The poem portrays Samuel J. Tilden as a symbol of the corrupting influence of power and wealth. It describes him as a man who has risen to prominence through his own efforts, but whose character has been compromised by his association with those in power. The speaker suggests that Tilden's pursuit of wealth and status has led him to abandon his principles and values, and that he is now more concerned with maintaining his position than with doing what is right.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1856 · Genre: Poetry, Biography, Political Commentary