my memories of eighty years-第38节

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In　answer　to　Tilden's　protest　against　this　treatment；　Tweed　loudly　informed　him　that　he　represented　no　one　but　himself；　that　he　had　neither　influence　nor　standing　in　the　city；　that　he　was　an　intermeddler　with　things　that　did　not　concern　him；　and　a　general　nuisance。

Mr。　Tilden　turned　ashy　white；　and　showed　evidences　of　suppressed　rage　and　vindictiveness　more　intense　than　I　ever　saw　in　any　one　before；　and　abruptly　left　the　hearing。

I　knew　Mr。　Tilden　very　well；　and　from　contact　with　him　in　railroad　matters　had　formed　a　high　opinion　of　his　ability　and　acquirements。　He　had　a　keen；　analytic　mind；　tireless　industry；　and　a　faculty　for　clarifying　difficulties　and　untangling　apparently　impossible　problems　to　a　degree　that　amounted　to　genius。

In　reference　to　what　had　happened；　I　said　to　a　friend：　　〃Mr。　Tweed　must　be　very　confident　of　his　position　and　of　his　record；　for　he　has　deliberately　defied　and　invited　the　attacks　of　a　relentless　and　merciless　opponent　by　every　insult　which　could　wound　the　pride　and　incite　the　hatred　of　the　man　so　ridiculed　and　abused。　Mr。　Tilden　is　a　great　lawyer。　　He　has　made　a　phenomenal　success　financially；　he　has　powerful　associates　in　financial　and　business　circles；　and　is　master　of　his　time　for　any　purpose　to　which　he　chooses　to　apply　it。〃

It　was　not　long　before　one　of　the　most　remarkable　and　exhaustive　investigations　ever　conducted　by　an　individual　into　public　records；　books；　ledgers；　bank…accounts；　and　contracts；　revealed　to　the　public　the　whole　system　of　governing　the　city。　　This　master　mind　solved　the　problems　so　that　they　were　plain　to　the　average　citizen　as　the　simplest　sum　in　arithmetic；　or　that　two　and　two　make　four。

The　result　was　the　destruction　of　the　power　of　Tweed　and　his　associates；　of　their　prosecution　and　conviction；　and　of　the　elevation　of　Samuel　J。　Tilden　to　a　State　and　national　figure　of　the　first　importance。　　He　not　only　became　in　the　public　mind　a　leader　of　reforms　in　government；　municipal；　State；　and　national；　but　embodied　in　the　popular　imagination　REFORM　ITSELF。

Mr。　Tilden　carried　this　same　indefatigable　industry　and　power　of　organization　into　a　canvass　for　governor。　　His　agencies　reached　not　only　the　counties　and　towns；　but　the　election　districts　of　the　State。　　He　called　into　existence　a　new　power　in　politicsthe　young　men。　　The　old　leaders　were　generally　against　him；　but　he　discovered　in　every　locality　ambitious；　resourceful；　and　courageous　youngsters　and　made　them　his　lieutenants。　　This　unparalleled　preparation　made　him　the　master　of　his　party　and　the　governor　of　the　State。

After　the　election　he　invited　me　to　come　and　see　him　at　the　Executive　Mansion　in　Albany；　and　in　the　course　of　the　conversation　he　said：　　〃In　your　speeches　in　the　campaign　against　me　you　were　absolutely　fair；　and　as　a　fair　and　open…minded　opponent　I　want　to　have　a　frank　talk。　　I　am　governor　of　the　State；　elected　upon　an　issue　which　is　purely　local。　　The　Democratic　party　is　at　present　without　principles　or　any　definite　issue　on　which　to　appeal　to　the　public。　　If　I　am　to　continue　in　power　we　must　find　an　issue。　The　Erie　Canal　is　not　only　a　State　affair；　but　a　national　one。　Its　early　construction　opened　the　great　Northwest；　and　it　was　for　years　the　only　outlet　to　the　seaboard。　　The　public　not　only　in　the　State　of　New　York；　but　in　the　West；　believes　that　there　has　been；　and　is；　corruption　in　the　construction　and　management　of　the　Canal。　　This　great　waterway　requires　continuing　contracts　for　continuing　repairs；　and　the　people　believe　that　these　contracts　are　given　to　favorites；　and　that　the　work　is　either　not　performed　at　all　or　is　badly　done。　　I　believe　that　matter　ought　to　be　looked　into　and　the　result　will　largely　justify　the　suspicion　prevalent　in　the　public　mind。　　I　want　your　judgment　on　the　question　and　what　will　be　the　effect　upon　me。〃

I　then　frankly　answered　him：　　〃Governor；　there　is　no　doubt　it　will　be　a　popular　movement；　but　you　know　that　the　Canal　contractors　control　the　machinery　of　your　party；　and　I　cannot　tell　what　the　effect　of　that　may　be　upon　what　you　desire；　which　is　a　second　term。〃

〃Those　contractors；〃　he　said；　〃are　good　Democrats；　and　their　ability　to　secure　the　contracts　depends　upon　Democratic　supremacy。　A　prosecution　against　them　has　been　tried　so　often　that　they　have　little　fear　of　either　civil　or　criminal　actions；　and　I　think　they　will　accept　the　issue　as　the　only　one　which　will　keep　their　party　in　power。〃

It　is　a　part　of　the　history　of　the　time　that　he　made　the　issue　so　interesting　that　he　became　a　national　figure　of　the　first　importance　and　afterwards　the　candidate　of　his　party　for　President　of　the　United　States。　　Not　only　that；　but　he　so　impressed　the　people　that　popular　judgment　is　still　divided　as　to　whether　or　not　he　was　rightfully　elected　president。

