The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-08-05
He Passes Away Peacefully Wednes-
day Morning.
His Death Sudden and Entirely Up-
expected.
Expressions of Crief-A Sketch of
His Life and EventfuI Political
Career.


it. Instantly the flags of the city buildings
and newspaper offices were displayed at hal
mast, and expressions of regret were heard
on all sides at the death of the eminent
statesman, It is said he had not been feeling
we'll for some days.
Mayor O'Brien has ordered the flag on City
hall to be placed at half-mast, and the bells
of the fire alarm will be tolled on the day
and hour of the funeral.
Samuel Jones sTilden was born in New
Lebanon, Columbia county, New York, Feb
ruary 9, 1914, where his grandfather, John
Tilden, settled in 1890, and where his father,
Elan Tilden, was farmer and merchant.
His ancestry was OF the Pilgrlm stock, al
though his progenitor in this country. Ma
thanial Tilden, did not come in the Mayfow-
er in 1920, but in the ship Ann in 1884 He
settled at Scituate, which was part of the
original Plymouth Colony territory. Joseph
Tilden, brother of Nathanial, was one who
contributed to fitting out the Mayfower for
her famous voyage. On his mothers side
Samuel j. Tilden derives from the sturdiest
Puritan stock. She was descended from
Colonel John Jones, who was member Of
the English parliament which condemned
Charles to death. This John Jones mar
ried sister Of Oliver Cromwell. William, a
son Of this couple, emigrated to Connecticut
and was lieutenant governor of the colony of
New Haven. The father of Samuel j. Til
den was a man of Judgment and practical
sense and an accepted oracle Of the county,
while his opinion was also sought and val
ued by all his neighbors, among others by
the late President Van Buren,, who was one
of his most intimate personal friends. From
his father Mr.. Tilden inherited taste for
political inquiries, and in his companionship
enjoyed peculiar opportunities for acquiring
an early familiarity with the bearings of 1.-THE
various questions which agitated the country
in his youth.
The fall of 1882, when he was to enter col
lege was rendered memorable by the second
election of General Jackson to the presiden-
cy and Martin Van Buren to the vice presi-
dency Of the United States and OF VIM. L..
Marcy to the governorship of the State of
New York. In that contest an effort was
made to effect coalition between the
National Republicans and the anti-Masons
The success of the Democracy depended up
on the defeat of that coalition Samuel
heard the subject discussed in the family,
and was especially impressed by what Tell
from the lips of an uncle who deplored his
inability to give his thoughts expression.
Samuel disappeared for two or three days,
and in the seclusion of his chamber proceed
ed to set down theiviews he had gatheredson
the subject, and in due time brought the re-
suit to his father, at once the most apprecia-
tive and the least indulgent critic OF his ac-
quaintance The father was so highly
pleased with the paper that he took his son
to see Mr.. Van Buren,, then at Lebanon
Springs, to read it to him. They found so
much merit in the performance that they
decided it should be published with the sig
natures of dozen or more leading Demo-
Gratis, and it shortly after appeared in the
Albany Argus as an address, occupyin
about half a page of that print, and from
which it was copied into most Of the Demo-
cratic papers of the State. The Evening
Journal paid it the. compliment OF attrlbu-
ti,acr trf fho of RTIrpn and the
Albany Argus paid it the greater compli-
ment of stating ''by authority that Mr.. Van
Buren was not the author. In this incident
originated an intimacy between young Ill
den and Mr.. Van Buren of the most conf
Dental character, and which lasted till his
death.
Mr.. Tilden had not been long at Yale col
lege before his health gave way and obliged
him to leave before completing his course.
After some rest and suitable treatment he
was enabled to resume his studies, and in
1884 entered the University of New. York.
He then entered the law office of the late
John w. Edmunds, in the city OF New York.
where he enjoyed peculiar facilities for the
prosecution of his favorite studies OF law and
politics Judge Edmunds was also native
of Columbia county, neighbor and friend
of his parents, and a man OF rare though
somewhat eccentric talents, and especially
gifted in the art of communicating to others
what he knew or felt.
