The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-16
A BIOGRAPHY OFsAMUEL j. TILDEN
An Erroneous View of the pr sideut'al
(a1Yss nf 1890.


An Erroneous View of the Pr sideutal
Cs1vss at 1880
To the Editor OF The Times:
Sir,-A few years back one could occa-
sionally hear Of John Bigelow. Esq, OF
New York, for the reason that Mr.. Tiden
sometime used him as mOuthpiece
with which to communicate with the
world Probably we should never have
heard of John Bigelow. Esq, of New
York, If Mr. Tilden hal never done this
friendly act for him. John Bigelow. Esq,
Of New York, is now seeking TO return
Mr. Tilden's kindness TO MIN, or per-
haps he is again using Mr.. Tilden as
hobby-horse TO ride himself out some
more before the public, or perhaps he
hopes TO turn Mr. Tilden's reputation
into few hard dollars. Whassyer the
reason may be, the fact is that John
Bigeow, Esq, of New York, is about to
publish a biography Of the late Samuel
j. Tilden In two large volumes with
illustrations. We have not yet seen the
book, but we have seen copious extracts
from it.
one of the first things hat arrested
our attention in these extracts was an
effort to prove that Mr. Tilden did not
actively seek the nomination for the
presidency in 1880. Hear Mr.. Bisslow
1T was while living al Greystone that
his rcrC mination FOR the presidency was
urged. Mr.. BigelOw wisely discouraged
his acceptance of II.
Il Lad been trying to assist him one
day, early in the spring of 1885, in one
of his Yexatious litigations. ] observed
that he did not seem to have the full
command Of his resources. At last he
arose from his seat. and with an air
of encouragement on his face as well
as in the tone of his voice. said: Let
us 20 and take a ride As we rode
up the avenue and after protracted
silence he spoke of the decline Of force
and intellectual endurance, OF which he
had just experienced such unequivocal
evidence and then added in rather
querulous tone. as if responding to some
unwelcome pressure from without II
| am no longer fit TO prepare case
for trial, | am not fit TO be President
Of the United States
HE then turned and looked at me
as if / was his prosecutor and he eX-
pected me to tell him what L had TO
say in my defence. Governor / re-
piled, / am the last person in the world
to urge you to run for the presidency.
No one has right to ask you to accept
such a burden at the risk Of your life,
and there is no use in trying to disguise
the fact that there is nothing when
would more imperil your health than the
inevitable excitement Of a canvass Tor
the presidency and the first six months
service to which an election would eX-
pose you.
From that day forth he seemed TO
have satisfied himself that he did not
wish TO be a candidate for the presi-
dency."
Mr. Tilden was a highly Intellectual
man. but he came as near filling the
popular idea of the slang ana "fakir'
so much in Use now as any public man
this country has ever had. The late
Hugh Hastings one said he had known
him ever since he was little bare
fcctod hoy running arounl Utica selling
grated turnips fer horse raddish.
1t is we'll known that Mr.. Tildcn sought
the nomination for the presidency In
1880 about as keenly and actively as he
ever sought any political preferment IN
his life. and the case could not be stated
more strongly than that Those who had
anything to do with our politics IN 1881
know that here i'm Richmond he rad "A
cohort of drilled and most Intelligent
representatives who pulled the wires for
all they were worth TO secure representa-
tiyes TO the national convention friendly
TO him.
Mr. William l.. Royal, who at that time
edited and conducted a daily newspaper
In Richmond. called the Commonwealth.
took active ground against the nomina-
ton Of MIR. Tiden. very much 10 the
disgust of Mr.. Tilden's friends. Mr..
Royal was sent as a delegate to the
national convention OF that year and he
fought the Tilden idea at the convention
stubbornly.
In the fall OF 1880 the National Execu-
tive Committee met in New York and re-
solved 10 call in a body upon Mr.. Tilden
at his house in Grammercy Park. The
Hon John w. Daniel mot then sem
ator) and Senator B. +. Jonas, of Louie
lana, were on that committee, and they
invited Mr.. Royal. who was at the same
hotel with them ir New York at
make the call. Royal objected He
said Mr.. Tilden would recollect the
part he had played towards his nomina-
ton. and would not be glad TO see him.
They ridiculed the idea that Mr.. Tilden
would recollect anybody as insignificant
as himself and insls ted on his going
with them. "All right" said Royal, III
go, but you will see what will happen"
When they reached his house Governor
Stevenson. of Kentucky who had been
president OF the convention, acted as
master of ceremonies. and introduced
every one I'm turn to Mr.. Tilden. The old
statesman looked Ike a partially vital
lied mummy One corner Of his lower
jaw seemed to hang loosely and beyond
his control and one hand was kept across
his breast looking though he had no
use Of II. He seemed barely able 10 ex-
tend the other. His elbow rested on his
body. ana he extended il from The ell
bow joint only. He was wzzen-faced
and looked dried-up and spoke scarcely
above a whisper. As each gentleman came
up in turn Governor Stevenson intro
duced him I'm a loud voice. and the free
hand extended itself very slightly for a
touch, and the gentleman passed on.
Presently Mr.. Royals turn came. and
Governor Stevenson called out loudly,
MIR Royal. OF Virginia" Instantly in
telligence came into the dark eve, the
lay figure show ed life, and catching Roy