The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1912-06-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Samuel ]. Tilden Returned
a Political Favor.
Democratic Leader Saved General
Hustled, "Eald Eagle of Westches-
ter" From Joining Liberal
Republican Party.
EY E. j. EDWARDS.


| York state, Gen. James S, Hustled,
who died In the early years of the
century, Is known as one who was
many times elected speaker of the as
Sembly, and who, for period of years
stretching from the early seventies
until the middle nineties, was polit-
ical power at Albany. A man Of
slight stature, glittering black eyes.
a heavy mustache and a broad eX-
panse Of perfectly polished head, eX-
cept just above the ears, where little
tufts of hair chung, he never resented
the nickname by which he was univer-
sally known in political circles, The
Bald Eagle of Westchester," he hail
ing from the county of that name.
One day, while in conversation with
General Hustled, / asked him what
his philosophy of politics was, His
reply was given instantly, "Never
make a personal enemy of a political
opponent, Do everything you can,
consistent with your party's welfare,
for a member Of the opposition, and
then make good with your own party,
That has been my policy, 1t has kept
me In public life constantly: and I'll
give you an illustration of how it
works by telling you of the time it
served me excellently at most criti-
cal period in my career.
Although l was politically opposed
to Samuel j. Tilden, constantly put
myself out to do him little services, AS
result, think he came to have as
much confidence in me as he ever
gave to anybody, excepting a few of
his most intimate personal friends.
You know, he was the most suspicious
man that was ever in politics with the
possible exception Of Martin Van Blu
rem, who was his teacher,
well, | had been doing these lit
tie things for Tilden for quite a while
when there was to be held in the state
a convention Of the newly organized
Liberal Republican party, which had
nominated Horace Greeley for presi-
dent and Gratz Brown Of ST. Louis for
vice-president. 1t looked as though
that party was to have full swing in
New York state, and l was preparing
to go as delegate to the convention,
which was to be held in a picnic
grove near Lake Ontario two days
after the state election in North Caro-
lima, which at that time held its cleo
ton early in the fall.
'The day that l was to go to the
convention found me, with packed
gripsack, at the station, waiting for
my train to arrive. | had been there
maybe five minutes when l was beck
oned aside and a voice whispered into
my ear; General Hustled, Mr.. TilGen
has sent me to tell you not to go to
the convention, but to come at once
to his house.
For a moment l was mystified and
did not know what to do. But soon
remembered that Tilden never did
anything unless he had the best of
reasons, and so. instead of going
north, went south to New York city,
and in an hour or two was standing
in Mr.. Tilden's house.
He took me into his library, Gen
eral Hustled he whispered into my
ear, L have sent for you to advise you
not to have any part in that Liberal
Republican convention. Stay with
your old party. l will tell you what
my reason is,
He paused and drew me closer to
him, although, apparently, there was
not the slightest reason why he
oh L i,, 90
conversation. Then he continued:
Il have just had confidential in
formation from North Carolina. The
Liberal Republican ticket in that state
has been badly defeated. That defeat
will be accepted everywhere as indi-
eating what is in store for the Liberal
Republican movement nationally. 1t
will fall to pieces.
Now, would advise you to stay
away from the Liberal Republican
convention, and would further advise
you to take strong sides against the
movement Then you will be returned
triumphantly to the legislature. But if
you join the Liberal party. it will
take you several years to get over the
effect of that action
Il thanked Mr.. Tilden, and my
thanks were sincere. Then l went
home and unpacked my gripsack, and
you should have heard me sounding
the praises of the Republican party
the next day. Later on / was elected
triumphantly-and all because Mr..
Tilden had taken an unusual way to
return to me in lump some of the
little political favors had put myself
out to do for him from time to time"
Copyright. 1870 by E. ]. Edwards)