New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26

publican party and OF the nomination OF John c.
Fremont anti-slavery platform
These two events, Mr. Tilton declared gave direc-
uon to his entire public career. Never a man for
half measures, he once allied himself with the
extremists of his party and became an ardent
abolitionst. Although much younger than Garrison
Phillips. Sumner. Wade Frederick Douglass Luz
cretia Mott and most of the other gifted men and
women whom he admired and upheld he may fairly
be included in the original phalanx of which he
was one OF the last survivors. He was a close
friend OF John Brown and IT was at Mr. Tilton's
house in Brooklyn that Mrs. Brown awaited the ar
rival OF her husbands body after his execution IN
December. 1859.
CARE OF JOLT. BROWNS BODY.
In an interview given few years ago Mr. Triton
told how he marched with the soul of John Brown
for ninety miles during its last bodily pilgrimage
from the scaffold 70 the grave"
Il went 20 Philadelphia" he said ''wbere with
Miller McKim. secretary OF the American Anti
Slavery aocIety 1 took charge OF John Browns
body IN order to convey IT to New York. We
showed Of course, sign Of a cortege-no indca-
ton that we We're engaged IN transporting corpse
instead of taking the railway we eluded the Phila
delphia reporters and populace by secretly embark
ing on a steamboat. Our stratagem was successful.
Nobody but ourselves suspected the freight we car
ried. Our arrival in New York near the Bat
terry, on Saturday night, December g. Tho dark
ness godsend. We left the body behind US
on the boat and hurried across the East River 70
Brooklyn. where met John Hopper. undertaken.
whom personally knew and who had buried one
of my children. Can you go at once 10 the Amboy
boat 1 asked. and take charge Of an old mans
body? AS he knew that Mrs Brown had been
staying at my house he instantly asked me. rs It
John Browns? Yes replied; it is In a rude pine
box. 1t be transferred 10 a suitable coffin
worthy of its occupant. and this must be done clan
deshnely tonight without giving the press or the
public hint Of the affair. It shall be done said
he. giving me a grasp OF the hand as a pledge
He used great discretion taking the body not TO
his establishment In Brooklyn. but to a private
IN the Bowery, New York Early on Sunday
morning in company with Oliver Johnson and 10
else, met Hopper at this room, where he
showed me the brave old man arranged for burial
in a comely coffin. simple but elegant 1 shall
forget the face of the sleeper. for no did
seem dead John Hopper then generously gave me,
for the family a recelpted bill for all the expenses
refusing to accept a penny, saying, with much en-
phasis that he wished 10 testify his respect for
the old mans splendid courage"
In 1865 Mr. Tton began his career as a public
speaker and lecturer and he for nineteen years
OF the most popular lyceum attractions in the
United States He handsome man, of noble
figure and commanding presence. poetic in tenn
permanent and eloquent. A strong advocate of the
political rights OF women, he frequently addressed
conventions OF the supporters Of the movement.
Mr.. Tflton boosted not long ago that the course
Of his journeyngs In this country while filing his
lyceurn engagements he had visited forty different
:.as far as 70 the moon and half wav back again
Ter v,ithdrawing from the edItorshIp Of ."f'he
Independent" Mr. TiIton founded, in 1871 a weekly
journal of his own. called The Golden Age He
T Clarke, but continued to write for IT a spe
cial contributor During the last few months of his
also the editor Of The brooklyn Union" succeed
ing General Stewart L. Woodford.
SUIT AGAINST MR.. BEECHER
It was in 1874 that Mr. Tton preferred his sem
sational charges against the Rev Henry Ward
Beecher who had long been his pastor and init
mate friend, well his predecessor and whilom
chief as editor Of THE Independent" Mr.. Tilton
accused Mr. Beecher of criminal misconduct with
Mrs Ttlton who before her marriage Miss
Elizabeth Richards. The social scandal aroused
was one of the most notable in the whole history
of the country.
eating the charges declared them baseless. But
this verdict of body of Mr. Beechers close friends
and associates did not satisfy Mr.. Tilton, who
manIne $1,000 damages. The trial was held In
Brooklyn in 1876 and lasted more than six
At the close q the ss s5a tn a afeT a ae e
charged. Nine of the twelve had voted TO sustain
the defendant, while only three sided with the COM
Mr. Beecher comported himself with calm and
dignity during the long drawn out church and civil
trials and the end he suffered little loss Of pop
to which he had been subjected. Mr.. Tilton de-
voted himself literary work for the next seven
or eight years. In 1888 he went TO Europe and
after living for short periods in oxford, Cambridge
Stuttgart, Munich and Dresden. In 1888 he settled
permanently in Paris
He had many friends among the literary men of
The day and his recollections went back to Wash
tnpton Irving who died In 1859. Mr. Tilton has
said that he the last stranger who visited him
before his death. William Cullen Bry y ralph
Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman and John Green
leaf Whittier were among those whose friendship
he delighted to recall in his late years lie was
also proud TO remember that he nad known ana
.dmtrad TJncoIn not only the White House but