The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-20
Gov. Tilden's reply to the Committee

oot' OtAy w eAO OcAAAshASCOos
The following is the reply of Gov. Til
den to the Committee that officially in
formed him of his nomination;
General McClernand and Gentleman Of
the Committee: | shall at my earliest
convenience prepare and transmit to you
Il formal acceptance of the nomination
which you now tender to me in behalf Of
the Democratic National Convention, and
do not desire on this occasion to antici-
pate any topic which might be appropri-
ate to that communication. 1t may, how
ever. be permitted to me to say that my
nomination was not q mere personal pref
erence between citizens and statesmen of
this republic who might very we'll have
been chosen for so august a duty. 1t was
rather Il declaration Of that august body
in whose behalf you speak in favor Of adj
ministratiye reform, with which events
had associated me in the public mind
The strength, Of the universally and
the efficiency of the demand for admins
trative reform in all governments, and
especially in the administration of the
Federal Government, with which the
! Democratic masses everywhere were in
stinct have led to a series Of surprises in
the popular assemblages, and perhaps in
the convention itself. 1t would be unnat-
uraI, gentlemen, il q popular movement
50 genuine and 50 powerful. should stop
| with $500, 600 Democrats; that it should
not extend by contagion to that large
mass OF Independent voters who stand be-
tween parties in our country and even to
q moderate portion of the party under
| ,ybnpn nd ctr,t i0 tlto ay-Ir 10 10
rected have grown up.
Perhaps in what we have witnessed
there may be an augury in respect to
what we may witness in the election
about to take place throughout our coun-
try at least let US hope SO and believe so.
am not without experience Of the diff
Guilty and the labor of ellecting admins
trative reform when it requires q revolu-
| ton in policies and in measures long es-
tablisEcl in government If | We're to
Judge in the year and q half in which |
have been in the State Government,
should say that the routine duties OF the
| trust | have had imposed on me are !,
| by the attempt to change the policy Of the
! Government Of which | have been the EX-
ecutivc head. Especially is this 50 where
the reform is to be worked out with more
or less OF the cooperation of public OIL
GERS who either have been tainted with
| the evils to be redressed or who have been
| incapactateu by habit or liberation OF the
wrongs to be corrected to which they
have been consuming witnesses,
/, therefore, if Your choice should be
ratified by the people at the election,
should enter upon the great duties which
would fall upon HE not rs Il holiday re-
creati0n but very much in that spirit of
conservation in which the soldier enters
| battle. (Applause) But let as believe,
rs do believe, that we now see the dawn
OF Il better day for our country, and that
| difficult us is The work to which the Dem
ocratlc party, with many OF the allies and
| former members OF other parties. has adj
dressed itself, the republic is Yet to be
renovated, to live i'll all the future and to
be transmitted to future generations rs
jefferson contributed to form it in his Gav,
| and i'll which it has been ever since until
q recent period, Il blessing to the whole
people. (Applause) Gentlemen, | thank
you for the very kind terms in which you
have made your communication, and |
extend to You collectively and individually
4 most cordial greeting