The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-16


there were many distinguished gentlemen from
all parts of the country. Mr. Erskine NJ. Phelps,
president of the club, in introducing the speak
ers of the evening, and speakingof the career of
| the Iroquois, said:
This club has exerted its influence for reform in
politics. and especially upon the great question before
the people-tar reform Believing that it is the only
road to prosperity in this country. that the
wheels of commerce Throughout the length and
breadth of the land clogged by burdensome sys
TEN of protective taxes feel that the people should
understand and act upon this important issue to
enable themselves to compete in the markets of the
world and for the American flag to float again tri-
umphantly every of yore, under Democratic
auspices.
LETTER FROM MR.. TLDEN.
After address by Colonel w. G. P. Breckin-
ridge, of Kentucky, upon the sentiment, THE
Republic, an Indivisible Union of Indestructible
States" the following letter was read from
Governor Tilden:
NEW YORK, April IL, 1884.
Gentlemen-I have had the honor to receive your
invitation to the third annual banquet of the iquos
Club, to respond to the sentiment The Federal Con
stitution" have also received private letters asking
written response to this sentiment in case pre-
vented from attending. have been for some time
and am still exceptionally engrossed with business
which have no power to defer or abandon. l must,
therefore, comm uncae to you in writing, and my an
swer must be brief.
On the formation of the federal Constitution Gov
ernor Morris, who had been conspicuous member OF
the convention being asked what he thought of the
Constitution. replied: THAT depends upon how it is
construed" The Democratic party organized i'll re-
sstance by the advanced patriots of the revOlu
ton, to the efforts which made to change the
character of our government by false construction
OF the Constitution, imposing the system
a monarchical bias Mr. Jefferson election in 1900
rescued free institutions from the pers which
surrounded them and secured sixty of admins
tration. 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 the reople compelled to make
manly choice between these calamities and the danger
influences of civil upon the character of the
government. They periodically and wisely resolved
to save the Union first, and to repair the damage
which political system might sustain when more
imminent dangers had been provided against The
first work successfully accomplished but twenty
years have since ELAPSED and the work of restoring the
government to its original character is not yet
complished. Our wise ancestors had warned us if we
fell into civil dscords free system
| was liable to perish in the struggle. By an
nsensibe change of its character not only have the
best tradition of the patriots who won independence
and established freedom lost their authority but our
cherished political system is slowly losing its hold
upon life Under the fungus growths of false consruc
ton and corrupt practices. The government itself
has become menacing factor in elections. AS long
ago 1876 expressed the opinion that the opposi
ton must embrace at the beginning of the canvass
twot-hrds of the voters to maintain Il majority at
the election In this history repeats itself In most
countries the government maintains itself by force
fraud. Even in the comparatively popular system of
England, the monarch has, until lately, controlled
majority of Parliament, and frequently decided
elections. by court favors jobs and m, money
taken rom Cne puDilC ttcaSufy Inns Is u
of papers Of one of her deceased statesmen
leaves doubt upon the subject. In our own eoun-
try the government instead of standing as an impair
tal arbter amid the conflicts of opinion and contend
ing interests has itself descended into the arena
equipped with all the weapons of partiSanshp. Its
myriads of office holders its alliances with against
vast pecuniary interests its unlimited command of
money levied from its defendants and contractors,
have suffced TO determine majority in every
but In that case it collected military forces
around the capital and by this and other menaces
orty of the people to relnquish the fruits of their
victory and to surrender the government to the
troll of the minority No reform of administration is
possible so long as the government Is directed
by a party which is under the dominion
of false doctrines and animated by enormous
pecunary interests in the perpetuation of existing
abuses. The first effectual step in reform of gov
eminent must be fundamental change in the policy
of its administration. The work of reform will be
difficult enough with the whole power of the govern
mont exerted in accomplishing it, have such faith
in the benignant Providence which has presided
the destiny ofour country every great trial hitherto
that do not despair of ultimate delverance.
Though can no longer aspire to be one of the leaders
in this great work bid those upon whom this august
mission may fall God speed S. j. TILDEN
SENATOR BAYARD.
The reading of Mr.. Tilden's letter was followed
by the subioned communication from Senator
WASHINGTON April 8, 1884
To S. Corning Judd Chairman, etc:
duly received the invitation of the politica.
mite of the lroquoS Club to attend and speak at
their annual banquet the 18th inst. My remem
brance of their partialty one year ago when it
my good fortune to be their guest is potent induce
ment to renew the pleasure; but survey of my field
of duty here precludes it. Measures of great import
ance pending before the two houses of Con
gress and it is impossible to fortel when they may
come IN for decision The welfare of the country
and the prosperity of all classes and occupations de-
mand speedy loosening of the restric
by the present tariff laws, which
papably congesting every branch of manufacture
prohibiting exchanges with other nations, convulsing
our home markets with alternate excitements and
depressons and compelling the laboring classes to
obtain their daily bread, not by readiness to work
steadily, but by dependence upon the condition of
home market alone and its capacity, htfully and
not regularly to afford them employment. This is
the condition things and the attitude of the Repub
lican party under whose policies and administrations
it has been brought about, is clearly shown by the
votes in Congress and the declaration of their
party press and IL must be that
they are so enthralled by the oligarchy of
the protection of "a favored few at the
cost of the many that hope of reform relief
can be expected only from the ascendency of the
Democratic party
Evils of malaGrninistration are everywhere appar
ent; are confessed in many and proven TO exist in
nearly every department of the executive branch
Respectable men of every party are compelled to hold
their noses the developments of the star route
trials The fangs-out of rogues in office and out of
Office exposing state of things so corrupt and
shocking that the only marvel is that public business
could have been conducted at all through such
agencies The testimony of special counsel and agents
of the government, OF members of President Gar
fields Cabinet and the official reports OF the Depart
ment of Justice are adding chapters in the history of
maaminstraton equal to the worst days Of the worst
government These evils thus proven by internal
evidence of the facts themselves to be deepseated
and widespread in the very, structure
and substance of the Republican party
that it cannot reform them from within;
that they have grown by reiterated to be its
tomary and daily food, and the means of obtaining
and prolonging its powers, and cannot now be aban-
doned unless it abandons alsc, all hopes of continuing
III power.
Of what material the Republican convention soon
to assemble in your great city is TO be composed and
by which its action win be chiefly dominated may be
learned by an examination of the composition of the
Louisiana delegation headed by individual now
under Indictment for bribery, accompanied by band
of official mercenaries and political campfollowers.
Under such conditions, how idle to hope for civil
service reform, tariff reform, or reform of any