraceful connection with very
painful episode in our political history.
Blu the Democratic candidate, though
excluded from the presidency, never
ceased TO be the leader of his party up to
the day Of his death, and even after
death the influence Of his teachings will
guide IL, He was leader by virtue OF
right and worth, and defeat could not
lessen the velue of his counsel TO his
party Except for his Refused, he could
have been the nominee for president in
1880 or In 1884, for the confidence of his
followers was undiminlshed In his leader.
ship.
Mr.. TiIden's statesmanship was prac-