Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1879 — Habits of Mind. [ARTICLE]

Habits of Mind.

“Col. Pelton’s habits of mind and mine are very different,” said Mr. Tilden in his testimony before the Potter Committee. This was one of the remarks by which he tried to create the impression that ho had no knowledge of or connection with the cipher dispatches, and that only his nephew and his confidential managers and intimate friends were guilty. He did not assert in so many words that they were rascals and he an innocent old man who had fallen among thieves, but he tried very hard to produce that impression. One of the statements by which he. tried to produce this impression was the one above qqoted—“ Col, Pelton’s habits of mTnd and mine are very different.” This is one of Tilden’s vague generalities, but in the language of the street, “it won’t wash.” VV’hen he said “Col. Pelton’s habits of mind and mine are very different,” he evidently meant to convey the meaning that Pelton would use means and methods to achieve success which he, Tilden, would not use: that he, Tilden, was a _ strictly honest man, straightforward and upright in all his dealings and ways of doing business, while Pelton was, if not the reverse, at least very different from this. The country will accept Mr. Tilden’s estimate of Pelton’s character. There is not a particle of doubt that he is a thoroughly unscrupulous fellow, or to put itreveri more plainly, a great rascal. His entire course in regard to the Southern , Returning Boards, as shown by the cipher dispatches and his own testimony, proves this. Mr. Tilden sees it and concludes to add the Weight of his own judgment to the other testimony on this point, and while doing sc to get in a word for himself also. So he says “Col. Pelton’s habits of mind and mine are very different,’ l„_jßut are they so very different after all? Tilden would Uke_to have it appear so, but is it so? \Y e can only judge of a man’s habits of mind by his acts, these being the outward expression of internal thoughts and purposes. Pelton’s acts in regard to the Southern Returniiig Boards, and his efforts tonegotiate for the.purchase of an Electoral vote show that his habits of mind are those of a rascal, but how is it about THden? It is a ; notorious fact that he has fleeced and plundered more railroads than any other man living. It, is equally notorious that lie Was a party to a wild-cat bank issue in Michigan ty which a great number of persons were swindled. It is equally notorious that during a period of several years he defrauded the Government out of a very large sum by making false income-tax returns year after year. It is equally notorious that his nomination at St. Louis was procured by corrupt means, and that he spent money like water during the campaign that followed for corrupt purposes. These acts indicate that Tilden’s habits of mind are those of a man who stops at nothing to carry out his ends; that with him “fair is foul and foul is fair,’,’ sd that he accomplishes his purposes. During his whole his habits of mind have dropped oUt, they are seen to be the habits of a mind familiar with corrupt and dishonest methods, and apt to use any and all means lor suocess. This being the case, what right has Tilden to say that Col.'Pelton’s habits of mind And his are VOT fHßfvrOtr& We sbould-sayifthere is any difference, it is in favor of Pelton. It is true his. habits of mind are those of a man ready to use any means,

no matter how oorrupt, to carry Ms end; but, so.far as the country knows, be was never connected with any corrupt transaction or negotiation before this cipher-dispatch business, while Tilden's wholo record is crooked and rotten. His studied attempt to throw the whole responsibility of the cipher dispatches on his confidential managers, ■ and his malicious remark that Pelton’s habits of mind and his own wero very different, show Tilden to be a hypocrite and a sneak, as well as a corruptionist. rncKSltnpults Journal. ——