you alone can unite it by substituting "Vindication" as the battle-cry for the campaign. Your nomination would give the signal to a resistless onslaught upon the enemy's entrenched positions upon the whole line, and it is questionable whether the Republicans could save the electoral vote of a single State. The uprising would be so spontaneous as to require no special effort on your part, and the drafting of the national platform would close the personal effort on your part. No anxiety, no trouble as to the final outcome of the struggle, need disturb your peace, as your election by a tremendous popular vote is conceded by the majority of Republicans. Do not stifle this generous outburst of the American people by a refusal to allow your name to be used in the convention. Republic. "La patrie est en danger! Elle demande la sacrifice You may save the Hon. John Campbell to S. J. Tilden. PITTSBURGH, PA., June 8, 1884. DEAR SIR: There is a great deal of doubt, and I may say anxiety, on the part of the masses of the Democratic and Independent voters of the country, as to whether you will accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Without any desire to draw you out on this subject, I thought I would write to you and urge upon you the great importance of your acceptance of that nomination which will undoubtedly be unanimously tendered. In the year 1876, when you were the Democratic standard-bearer, I was chairman of the Republican City Central Committee at Steubenville, Ohio, my home, and I did all I could to defeat you, and honestly believed that you were defeated; but later events satisfied me, and I may say thousands of others, that you were cheated out of the presidency, and I have never since voted the Republican ticket. Thousands of Independent voters are waiting a chance to do what they can to right the wrong that was done in 1876. But there is another reason why you should again consent to allow your name to be used. The people are tired of the Republican party and want a change, and knowing that it is almost beyond their power to dislodge the greedy hoard of office-holders, who have become so thoroughly entrenched that they cannot be routed unless they are opposed by a leader who is considered almost invincible, they, the people, demand that you again become their standard-bearer. In my capacity as late chief executive officer of the Brotherhood of Telegraphers, I have travelled all over the United States, and know that I do not exaggerate when I say that the Democratic voters are unanimous in their desire that you once more sacrifice your comfort and lead them to victory; and they confidently expect that you will not disappoint them. Although I am not a public speaker, I flatter myself that I am a good organizer, and I promise you that I will do all in my power to assist in the campaign, should you accept the nomination. G. Albert Cutler to S. J. Tilden. CHICAGO, June 4, 1884. DEAR SIR: As a Republican of thirty years' standing, and in behalf of thousands of Republicans who believe you were fairly elected President of the United States eight years ago, we earnestly beg of you to accept the nomination which will be unanimously tendered you by a convention of white men in July next. Should you do so, we promise you a "Tilden Club," not only in Chicago, but in every locality, composed exclusively of former Republicans who desire to see right and justice vindicated, and who will give you their earnest and most heartfelt support. W. L. Scott to S. J. Tilden. ERIE, PA., May 3, 1884. If we cannot have you for a candidate, I give up all hopes of ever seeing a Democrat elected President of the United States. Hon. Samuel J. Randall to S. J. Tilden. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 1884. The people of every part of our broad country are of one voice and opinion, that you must be our candidate. You will have to yield, and you ought to do so. Hon. Geo. S. Converse to S. J. Tilden. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MY DEAR SIR: In confirmation of the suggestions I made to you a week ago Saturday, that the masses of the people in the West are determined to make you our candidate for President, I wish to mention the fact that at all of the congressional conventions which have been held in Ohio, resolutions have been adopted in your favor. A more significant fact, however, is, that every county convention thus far held, with two exceptions, has passed such resolutions. The people in their primary conventions, without the consultation of politicians, are all moving in one direction. Your declination must not be thought of. A triumphant election will follow such spontaneous movement of the masses. Without you, divisions will arise in our party which are liable to result in defeat. Cyrus McCormick to S. J. Tilden. CHICAGO, ILL., March 27, 1884. MY DEAR SIR: I venture to write a line to you upon a subject with which your name has been connected for some time past, with such comments as seem to make it questionable how such a letter as this may be received by you. From our past relations, however, I feel that, whatever others may say, you will allow me to express my sentiments upon this subject, not doubting their earnestness and patriotism. Permit me, then, to say, sir, that as matters now stand, Democratically considered, I have strong doubts whether your nomination by the Democratic convention is not a necessity to the success