The Portland daily press., 1884-10-08
TILDEN'S LETTER.
The sage's Response to the Democrati
Committee.

The Sage's Response to the Democratic
Committee.
New YORK, Oct. THE following is Tildens
letter in response to the address of the committee
which recently presented him with the resolutions
ADOPTED by the National Democratic Convention:
GRAYsToNE Oct. 6, 1884.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee:
thank you for the kind terms in which you have
communicated the resolutions concerning me adopt
ed by the late Democratic National convention. 1
share your conviction that reform in the admins
traton of the federal government which is great
national want and is indeed essential the restor-
alton and preservation of the government itself can
only be achieved through the agency of the Demo-
cratic party and by installing its representative in
the chief magistracy of the United States. The
BILE historical traditions of the Democratic party
the principles in which it was educated and 10
which it has ever been in the main faithful, its
freedom from the corrupting influences which
grow up in the prolonged possession of power and
The nature OF the elements which constitute it, all
contribute to qualify it for that mission. The op
posite characteristics and conditions which attach
to the Republican party make it hopeless to expect
that the party will be able to give better govern
ment than the debasing system of abuses which dur
and political life in this country.
The Democratic party has its origin in the efforts
of the more advanced patriots of the revolution to
ideal contemplated by the people and among its
conspicuous founders were Benz. Franklin and
Ihonas ,leIIerson, Ssmuel Aoams aud John Han
cock Of Massachusetts, George Clinton and Robert
X. Livingston of New York and G. w. Wythe and
James Madison of Virginia.
From the election of Jefferson as President in
1900 the Democratic party mainly carried
out national policy. 1t extended the
boundaries of the Republic and laid the founda-
the limitations imposed by the constitution and
maintained a simple and pure system of Democratic
administration. On the other hand the Republican
party has always been dominated by principles
which favor legislation for the benefit of particular
classes at The expense of the body Of
the people. 1t has become deeply tainted
wi ORC
during a long succession of unchecked power es-
pecaly in the period of the civil and false f.
nance. and the patriotic and virtuous elements in
it are now unable to emancpate it from the sway of
selfish interest which subordinate public duty to
personal greed The most hopeful Of the best citi-
zens it contains despair of its amenument except
through its temporary expulsion from power.
1t has been boastingly asserted by modern Mas
sachusetts statesman struggling to recommend
himself and his followers to the Presidential candi-
date that the Republican party contains dispro-
portionate share of the wealth, culture and intel-
gence of the country. The unprincipled Grafton
when taunted by James IL with his personal want
of conscience, answered, 'That is true, but be-
long to party that has great deal Of Conscience
Such reasouers forget that the same claim has
been made in all ages and countries by the defend
ers of old wrongs against new reforms 1t was al
legged by the Tories of the American revolution
against the patriots OF that day; it was repeated
against jefferson and afterwards against
jackson; it is alleged by the Conservative
against those who in England are now
All history shows that reformsn in the government
must not be expected from those who sit serenely
on the social mountain tops, enjoying the benefits
of the existing order of things. Even the divine
authority of our religion fonnd her followers, not
among the self-complacent Pharsees but among
the lowy minded fishermen.
The Republican party is largely made up of those
who live by their wits. and who aspire in politics to
advantages over the rest OF men similar to those
which their daily lives are devoted to securing in
private business. The Democratic party consists
largely of those who live by the work of their
hands, and whose political action is governed by
m M ms md ru1ao 41aa+
Democratic party more readily than the Republi-
party can be moulded to the support of the re-
form measures which involve the sacrifice of selfish
interests The ind spensabe necessity of our times
is change of administration in the great executive
Office of the country. This, in my Judgment can
only be accomplished by the election of the Demo-
cratic candidates for President and Vice President
(Signed), SAM'L j. TILDEN.
To r. H. Henry, chairman, and others.