by David Flint
Samuel Tilden, Governor of New York, Presidential Candidate and New Lebanon’s favorite son, was born in that town on February 9, 1814. To celebrate his 200th birthday, just a bit belatedly, the New Lebanon Historical Society hosted a party for the community last Sunday at the Shatford Park Pavilion. The bash included a pig roast, a vast and wonderful assortment of potluck foods, birthday cakes based on a Tilden family recipe and music provided by Wally Stock playing a collection of period recordings on his 1902 Columbia phonograph.
[private]Popular director and actor John Trainor brought Tilden to life reading powerfully a speech that Tilden gave following the disastrous 1876 election. “The men who were elected President and Vice President were counted out, and the men who were not elected were counted in and seated…in truth the greatest wrong that has stained our national annals…” was part of what Tilden had to say.
Town Historian Kevin Fuerst gave a brief talk about Tilden’s importance to the Town and the nation. A man who “truly cared about people,” he said. He hoped that as President he could help mend the country after the Civil War. He won the popular vote in 1876 for President but lost in the Electoral College by one vote. He declined to fight it in the courts as he decided it would not help reconstruction. Fuerst believed that by relinquishing the office to Rutherford Hayes, it did help to mend the country, so Tilden accomplished what he wanted to do without serving as President.
Featured guest speaker David Hochfelder, SUNY-Albany Professor of History, said that Tilden in his single term as Governor, 1875-1876, began to develop a reputation as an anti-corruption reformer. Early in his term as Governor he took on and defeated the infamous “Canal Ring” and ended the blatant corruption in construction and repair contracts associated with the New York State Canal System.
But before that, as head of the State Democratic party, he had worked closely in politics with the even more infamous “Boss” Tweed of Tammany Hall who led the corrupt machine that for years had controlled the New York City government. “Tweed was corrupt, but could deliver the vote,” Hochfelder said. You had to understand the climate of the times. Patronage, corruption and winning elections all went together. There was no Civil Service. If the Presidency changed political hands, even New Lebanon would get a new Postmaster. Tilden, he believed, was not any more pure and not any less pure than any other major politician of the time. Tilden was a party man and, according to Hochfelder, “knew which side of the bread the butter was on.”
It was a fine tightrope that Tilden and other politicians had to walk. The politician’s dilemma was that he had to engage with and support a Tweed machine to get votes and patronage jobs.Local machines, even if corrupt, could win elections. And a lot of people’s livelihoods depended on winning those elections. Moreover, if you win the City of New York, you win the State, and if you win New York State you could win a national election. And Tilden had aspirations.
On the other hand, if you are running for higher office, maybe seeking national office, you need to be seen as an anti-corruption reformer and work to establish institutions that will create good government. You don’t want to be too closely associated with the likes of Boss Tweed. The Tweed Ring controlled most of the press in New York. But not The New York Times and not Harper’s Weekly, where cartoonist Thomas Nast kept up a steady barrage of cartoons lampooning and vilifying Tweed and politicians associated with him, including Samuel Tilden. By 1870 Tilden decided that Tweed had gone too far and he helped to launch a reform effort in New York City. Tweed was eventually removed from power and ended up dying in jail, a broken man.
Tilden went on to serve a term in the State legislature, a two year term as Governor and was nominated for President by the Democratic
Party in 1876 with the slogan “Tilden and Reform.”
Hochfelder calls Tilden the “Reluctant Reformer,” believing that Tilden’s heart was not really into cleaning up corruption. He tried to distance himself from Boss Tweed, but The New York Times produced evidence at one point that Tilden had received at least one payment of $5,000 from the Boss. When questioned about it Tilden said he had no recollection of that. But Tilden did indeed take some important steps to reform government and politics and by all accounts was a successful Governor. And he remains New Lebanon’s favorite son. Many feel he should have been given a chance to continue as a reformer, even if somewhat reluctant, in the office of President to which the people elected him.
Steve Oberon, President of the Historical Society, added a somewhat scary note at the end of this most interesting program. Oberon said he understands that following the decision to seat Hayes as President, the Sheriff of Columbia County was advised to stand ready in case of an insurrection. The Sheriff had a warrant for Tilden’s arrest in case his supporters did not agree with the decision. “Apparently things were quite tense,” Oberon said.
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