Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1885 — A TALK WITH TILDEN. [ARTICLE]

A TALK WITH TILDEN.

The Sage Rejoices at the Rel turn of the Democratic Party to their Heritage. ‘You have come to the setting sun. when you should nave gone with the rising orb,’ was the remark made by Samuel J. Tilden to a prominent Democratic politician of the ‘. V est, who, by reason of belated trains, was unable to reach Washington, and so went to Yonkers yesterday to pay his respects to the sage of Greystone. ‘Well,’ continued Mr. Tilden, who was in high spirits, ‘you have come to me at a time when i am gratified beyond measure. See, i have just received a dispatch from Washington that the inauguration is complete. This land of our forefathers that the Lord gave us fora heritage has been restored to the people, as I have never doubted it would be. Is this not cause for gratification for all the people of the land?

The day was beautiful. '• he sun shone warmly on the granite walls. The windows were oben. and Mr. Tilden and his gwest passed out on the veran da overlooking his hillside acres, the deep valley of the Hudson and the broaa waters of the river. As they sat there Mt. Tilden said, among other things: ‘lt is to be regarded as the beginning of halcyon days tor the country when North and South and East and are once more blended in common interests by the common Government. We shall have a restoration of the better days of the Republic, because the people desire ana demand it. N e shall have it peaceably because the will of the people is strong. I have sometimes thought that it was the great Higher Power that | prevented the change from coming sooner. It was necessary that the people sho’d be educated into readiness to accept a change. There might have been serious times otherwise. But the known extravagances and corruption in nearly every branch of the National Government has been so flagrant that the people are ready to sustain any movement that looks like reform of the public service.’ The name of Mr. Cleveland was mentioned, and Mr. Tilden said: ‘He stands at once in the proudest and most perilous position. He has one great possession that will enable him to overcome all obstacles and danger—a high-minded singleness of purpose and devotion to the trust he has accepted. With his comparative-youth, absence from distraction by family cares, love of hard work and determination to succeed, there is a bright prospect of a successful and pure administration. The task before him is immense. The departments are full of corruption. But he will be equal to it—he will be eqpal to it, you may be sure.’

n giving me the substance of further conversation, Mr. Tilden’s guest said to me tonight: ‘Mr. Tilden believes that the Democratic natty has come into power to stay. The great business interests of the country are already supporting it, and will advocate its continuance in power so long as it is conservative and fair. The banking interests of the country have already leaped to the support of Mr. Cleveland in his silver policy. Mr. Tilden believes that the South will receive the attention of Eastern capital, and become the scene of active development of its material resources, by which the two sections will be welded together as never before, and that the West as the great granery of both East and South, will become likewise so prosperous that the common bond will be firmly knit. I think that he rather hopes that some slight complication may arise that will give the country a common enemy

and possibly enable her to snatch Cuba from Spain.’