Upon MS ADMISSION TO the OAR MI. Illu6H
opened office in Pine street in the city of
New York. In 1914, in anticipation and
preparation for the election which resulted
in making James K. Polk President and Silas
Wright governor of the State of New York,
Mr.. Tilden in connection with John l..
O'Sullivan, founded the newspaper called
the Daily News, by far the ablest morning
journal that had up to that time been enlist
ed in the service of the Democratic party
Its success was immediate and complete, and
to its efficiency was largely due the success
of the Democratic ticket that year. AS Mr.
Tilden did not propose to enter into journal
ism as a career, and had embarked in this
enterprise merely for its bearing upon the
Presidential campaign of 1874, he retired
from it soon after the election, presentin 6
his entire interest in the property to his col
league. In 1S45 he was elected to the New
York assembly, and in 1916 was chosen a
member Of the constitutional convention,
where he was made member of the COM
mittee on finance and canals In 1855 he was
defeated as the "soft SHELF Democratic can
didate for attorney. general Of New York.
Mr.. Tilden now devoted himself to his pro-
fession. His practice was very extensive,
and by it he amaSSed considerable wealth.
Besides other important cases he was c0un-
sci in 1856 for. Azariah G. Flagg, in the case
growing out of the contested election for the
controllership of New York city; in 1857,
for the relatives of DR.. Burdell against the
claims of Mrs. Cunningham; and for the
Pennsylvania Coal Company in the suit
brought by the Delaware d Hudson Canal
Company. Mr.. Tilden became chairman Of
the Democratic State Committee in 1866. and
was a leading member of the constitutional
convention of 1867, serving with distinction
on the finance committee. he became an
earnest laborer in the cause Of judicial and
political reform in the city of New York, and
in 1S69-70 was active in the organization of
the bar association. When the contest was
waged against the members of the 'STamma-
ny ring" holding city offices, who were
charged with defrauding the city treasury OF
valuable services to the cause of reform by
his famous analysis of the accounts of the
Broadway Bank, showing concluSlvely how
the alleged culprits had shared their spoils,
and furnishing legal proof for their convic-
tion. In 1872 he was again elected to the
General Assembly, where he continued his
exertions in the cause of reform. In 1874 he
was elected governor of New York by plu-
rality of 50,317 votes over John A. Dix, Re
publican. and Myron H. Clark, Prohibition
ist. He was inaugurated Jan. /, 1875, and
soon after declared war against the ''canal
ring" which resulted in the overthrow OF
that organization.
When the National Democratic Conven-
tion assembled in st. Louis, in June, 1876,
Gov Tilden was the leading candidate for
the first place on the ticket. On the first
ballot he received 4031 of the 713 votes cast,
and on the second 535 in a whole vote of 73S.
The nomination was made unanimous. The
result of the presidential election Of 1876 as
indicated by the returns of the popular vote
was: Samuel j. Tilden, 4.2S4, ,265, Ruther-
ford B. Hayes, 4,033, ,295; Peter Cooper, 81,
1877; Green C. Smith, 1922 The vote of the
electoral college became a subject of dispute,
but it was finally settled by the electoral
commission thus: R. B. Hayes, 1856; Samuel
j. I'ilden, 1874; and Mr. Tilden was defeated.
Since his defeat for the presidency, Mr..
Tilden has retired from active participation
in politics, passing his time chiefly at his
residence in Gramercy Park, New York, OF
at his fine country seat known as Greystone
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-The President has
sent the following telegram to Col. S. j. Til
den, Jr., at Greystone, Yonkers, N. Y:
have this moment learned Of the sudden
death of your illustrious relative, s. j. Til
den, and hasten to express my individual
sorrow in an event by which the State Of
New York has lost her most distinguished
son, and the nation one Of its wisest ano
most patriotic councillors.
(Signed), GROVER CLEVELAND.
NEW YORK, Aug. As soon as the new;
| of Tilden's death was received in Yonker'
| there was good deal of excitement over it
Instantly the flags on the city building anC
newspaper offices were displayed at hall
mast and expressions of regret were hearC
on all sides at the death of the eminen
| statesman 1t is said he had not been feel
| ing well for some days.
| S. j. Tilden passed away as quietly as
| obill fo11a - aIoo, Daoth oapna ooto od