and Missouri rivers have at some time been his clients. In this practice he acquired both extensive fame and a large fortune.

But it was as a reformer in politics that Mr. Tilden acquired his greatest

and most lasting fame. In 1869 the "Tweed ring" of thieves and adventurers had secured the absolute control of New York city. To illustrate their power over the city finances, it may be mentioned that at one meeting of the Board of Special Audit, three men ordered the payment of over six million dollars, hardly

ten per cent. of which in value was realized by the city. Nearly fifteen millions of dollars in fraudulent bills against the city were paid in a single day! The thieves had so securely intrenched themselves that they defied any one to dislodge them. "What are you going to do about it?" was Tweed's famous reply to criticism.

But there was one man who knew what to do about it. A combination of citizens was formed to attack the ring, and to this work Mr. Tilden gave his best powers. By obtaining from banks the checks which had been paid, and comparing them with accounts in the Comptroller's office, he was able to lay bare the details of the conspiracy. He proved that two-thirds of the whole amount

of bills audited had been divided among public officers and their accomplices, and was able to show what amount of public plunder was in the hands of each. With the proofs thus furnished the ring was at length broken up, its power destroyed, and the most prominent of the thieves brought to justice. Tweed fled to Europe, was brought back, and died miserably in prison.

In consequence largely of Tilden's good work in the overthrow of the Tweed ring, he was elected, in 1874, Governor of New York. In this position he soon found work ready to his hand in the exposure and overthrow of the "Canal ring," a body of corrupt men who had secured control of the Erie and Champlain canals, and by a system of immense expenditures and false accounts

THE DISPUTED ELECTION.

429

had robbed the State of large sums. Tilden's vigorous efforts resulted in overthrowing the ring, recovering large amounts of stolen money, and completely reforming the whole system of canal administration and management.

Tilden had now gained a most enviable position. By his great reforms he had overthrown two powerful "rings," had reduced State taxation nearly onehalf, and as Governor of the greatest State of the Union he stood at the head of the Democratic party, with a national fame as a reformer and a statesman. It was natural that, in 1876, all eyes should have turned to him as the man to head the Democratic ticket in the coming election. He was nominated by the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in June, 1876, amid great enthusiasm.

The campaign of 1876 was most ably conducted. Mr. Tilden brought into the contest his unsurpassed sagacity and shrewdness as a political manager, and the result was astounding to his opponents. For some days after the election there seemed no doubt of his complete triumph. But soon it appeared that in the States of Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida, where the colored vote was a principal factor, the result was disputed. If the Republican candidate secured all of these three States it would give him 185 electoral votes, or just one more than Mr. Tilden would have. It soon became evident that there would be two sets of returns from these States, and then the question would be, Which set shall be received and counted? The Senate was Republican, the House Democratic. Either House could, by objecting to a return, put a stop to the count before Congress, and thus the country would drift on into anarchy. The excitement was intense. Finally, it was proposed to establish an Electoral Commission of fifteen members,-three Republican and two Democratic senators. three Democratic and two Republican representatives, and five justices of the Supreme Court, two of whom should be Republican and two Democratic; and these fourteen members were to choose the fifteenth, who, it was expected, would be Judge David Davis, of Illinois, who was classed as an independent. Thus the commission would be evenly divided politically, and yet there could be no tie. To this commission was to be submitted the returns from any disputed State, and their decision was to be final.

In spite of opposition, the bill creating the commission was passed; and then occurred one of the trifling accidents which sometimes decide the fate of nations. Judge Davis was elected to the Senate, and resigned from the Supreme bench. He was thus disqualified to sit on the commission, and Justice Bradley, a Republican, was chosen the fifteenth member. In every case of dispute, the commission decided by a party vote-eight to seven-to count the Republican returns. The three doubtful States were thus all given to the Republican candidate. The count was completed only two days before March 4th; and thus, by the narrowest possible majority, Mr. Hayes was seated in the executive chair.

Never did Mr. Tilden appear to better advantage than during this exciting contest. He was entirely convinced of his election; he had millions of supporters; a word from him would have precipitated anarchy. It is to his lasting honor that, at that critical moment, his every word and act was such as to preserve peace and order, even at the expense of the Presidency.

RUTHERFORD BURCHARD HAYES.

After the contest of 1876, Mr. Tilden retired from public life. In both 1880 and 1884 the greatest pressure was brought upon him to again accept the nomination for the Presidency; but this he firmly resisted, maintaining that by long and arduous service he had earned the right to retirement. The last work of his life was a plan for a great public library, to found which he left by his will the bulk of his large fortune. His beneficent design was frustrated, however, by legal flaws in his will, which his relations successfully con

tested, thus depriving him of the monument which his noble purpose and useful life deserved. He died in New York on August 4, 1886.