Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-20
HALF A CENTURY AGO
How Tilden stampeded the Demo
cratic Convention of '68.
sudden Rise of the New Yorker and
His Nigorous Efforts to Reclaim n
Dying Party--How Seymour
was Nominated.


Democratic party. was not only the
chairman of the Democratic National
convention of 1868. but he became in
the twinkling of an eye and In spite of
his embarrassed protests the Demo- |
cratic candidate for President
Yet Gov. Seymour was not really the
chief personlity in the campaign it
self. He WIS the candidate, but he was
not the campaign, at least until a few
weeks before election day.
The democratic campaign of 1865
was. In fact an earnest, In many res
poets q very 2droit and in all respects
q successful attempt to regain for the
party much Of the prestige which iii
mad lost in the Civil War days--to
rcorganizc ii and to establish it upon
the fundamental principles of the dem
ocracy, so that it could recover the
strength which it possessed in the
North before the war and especially
could become n majority party in some
Of the states OF the west which before
the war were almost invariably lemo-
cratic.
THE OHIO IDEA" AND ITS ADNO-
CATE.
history now shows to be the distinc-
tive and permanent features of the
democratic National campaign of 1865,
there should be a brief reference to the
politics which characterized the conven-
ton itself
For some weeks prior to the meeting
If the convention George II. pendlcton Of
Ohio was thought to be so far in the lead
of all other candidates as to make his
nomination inevitable after three or four
ballots. Mr.. Pcndlctor possessed some
peculiar qualifications for presidential
nomination and he was also 50 greatly
gifted intellectually and tompcramcntal-
IT, as to make IT certain that were he
elected president he would administer
his office with great credit and with
much ability.
Personally, he was Of most charming
address. lie was not very great orator
from the point of view Of those who listen
to a campaign speaker. But he was
singularly persuasive orator. capable of
dealing acutoy ana often profoundly with
questions arising from the Interpretation
Of political principles or relating to pub
| lie policy
Tha. power was perhaps best eXempli-
fled some Il years later when he while
serving ms United States Senator from
! Ohio was the victorious leader of the
| broad and comprehensive movement hay
| ing for it's purpose the establishment of
| tru" Civil Service reform. Mr.. Pendle-
| tons service In the United States Senate
| tended strongly to confirm the impression
many republicans had, that had Mr.. Pen
! 81 oh adj mi N =
| traitor would have been numbered among
( the most successful Of the many presi-
/ DENTAL administrations, After his serv-
ice as United States Senator he served
as minister to Germany.
Mr.. Pendleton became conspicuously
| Identified in the COS with the popular
movement, which was of widespread in
| flueuce throughout the West and in some
parts of the East in favor Of paying all
of the obligations Of the Government,
| which were not payable by their express
terms in coin, in lawful money-that is
to say. speaking colloqually, in green
1 backs. So persuasivcly ana powerfully
| had Mr.. Pendlcton spoken I'm favor of this
policy thai he brought to his support
many of the leading democrats of Ohio.
For this reason tho policy was some
times called the Onto idea "
y The "Ohio idea" and the pre-eminent
Identification of Mr. Pendlcton with it
served to create a new national issue in
1865, somewhat apart from those directly
related TO the war itself and to bring
forward a new very accomplished person
alltY, George II. Pcndleton, as n leader
for the democracy. For this reason up
| to the meeting of the convention, Mr..
Pondloton was looked upon AS pre-em-
inently indicated as the nominee of the
democracy for president
TILDEN TO THE FORE
On the other hand. new and very adroit
politics was in progress in New York
State. and had been for a year In poll
tics of this kind Samuel j. Tilden was
prominent He had played a minor part
In the great game Of political empire
in the past. He had been trained as a
young man In the great school taught
by the so-called Albany Regency, the
most powerful group of democrats in its
day. From 1t came one President Martin
Buren, and at least two statesmen whose
public service at Washington and as
Governors of New York was q great
value, both to their party and their state
They were William l.. Marcy and Silas
Wright
Mr.. Tildens personal gift for adroi'
political management was demonstrate,
as early as 1875 lie was looked upon a,
one of the ablest Of the younger demo
Gratis of that time. He was spoken o.
as man absolutely dominated by intel
Let, He seemed to be free from the or
binary passions and weaknesses Of hu
man nature. His intellect was not only
very acute, but also profound, and hi.
mind worked with the accuracy of
demonstration OF mathematical prob
Tilden had been absorbed in the prac
tce of his profession. He had gained
the reputation of being one of the ables
OF the probate lawyers OF New York
although his reputation was not confined
to this branch Of the law.
Mr.. Kilden had little to do with the
National Democratic campaign of 1864
but the reasons are strong for believing
that within year after the close of tn,
civil War he was actively engaged II
some Of the politics which had for it.
prime purpose the recovery of tn,
strength of the party in the North.
TILDEN BACKS CHASE CANDIDACY
From time to time between 1866 anc
the latter part of 1867 vague intimation.
were heard that these democratic lead
ers of New York State were strongly
disposed to look upon Salmon p. Chase
at that time chief justice of the Su
Drcmp Court at NashingtOn 40 tho Idaa