New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-05
Mr.. BigeloT's Final Collection Of
Papers by Samuel j. Tlden.

In the public affairs OF his time Mt Tiiden
-asved so large part that It is well to have the
material for 8 final estimate Of his character
assembled and edited by one whose acQuaint-
snce with him was intimate and personal. a
collection OF the Governors public writings and
.,eeches was issued shortly before his death by
~. lifelong friend and associate, Mr.. John Bige-
low A formal biography of the statesman fol-
,oved from the same competent hand. and now,
s>tsr the lapse OF a score OF years. the Nestor
~ American literature pays final tribute TO his
friend by preparing two volumes OF Letters
and Literary Memorials OF Samuel J. TiIden-' It
hsd been the lstters practice from boyhood to
ureverve g copy Of every document. of every
,ote he wrote, and OF those that he received
he must have retained q very large proportion.
There fell therefore. into the hands Of his lit
s-sry executor accommodations Of social. political
,,d documentary correspondence TO be measured
nv the ton and embracing nearly every inpor-
ssnt political question by which this country has
been aSftated since the days Of Andrew Jack
son. The mere physical handling Of such masses
NJ material would tax robust strength The
present volumes are intended 10 be complement
tsrv TO the collection OF speeches and public pa
pers above referred 70. and naturally relate TO
e much wider range OF topics. large part Is
,oroprised OF letters from correspondents who
sought counsel or assistance upon the greatest
variety of subjects and the editor has enriched
his compilation by q reprint of the late James
c Carriers Appreciation Of TTden. originally
published in THE Atlantic Monthly
x- Tilden's activities were SO largely political
that men s-e likely to overlook the fact that he
vas lawyer Of commanding position, olstln-
xz1ished master Of affairs, well as e profound
and sagacious student and observer Of human
nature Mr.. Carter, in pointing out these char
ham.
.ouaI knowledge, and the whole contents OF the
volumes do but confirm his Judgment loenu-
fed as he was with the opposing party. his earll-
set iT11p-essiors OF T1lden were far from favor
able He does not forget to note the latters
foibles particularly his vanity, his secretiVeness
his irritating rasping sense OF superiority he
ro,r+s out moreover, that Tilden has fslleo OF
arst and adequate popular estimate because
his rre-euainence in the Intellectual rather
than IN the emotional powers Close assocla-
+ion With him brought conviction Of his pro-
5isious superiority 10 other men, ana one VINO
became himself the leader OF the American bar
declares TfJden's intellectual endowu1ents to be
- The highest order and sums up q deliberate
survey of his life made some years after its |
close with the words. properly qualified: i can
not help thinking that Governor T1Iden pos
sessed, or the whole, greater capaolnues IoF (
usefulness IN public life than any other man OF |
his generation. I cannot find elsewhere SUCH |
union OF the ability 10 discover true govern |
mental policies with the firm and underwriting |
purpose 70 pursue them The basis for an even |
less exalted estimate is not, OF course to be /
sought in these volumes. for Mr.. Tilden's most |
important papers and most characteristic VI /
terances have been collected elsewhere. but these
nazes shed light upon many different phases Of |
his long. interesting and varied career, and az /
ford many glimpses Of persons Of note with 1
whom he was brought into contact
The effect Of such a heterogeneous collection /
is not that Of q harmonious picture-such Is not |
inrended-but rather the assemblage OF material |
from which 4 portrait may be drawn Political |
subjects naturally predominate, and in the |
youthful partisan. the follower and coadjutor OF |
Martin Van Buren, and Silas Wright, is found /
the same cold, dIspassiOnate, scientific ATTITUDE
toward public questions that characterized the |
aged sage in retirement at Greystone. To Illus /
trate the strength OF his attachment to the |
Union in war times while still acting with the |
Democratic party we may quote from a speech /
prepared for Nj Seymour, candidate for Gov
ernor IN 1862:
And now # my vojoe could reach the Southern
people through the journals Of the metropolis, l
17rnnf ~ The oonservative sentiment Of New York
in the election mean consent 70 olsunlon, eltlIeI
tioT Io-fI and south Of that Constitution /
Which had secured every right ana aI5 q Iroer
porous until yon madly fed from J 1tT Pre- Pre-
you the Constitution you profess 70 revere re,
neVed with fresh guarantees OF equal rights ano
local seIf-governraent demands; everything that
common ancestry OF gory eye6yI95hg t[ @
but dissolve the federal bond between these
states TO disrnenlber our country, whoever else
consents, We VIII not No; never, never, never
Il IL curious 10 bserve how often he was
called upon TO furnish the Keynote Of a con-
test, 10 supply speeches and messages for
others. Without the physical attributes Of an
orator, he was content to '.lape the issues. TO
effect results politically. In half century Of
political struggles he was rarely in ofice-only
three or four years IN all. He was not without
The power of skilfuI generalization, and while
his writings do not reflect the glow OF e genial
temperament or attract by charm Of expression,
they derive vigor from their logical conference,
their clarity Of vision. their saneness Of tudg-
ment- He knew human nature and was an apt
student cf history. which nowadays does not
seem 70 be an equipment for a Democratic
candidate Here are z few sentences In praise
q Thomas Jefferson. founder and organizer Of
IN. Democratic party. What would have hap
pened had some incautious delegate at Denver
Rad these words TO the Democratic convention?
He SET VI anew the broken foundations Of gov
.I-Iaentsl power. He stayed the advancing CEN
..a!Azstlon He restored the rights OF the states
- ne iocShues He depressed the uleddling OF
soEeynrnent IN the OF private business,
coI5i7 me m management Of the industries Of the
&c &c conscience Re not only brought the admin
essen the occasions the motives for corruption
es enforced BY precept and by example. purity
appoint relatives 70 once. He declined ali pres.
sns He refrained- while IN the public service.
Un al enterprises 70 increase his private fortune
No one knew better than Tilden the arts OF
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