Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-17

In response to the resolutions presented
to him from the National Democratic
Convention, Samuel J. Tilden tenders his
thanks as follows:
GRAYsTONE, October 6, 1884.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of Com
nlittee:
I thank you for the kind terms in which
you have communicated the resolutions
concerning me, adopted by the late Demo-
cratic National Convention. share your
conviction that reform in the administra-
ton of the Federal Government, which is
our great notional want, and is indeed
essential to the restoration and preserva-
tion of the Government itself, can only be
achieved through the agency of the DEM
ocratic party and by installing it's repre-
sentative in the chief magistracy of tie
United States. The noble historical con-
nections of the Democratic party-prin-
ciples in which it was educated and to
which it has ever been in the main faith
ful-its freedom from the corrupt inAu-
ences which grow up in the prolonged
possession of power, and the nature of the
elements which constitute it all contri-
butte to qualify it for that mission. The
opposite charactics and conditions which
are attached to the Republican party
make it hopeless to expect that that party
will be able to give better government
than the debasing system of abuses which,
huring its ascendancy, has infected Off
cial and political life in this country. The
Democratic party has its origin in the ef-
forts OF the more advanced patriots of the
Revolution to resist the perversion of our
government from the ideal contempt and
by the people. Among its conspicuous
founders we're Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams and
John Hancock, of Massachusetts,; George
Clinton and Robert R. Livingston, of New
ork, and George Wythe and James Madi.
son, of Virginia. From the election of
Mr.. Jefferson as President in 1900, for 60
years the Democratic party mainly direct
ed our national policy. 1t extended the
boundaries of the Republic and laid the
foundations of all our national greatness,
while it preserved the limitations imposed
by the Constitution and maintained a
simple and pure system of domestic ed-
ministration. On the other hand, the Re-
publican party has always been dominated
by principles which favor legislation for
the benefit of particular classes at the ex-
pense of the body of the people. 1t has be-
come deeply tainted with abuses which
naturally grow up during a long posses
sion of unchecked power, especially in a
period OF civil war and false finance. The
patriotic and virtuous elements in it are
now unable to emancipste it from the
sway of selfish interests which subordinate
public duty to personal greed. The most
hopeful of the best citizens it contains, de-
spair of its amendment except through
it's temporary expulsion from power. 1t
has been boastingly asserted by modern
Massachusetts, statesman, struggling to
reconcile himself and his followers to
their Presidential candidate, that the Re :
publican party contains disproportionate
share of wealth, culture and int lligence
ton, when tainted by James the Second
with his personal want of conscience. an :
swered ''That is true, but belong to the
party that has great deal of conscience. +"
For such reason, they forget, the same
claim has been made in all ages and coun-
tries by the defence of old wrongs against
new reforms. It vas alleged by the tories
of American Revolution against the prac-
ticcs of that day. It was repeated against
Jefferson, and afterwards against Jackson
1t is alleged by the conservatives against
those, who in England, are now endeav-
oring to enlarge the popular suffrage. All
history shows that reforms in the govern
ment must not be expected from those
who sit severely Oh the social mountain
tops, enjoying the benefits of the existing
order of things. Even the Divine author
of our religion found his followers. not
among the self-complacent Pharisees, but
among the lowly- minded fishermen. The
Republican party is largely made up of
those who live by their wits, and who as
pire in politics to advantages over the rest
of mankind or to those which their daily
lives are devoted to securing in private
business. The Democratic purity consists
largely Of those who live by the work of
their hands and whose political action is
governed by their sentiments or imagina-
ton. 1t results that the Democratic party
more than the Republican party can be
moulded to the support Of reform meas
ures which involve the sacrifice of selfish
interests Themaispsnsable necessity of
our times Is change of administration in
the great executive officers of the coun
try. This, in my judgment, can only bs