The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-22
MIR. TILDEN'S BARREL
now THE INcORRUPTIHLE VOTER
TRIED TO TAP 1T IN 1876.
And How Coy and Tender Maidens
Proposed Mntrfmony to the yener-
able Sage of Grammercy Park.
Boston Advertiser.

tHt just puDllSn6Q lie or S1muef u. 11iuen
is that in which the biographer describes
some of the trials and tempt atoms of a
bachelor millionaire who is running for the
presidency, and gives some hitherto unpub-
lished letters which were received by Mr.
Tilden during the progress of the famous
campaign of 1876. One of the cries which his
opponents raised against him after his nom
nation was summed UP in the phrase "Old
Tilden's barrel" and exaggerated state
ments were published concerning the amount
Of his wealth. and the use he would be
likely to make of it during the campaign
to promote his election. Such gratuitous adj
vertising as the opposition press gave him
brought him offers of assistance in the dis
tributfon of his money from every part of
the land, and some foreigners showed
themselves not averse to taking a hand in
this distrifation.
Only men of reputed large wealth who
have been candidates for high Office can
have any adequate idea of the number and
variety of the communications Mr.. Tilden
received. Says Mr.. Bigelow: Churches
wanted their debts paid; parents wanted
children adopted, or educated, started in
business; debtors wanted their farms cleared
of mortgages; unsuccessful spectators
wished help to try their luck again; in
ventors appealed to him to buy an interest
in their patents; mothers invited him to
marry their daughters; gentle maidens of
III exchange for their own, and the honor
OF correspondence with him; cranks wish
him to let them cure him: promoters
wanted, some of them, to have him join
them IN great mining enterprises, others
IN draining sWamps. and others IN cornering
the timber OF the country.
The letters which are given are, in one
sense, amusing, but in another they suggest
that the old dogma of the total depravity
of human nature has something more than
fanciful foundation An Indiana citizen
wrote him:
IF you will send me some money I'll help
you along with a CRATE many more votes
as there is great nancy around here that
will sell the votes fore anything then If you
send; Express to Brownsville, Union Co.,
Ind Another Hoosier had become anxious.
u u think your election is very dootful IN the
diana illinois masura iway cansas peter
cooper and hayes and your name is scarcely
mention and you hat to do something soon
or you air beet can sell twenty eighty hon.
bred votes for eight hundred dollars if you
w fand to hep Of T help tzen of
African descent wrote: 'Mr. Tilden; Sir;
wish you to send me as much as s. to
/ can for YOU A Kentucky clergyman.
whose letter shows that his early educa-
ton in orthography punctuation and gram
LAS i antisipate a short tower through
the mountains of Ky. and should like to
have from five to seven hundred dollars
more than j have, will therefore ask you
to send it to me. forthwith BY. Adams ex-
press and if don't make a show of the
same will double the same five times. you
shall hear from me Soon after the cleo
SOME OTHER LETTERS.
There was one New Highlander who was
evidently not at all proud. 'As you are a
man that goes in the best and highest of
society you must have a great many old
clothes that is good but out of fashion and
you cant ware them in High Society. j
wish you would send them to me as
have a hard time to get along and winter
is adrawing neare. All the way can pay
you is at the November election, that is the
ticket have voted the last 20 years" 1t
is not stated whether this Democrat went
to the polls in suit of Mr.. TildenS old
clothes.
A New Yorker wrote: Il thought would
rite to you and let you know how we are
situated. On this campain we have used
up all our money in working for you and
we have mad promises that we cant fool
fill on this campaign and hope that you
will oblige us by sending us some money.
We want to use some for musick band
and we have also promised six Gags. of
bear after the closing of the polls. Also
other items that we want paid this time
also. We have never asked anything of
you before and sorry to ask you know
but the wa are fixed we cant help it,
There was a New Jersey patriot, poor, but
fighting fire with fire. He wrote that he
knew "of over one hundred persons in
Trenton who VIII vote for Hays lay because
There never was time when so little
money could get SO many votes. am
poor man, yet, I trust 1 am honest. yet,
cannot see ware it is wrong to give man
dollar to vote for the one he wishes to
get in when if he does not do So the other
party will give him the money and get
his vote"
One devoted but somewhat discouraged
member of a Tilden and Hendricks Club
wrote: II have been out every night and
out of work and cannot get any.
my shoes are all worn out put carrying rry the
longer unless you send me a new pair
Then there was patriotic Pennsylvan-
ian who was anxious to free our govern
ment from mass of corruption who was
foreman Of factory of tnirty-seven men
of which eleven are Republicans wrote:
Il am prepared to buy their votes at 50
each. If you can remit the required amount
my, influence is at your command and the
There was a fire insurance agent of sport
ing proclivities who had different re-
'.Tilden: VIII you please give me your
opinion as to your prospect OF your cleo,
hs state stat being 2re them we spf "a
bet Hayes. / want to make some pau
pers among them if there is a strong prob.
ability of your election. l need some of
their money in my biz. and can get 1t, pro-
vided I will put up"
FROM THE LADIES.
A Virginia lady, one of the 'F. F.s,"
wrote:
exigency unusual cxpediency suggests it
self, and the train runs not with the ex-
tremity. Your own high and unqueStion-
able position is such as to bear the light of
the midday sum- but the same elevation
weakens sometimes your best purposes
by exposing to your adversary the very
made with the best intent TO
meet this emergency do you not want a
secret emissary who can go from point to
point at moments notice to convey and
secure informal ion-one who can accom-
plish diplomatic interviews without being
as your representative, and who
can contrive movements without their be-
ing heralded to the reading and gossping
world?
II am a woman old enough to be dis
Greet ugly enough not to be noticed in
telligent enough to sift, compare, and real
son, wit enough to evade. wise enough to
be silent, and ready enough to report and
if you. can or will employ me in this official
you will find me faithful trust
worthy and efficient. 1 can give you the
best references in the city and in any part
of the country, especially the South.
am Southern-born woman, familiar with
all Southern influences, especially acquain-
ted with carpet bag rule. having been a
victim of their oppression in taxation. I
am personally acquainted with politicians
of both parties; and. having the entrance
to all circles, have an advantage not
usual"
Mr.. Bigelow does not state whether this
49,