Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-13

Samuel J. Tilden, died at his home ii
Greystone at 945 a. m. Aug. 1.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Tilden has been in
very feeble health for many months, his
sudden demise was entirely unexpected.
The end was peaceful and quiet. The inn
mediate cause of Mr.. Tilden's death was
the failure of the heart, following an acute
attack OF diarrhn and nausea There
were present at the time, Mr.. Tildens
niece, Miss Gould, and Drs. Charles Z.
Simonds and Samuel Swift
Paralysis and bodily infirmities incident
TO old age had reduced Mr. Tilden TO a
mere skeleton and his last days were
marked by extreme fecbleness
HIS EARLY HISTORY.
The statesman who has gone TO his re-
ward was born at New Labanon, y. Y, in
the year lSl4-the year which turned the
fortunes of the great Napoleon. One Of
his ancestors, Nathaniel Tilden. was may
or of the city of Tenterden, Kent, England,
in 1923. He was succeeded in that Office
by his cousin John, as he had been preced-
ed by his uncle John in 1856 and 1860 Here
moved with his family to Scituate, in 1854.
His brother Joseph was one of the mer-
chant adventures Of London who fitted
out the Maynower. This Nathaniel Tilden
married Hannah Bourne, one of whose
sisters married brother of Gov. Wnslow,
and another a son Of Gov. Bradford
Gov. Tildens grandfather, John Tilden,
settled in Columbia county The COVER
nors mother was descended from William
Jones, lieutenant governor of the colony
81 IL 81. 1.
Connecticut is represented to have been
the son Of Col. John Jones, one of the regi-
eide judges of Charles l., who is said to
have married a sister Of Oliver Cromwell
and n cousin Of John Hampden. The gov
ernOr's father, farmer and merchant OF
New Lebanon, was man of notable iudg-
ment and practical sense and the accepted
oracle OF the county upon all matters Of
public concern, while his opinion was also
eagerly sought and Justly valued by all
his neighbOrs. but by none more than 10y
the late President Van Buren,, who till his
death was one OF his most cherished in
> innate personal friends.
Young Tilden entered college in his 18th
year He was just about TO enter Yale
when the Jackson campaign began. An
effort was made 20 effect a coalition be-
tween the national Republicans and the
auti-masons. The success OF the DemOc-
racy depended on the defeat of that coali-
ton Young Tilden had heard the ques-
the democracy, and he had some ideas of
his own. For day or two he confined
himself 20 his room and when he emerged
il was with a written statement which he
read TO his father and which was prin ted
throughout the state as a Democratic pro-
nouncement on the subject. This was his
first connection with politics and he was
done the honor Of having his work ascribed
to the pen OF Martin Van Buren,. At col
lege he wrote similar political papers. but
Obliged a rs ~
from scolastic duties. On his recovery he
entered the university of the City of New
York. and on the completion of his aca-
demic education began the study Of law
His admission to the bar in 1888 at the age
Of ~ marked the beginning of his public
career
Immediately on entering upon the
practice OF law he took an active part in
politics. and was at once recognized by
the Democracy as their spokesman. After
Folks election in 1874. he was sent TO the
assembly from the city of New York and
while a member OF that body assisted in
remodeliug the state constitution. He
left his impress on the new work, especially
in the provisions relat i've 20 the financial
management Of the state and the canal
system.
Tildon al this time was poor man. with
nothing but his talents and his prospe cts,
and be Withdrew from politics and set
himself 20 the practice of his profession,
which lac followed assduously and with
marked u cess. until the breaking out of
the war. During the winter Of lNGO-6l he
attended "A meeting of the leading men Of
both parties in New York city 10 consider
what measures might hr taken % avert n
conflict between the free and the slave
states. lie urged on the north the n"ces-
sity of reconciliation and fOrbedrance. and
on the south the Importance of remember
ing that within the union constitutional
relief was always possible. while outside
the union there could be nothing but con-
f!ict and defeat.
When the war came Tilden was associat.
ed with the leading advisers Of the Demo.
cratic party. He did not believe that Lin.
coin appreciated the situation when he
made h call for 300 troops, and always
. urged that the call should have been for
half million men, that the South might
have been overwhelmed at once by the
immense di~prOportIou of numbers He
argued that II was idle 60 hope for the ap
pearauce Of any great military genius.
The advent of one of these was the event
of an err and there was nothing TO base a
hope of such thing at the present time.
Although his advise was diSrcgarded a
this critical time, in les, than a year the
secretary of war acknowledged that hi.
plan was the best and lamcnted that 10 had
nos been followed
But the most important political labor
OF his active, eventful life was his connec-
tion with the Tweed ring, the most bare
faced system OF theft that ever disgraced
any government. the workings OF which
are too well known 10 need repetition
here Tilden, 10y the aid of such men as
Charles O'Conor, John Kelley and Others
was victorious in his efforts and the ring
was broken.
His candidacy for the presidency in 1876
the full history of that eventful campaign
, and his subsequent life, are matters Of toe
recent history 10 need recaptulation now
Although for several years in i'll health
and living i'm retirement, he has been con
and 10y word and letters TO those actively
. engaged in the struggle, has convinced
, them that he was still a living force in tn,
Affairs ofhis party.