e and
reckless measures. Aside from his abhorrence of their riotous
corruption every instinct of self-preservation impelled him to desire
their overthrow, for while they ruled he had little hope of influence
or preferment. When the exposure of their monstrous robberies had
opened the way to their downfall, Mr. Tilden grappled with the menaced
Ring and helped to complete its destruction. He labored to capture its
intrenchments in the Legislature, fought the conspiracy with a
non-partisan combination, went to the Assembly himself, co-operated in
the legal prosecution, promoted the impeachment of the corrupt judges,
and proved a powerful and capable ally in rescuing the State from this
shameful domination.

The extermination of the "Tweed Ring" was Mr. Tilden's opportunity.
His hour had come; he promptly grasped the party leadership thus left
open. Starting out deliberately for the Presidential nomination, his
plan embraced three leading features: his stepping stone was the
governorship, his shibboleth was administrative reform, his method was
organization to a degree which has never been surpassed. He was swept
into the Governor's chair on the crest of the Democratic tidal wave in
1874, and once there every effort was directed to the Presidential
succession. He had the sagacity to perceive that in order to gain any
solid foothold in the country the Democratic party needed to cut loose
from its discredited past and secure a new rallying-cry. It was loaded
down with its odious war record; it was divided on fiscal questions; it
had fought a losing battle for twelve years on the defensive; and if it
was to struggle with any hope it must discover a line on which it could
boldly take the aggressive.

Mr. Tilden fancied that he found this pathway to a new career in the
resounding demand for a radical reform of administrative methods, and
from the hour of his accession to the governorship he sought to give
it effect in reality or in semblance. He had received applause and
secured promotion from his aid in the overthrow of the "Tweed Ring,"
and he now declared war against the affiliated "Canal Ring," whose
destruction had already been made sure. The circumstances were
peculiarly propitious for his whole movement. The extinguishment of
the war debt of the State, already nearly accomplished, would bring
an immediate and large reduction of taxes. The amendment to the
State Constitution (already passed and just producing