r passed
through the hotel corridor, while Tilden, trembling with suppressed
emotion, expressed the belief that the Boss would close his career in
jail or in exile.[1327] One wonders that Tilden, being a natural
detective, should have delayed strenuous action until the _Times'_
exposure, but when, at last, a knowledge of the colossal frauds
suddenly opened the way to successful battle, he seized the advantage
with the skill and persistency of a master.

[Footnote 1326: Paine, _Life of Nast_, p. 194.]

[Footnote 1327: This remark was addressed to Henry Richmond, whose
father, Dean Richmond, died in Tilden's home in Gramercy Park.
Richmond succeeded his father as State committeeman.]

In his crusade he did not unite with Republicans, for whom he had no
liking. He was not only an intense partisan, but he had a positive
genius for saying bitter things in the bitterest way. To him the
quarter of a century covered by Van Buren, Marcy, and Wright, shone as
an era of honour and truth, while the twenty-four years spanned by the
Republicans and the party from whence they sprung brought shame and
disgrace upon the State. "The Republicans made the morals of the
legislative bodies what they have recently become. When Seward and
Weed took the place of Wright, Marcy, and Flagg, public and official
morality fell in the twinkling of an eye. Even our city government,
until 1870, was exactly what a Republican legislature made it. The
league between corrupt Republicans and corrupt Democrats, which was
formed during Republican ascendency, proved too strong for honest men.
The charter of 1870 which I denounced in a public speech, had the
votes of nearly all the Republicans and Democrats."[1328] Still, he
admitted that Tammany was synonymous with Democracy, and that its
corruption, especially since its blighting influence had become so
notorious and oppressive, impeded and dishonoured the party. Under its
rule primaries had been absurdities and elections a farce. Without
being thoroughly reorganised, therefore, the party, in his opinion,
could not exist.[1329]

[Footnote 1328: Tilden's letter to the Democracy, dated September 11,
1871.--New York _Tribune_, September 22, 1871.]

[Footnote 1329: Tilden's interview.--_Ibid._, Sept 23.]

In this spirit Tilden entered upon the great work of his life. Two
classes of Democrats faced him--the more clamorous reformers and the
enemies of all reform. To the latter reorganisation seemed a reckless