of the Democratic party, and hence that, whatever might be your personal feeling on that question, it becomes a duty you owe to the country, under such circumstances, to sacrifice private considerations for so momentous an object. You have once been elected by the people to that high position, but were prevented from occupying it by a system of frauds disgraceful to the country, and which must yet recoil upon the heads of the party leaders responsible for the same; while the cry now is that "Tilden alone, by being reinstated, can save the Democratic party" and the country. Some have called for "the old ticket; " but my own humble impression is that Tilden and McDonald" would be most acceptable to the Democratic party and to the whole people, East and West. Unable, myself, for some time to take an active part in politics, while with an interest unabated in the prosperity of our great country, agitated as it now is through conflicting views of politicians on local issues, I have felt unable to restrain myself from giving expression to these sentiments towards one who, I feel, has the ability and the patriotism to steer the noble old Democratic ship through the breakers which again threaten her destruction.' Hon. J. R. Tucker to S. J. Tilden. WASHINGTON, June 13, 1884. MY DEAR MR. TILDEN: I have never sought to intrude myself upon your consideration during your eminent career, which by your late letter is declared to be closed forever. But I cannot forbear to express my sincere admiration of the dignity and magnanimity of the utterance with which you have made it known to your country. No man in this era of our history has filled so distinguished a position in the eyes of his country as you have done and now do. In the comprehension of its needs, in the clear and analytic investigation of political truth, 1 Mr. McCormick died shortly after this letter was written. and in the formulation of the statements of political philosophy, you stand, in my judgment, without a peer 'among our statesmen. But in practical administration, in the adaptation of sound political doctrines to the affairs of State, in shaping public policy according to the rules of political science, you have exhibited qualities which, had Providence called you, as the voice of your country did, to the presidency, would have made your term of service one of the most memorable and illustrious in our history. Fate has denied to your country the benefit of your eminent abilities; but history will never fail to name you as the statesman who in our day best deserved the highest place to which American ambition aspires, and whose noble utterance in your act of voluntary retirement has kindled anew the admiration of the people, and moved the deepest sensibilities of their hearts. My praise is unstinted, because bestowed on one who can offer me nothing but respect for its sincerity. You will do me the justice to believe it would not have been offered under other circumstances. I can only hope that a kind Providence may continue your health and life to see and rejoice in the triumph of your principles and policy, though through other hands than your own, upon which alone can be based the security of our liberties and the promotion of good government and the prosperity and glory of our common country. Ilon. Thomas Ewing to S. J. Tilden. NEW YORK, June 13, 1884. MY DEAR SIR: The statement in the enclosed slip from the "Tribune," that I have intimated that you would use your influence in favor of Cleveland, is absolutely unfounded. It is a matter of no consequence to you whether it be true or not, but it is to me, as I don't want to seem as unworthy of your uniform courtesy and consideration as such loose-tongued talk would make me appear. The outburst of affection for you and regret at your retirement, which your letter evokes, reminds me, by contrast, of an interesting incident in the close of Mr. Webster's political career. The evening of the day on which he was beaten by Scott for the Whig nomination in 1852, myself and some other young gentlemen in Washington manifested our sympathy and respect by a serenade. In the course of a beautiful and touching response he said: "Ah! my young friends, politicians are not sunflowers. They do "Turn on their god when he sets not The same look which they gave when he rose!" What a contrast between your retirement from public life and that of Mr. Webster! He went out after seeking the presidency in vain, dejected and broken-hearted, while you voluntarily decline a unanimous nomination and an assured election. With best wishes for your health and happiness, I am, etc. APPENDIX C MISS GOULD'S LIST OF THE BOOKS READ TO MR. TILDEN DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF HIS LIFE. 14 EAST FIFTY-THIRD STREET, Dec. 12, 1893. DEAR MR. BIGELOW: I enclose the copy of the list of books which I read at "Graystone." In addition to it were all the monthly and quarterly magazines. Often the entire number of an English quarterly would take more time than a biography or novel. Then the encyclopedia was almost daily in hand. Certain of Macaulay's essays were read over and over again. Then guide-books had an important place, and were read over and over in connection with travels, etc. One reason the number of books read in '86 was smaller than in '82 was that Mr. Tilden was working on his ancestral list, and much of the time went to reading and working on that subject. |