Once　I　was　coming　from　the　West　after　a　tour　of　inspection；　and　when　we　left　Albany　the　conductor　told　me　that　Governor　Tilden　was　on　the　train。　　I　immediately　called　and　found　him　very　uncomfortable；　because　he　said　he　was　troubled　with　boils。　　I　invited　him　into　the　larger　compartment　which　I　had；　and　made　him　as　comfortable　as　possible。　　His　conversation　immediately　turned　upon　the　second　term　and　he　asked　what　I；　as　a　Republican；　thought　of　his　prospects　as　the　result　of　his　administration。　　We　had　hardly　entered　upon　the　subject　when　a　very　excited　gentleman　burst　into　the　compartment　and　said：　　〃Governor；　I　have　been　looking　for　you　everywhere。　　I　went　to　your　office　at　the　Capitol　and　to　the　Executive　Mansion；　but　learned　you　were　here　and　barely　caught　the　train。　　You　know　who　I　am。〃　　（The　governor　knew　he　was　mayor　of　a　city。）　　〃I　want　to　see　you　confidentially。〃

The　governor　said　to　him：　　〃I　have　entire　confidence　in　my　Republican　friend　here。　　You　can　trust　him。　　Go　on。〃

I　knew　the　mayor　very　well；　and　under　ordinary　conditions　he　would　have　insisted　on　the　interview　with　the　governor　being　private　and　personal。　　But　he　was　so　excited　and　bursting　with　rage　that　he　went　right　on。　　The　mayor　fairly　shouted：　　〃It　is　the　station　agent　of　the　New　York　Central　Railroad　in　our　city　of　whom　I　complain。　　He　is　active　in　politics　and　controls　the　Democratic　organization　in　our　county。　　He　is　working　to　prevent　myself　and　my　friends　and　even　ex…Governor　Seymour　from　being　delegates　to　the　national　convention。　　It　is　to　the　interest　of　our　party；　in　fact；　I　may　say；　the　salvation　of　our　party　in　our　county　that　this　New　York　Central　agent　be　either　removed　or　silenced；　and　I　want　you　to　see　Mr。　Vanderbilt　on　the　subject。〃

The　governor　sympathized　with　the　mayor　and　dismissed　him。　　Then　in　a　quizzical　way　he　asked　me：　　〃Do　you　know　this　agent？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。

〃What　do　you　think　of　him？〃

〃I　know　nothing　about　his　political　activities；〃　I　answered；　〃but　he　is　one　of　the　most　efficient　employees　of　the　company　in　the　State。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　governor；　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　so。　　He　was　down　to　see　me　the　other　night；　in　fact；　I　sent　for　him；　and　I　formed　a　very　high　opinion　of　his　judgment　and　ability。〃

As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　governor　had　selected　him　to　accomplish　this　very　result　which　the　mayor　had　said　would　ruin　the　party　in　the　county。

When　the　New　York　Democratic　delegation　left　the　city　for　the　Democratic　national　convention　they　had　engaged　a　special　train　to　leave　from　the　Grand　Central　Station。　　I　went　down　to　see　that　the　arrangements　were　perfected　for　its　movement。　　It　was　a　hilarious　crowd；　and　the　sides　of　the　cars　were　strung　with　Tilden　banners。

Mr。　Tilden　was　there　also　to　see　them　off。　　After　bidding　good…by　to　the　leaders；　and　with　a　whispered　conference　with　each；　the　mass　of　delegates　and　especially　reporters；　of　whom　there　was　a　crowd；　wished　to　engage　him　in　conversation。　　He　spied　me　and　immediately　hurried　me　into　one　of　the　alcoves；　apparently　for　a　private　conversation。　　The　crowd；　of　course；　gathered　around；　anxious　to　know　what　it　was　all　about。　　He　asked　me　a　few　questions　about　the　health　of　my　family　and　then　added：　　〃Don't　leave　me。　I　want　to　avoid　all　these　people；　and　we　will　talk　until　the　train　is　off　and　the　crowd　disperses。〃

Life　was　a　burden　for　me　the　rest　of　the　day　and　evening；　made　so　by　the　newspaper　men　and　Democratic　politicians　trying　to　find　out　what　the　mysterious　chief　had　revealed　to　me　in　the　alcove　of　the　Grand　Central。

I　was　very　much　gratified　when　meeting　him　after　the　fierce　battles　for　the　presidency　were　over；　to　have　him　grasp　me　by　the　hand　and　say：　　〃You　were　about　the　only　one　who　treated　me　absolutely　fairly　during　the　campaign。〃

I　love　little　incidents　about　great　men。　　Mr。　Tilden　was　intensely　human　and　a　great　man。

Doctor　Buckley；　who　was　at　the　head　of　the　Methodist　Book　Concern　in　New　York；　and　one　of　the　most　delightful　of　men；　told　me　that　there　came　into　his　office　one　day　a　Methodist　preacher　from　one　of　the　mining　districts　of　Pennsylvania；　who　said　to　him：　　〃My　church　burned　down。　　We　had　no　insurance。　　We　are　poor　people；　and；　therefore；　I　have　come　to　New　York　to　raise　money　to　rebuild　it。〃

The　doctor　told　him　that　New　York　was　overrun　from　all　parts　of　the　country　with　applicants　for　help；　and　that　he　thought　he　would　have　great　difficulty　in　his　undertaking。

〃Well；〃　the　preacher　said；　〃I