"NEW YORK, _August 12, 1871_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--Returning to the city two days ago, I found your note.
"The better way to see me would be to meet me at Saratoga. When can you
be there? Communicate with me by telegraph, if necessary.
"I am not unobservant of the situation. The question is what are our
people morally able to do? Would you allow your opinion to be public,
and attend at the place where a convention should be held? What would
Jarvis Lord do? What DeWolf?
"Some of our people from the interior think the recent exposures will
not hurt us much in the country districts. That is not my opinion.
I should be sorry to think the demoralization is so great that such
things would not hurt us.
"We have to face the question, whether we will fall with the wrongdoers
or whether we will separate from them and take our chances of possible
defeat now, with resurrection hereafter; possible chances, I say, for
if the party could act _unitedly_ I do not despair that we could save
it now.
"I have not time to write now, but I hasten to acknowledge your note.
"The best immediate thing for you to do is to have the _Union_[56]
begin at once prudently to disavow and denounce the wrongdoers, and
educate our people.
"In haste,
"Very truly Yours,
"S. J. TILDEN."