The light and leading of the historic Democratic party which had issued from the South were in obscurity and abeyance, while most of those surviving who had been distinguished in the party conduct and counsels were disabled by act of Congress.

Of the few prominent Democrats left at the North many were tainted by what was called Copperheadism--sympathy with the Confederacy.
To find a chieftain wholly free from this contamination, Democracy, having failed of success in presidential campaigns, not only with Greeley but with McClellan and Seymour, was turning to such Republicans as Chase, Field and Davis.

At last heaven seemed to smile from the clouds upon the disordered ranks and to summon thence a man meeting the requirements of the time.

This was Samuel Jones Tilden.
To his familiars Mr.Tilden was a dear old bachelor who lived in a fine old mansion in Gramercy Park.

Though 60 years old he seemed in the prime of his manhood; a genial and overflowing scholar; a trained and earnest doctrinaire; a public-spirited, patriotic citizen, well known and highly esteemed, who had made fame and fortune at the bar and had always been interested in public affairs.