Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-16
Tariff Reform the FaVorite at the Thil
Annual BANQUET.

Annual Banquet.
CHICAGO, April 15.-The Iroquois Club
of this city, composed of gentlemen prom
inent in the Democratic party, gave its
third annual banquet at the Palmer
House this evening. The local atten-
dance was very large, in addition to
which there was gathering OF
distinguished gentlemen from all parts
Of the country. Erskine NJ.
Phelps, President of the club,
in Introducing the speakers of the even
ing, and speaking of the career of the
IrquOis Club, said: "This club has
eXerted its influence for reform in politics,
and especially upon the great question
before the peOple-tariff reiOrm-belieVing
that it is the only sure road to prosperity
in this country now that the wheels of
commerce throughout the length and
breadth Of the land are clogged by bur-
densome system of protective taxes. We
feel that the people should understand
and so act upon this important issue as
to enable themselves to compete in the
markets of the world, and the American
flag to float again triumphantIy on any
sea as OfyOre under Democratic auspices. .
MR.. TILDEN's LETTER.
After an address by Col. w. c. p.
Breckenridge, of Kentucky, upon the SEN
timent, "The Republic, an indivisible
union of indestructible States," the fol-
lowing letter was read from eX-GOv. Til
den:
NEW YORK. April II, 1884,
GENTLEMEN-I have had the honor to re-
ceive your invitation to the third annual ban
queC of the Iroquois ClCb, to respond to the
sentiment, 'The Federal Constitution"
have also received private letters asking q
written response to the sentiment in case /
am prevented from attending. l have been
for some time, and am still, exceptionally en-
crossed with business which have no power
to defer or abandon. | must therefore
communicate com with you in writing,
On the formation of the Federal constitution
GOuverneur Morris, who had been a conspic-
uOus member of the convention, being asked
what ne thought OF the constitution, replied
THAT depends upon how It'll construed" The
Democratic party origin rated in a resistance
by the more advanced patriots of the revolution
20 efforts which were made to change the
character OF our government by false con-
structi0n of the constitution. and impressng
on new systems a mOnarchial bias .Jeffer-
sons election in $50 rescued our free institu-
tiOns from the peris which surrounded them
and secured sixty years Of administration
mainly in harmony with their design and
true character. When an attempt was
made to break up the Union and to
dismember the territorial integrity of the
country, people were compelled to make
manly choice between these calamities and
the dangerous influences of the civil war
upon the character Of the government. They
patriOtically and wisely resolved TO
save the Union first, and to
repair the damage which our political
system might sustain when the more immi-
nent dangers had been provided against. The
first work was successfully accomplished, but
twenty years have since elapsed and the
work OF restoring the government to its origi-
nal character Is not yet accomplished. Our
rrrigo tone IoI n
into civil discOrds our free system was
liable to perish in the struggle by an
lnsenslble change of its character. Not only
have the best traditions Of the patriots who
won independence and established freedom
lost their authority, but our cherished Doliti-
cal system is slowly losing its hold
upon life under the fungus groWths
Of false constructions and corrupt
practices. The government itself has become
menacing factor in elections. As long ago
as 1876 expressed the opinion that the OppO-
sition must embrace at the beginning of the
canNasses two thirds OF the voters to main
tain majority at an election. In this history
repeats itself. BY force or fraud, even in the
comparatively popular system of Eng
land, monarch has until lately
controlled the majority OF Parla-
ment and frequently decided elections
by court favors jobs, and money taken from
the public treasury. This Is a hard saying.
but the recent publication of papers of her
deceased statesmen leaYe no doubt upon the
subject. In our own country the government,
instead of standing as an impartial
arblter amid the conflicts of maturing
opinion and cOntending interests has itself
descended into the arena equipped with all
the weapons of partizanship. Its myrlads of
office holders, its alliances with or against
vast pecuniary interests, its unlimited COM
mand of money, levied from its de-
pendents, and contractors, have suf-
feed to determine the majority in
every case but one. la that case it collected
military forces around the capitol, and by
this and other means intimdate the Congress
sional representatives of n majority OF the
people to relinquish he fruits OF their victory.
and to surrender the government to the
control of the minority No reform Of ad-
mnistratiOn is possible so long as the govern
ment is directed by party which
Is under the dominion OF false doctrines and
animated by enormous pecuniary interests in
the perpetuation OF existing abuses. The
hrst ehectual step in the reform of our gov
ernment must be fundamental change in
the policy of its administration. The work
OF reform viii he difficult enough with the
whole power of the government eXerted in
accomplishing it. | have such faith IN
the benignant Providence which has presided
over the destiny of our country in every great
trial hitherto that do not despair of our uti-
mate deliverance. Though | can no longer
aspire to be one of the leaders in this great
work bid those of you on whom this august
mission may fall God speed.
[signedl S. J. TILDEN.
To ). Corning Judd, Chairman of the Political
committee Of the IrOqUOis CLu6.
A letter was also read from Senator
RaVard