The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-08
TILDEN REPLIES.
The Sage of Greystone Responds to the
National COmmittee.-.DemOcratic
Success Essential TO Adminis-
trative Reform.

New YORK, Oct. 7.-The following is |
Mr.. Tilden's response to the committee of
the national democratic convention con-
veying to him the resolutions of that
body:
GREYsToNE, Oct. 6, 1884.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Committee:
l 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 national want and is needed es.
sential to the restoration and preservation
of the government itself, can only be
achieved through the agency of the dem
ocratic party and by installing its repre-
sentative in the chief magistracy of the
United States. The noble historical
traditions of the democratic party,
the principles in which it was
educated and to which it has ever been in
the main faithful, its freedom from cor
rupt influences, which grows up in pro-
longed possession of power, of the nature
and elements which constitute, it all, con
tribute to qualify it for that mission. The
opposite characteristics and conditions,
which attach to the republicans party,
make it hopeless to expect that that party
will be able to give better government
than the debasing system of abuse which,
during the ascendency, has infected of
tlcial and political life in this country.
The democratic party had its origin in
the efforts of the more advanced patriots
of the revolution to resist the perversion
of our government from the ideal con-
templated by the people. Among its con-
spicious founders are Ben njamln Frank
lin and Thomas Jefferson, Daniel Adams
and John Hancock, of Massachusetts;
| George Clinton and Robert r. Living
| stone, of New York, and George Wythe
and James Madison, of Virginia. From
| the election of Mr.. Jefferson as president,
in 1900, for sixty years the demo-
cratic party mainly directed our national
| policy. 1t extended the boundaries of the
republic and laid the foundations of all
our national greatness. while it preserved
the limitions imposed by the constitution
and maintained simple and pure system
| of domestic administration. On the other
hand the republican party has always
been dominated by principles which favor
legislature for the benefit of particular
classes at the expense of the peo-
pie. 1t has become deeply tainted with
the abuses which naturally grow during
long possession of unchanged power, es,
pecially in period of civil war and false
finance. The patriotic and virtuous ele~
ments in it are now enabled to emanci.
pate from the way of selfish interests,
which subordinate public duty to person~
al greed. The most hopeful of the best
citizens it contains despair of its amend,
mert, except through its temporary ex
pulsion from power
1t has been boastingly asserted by a
modern Massachusett statesman, strug~
| cling to reconcile himself and his follow
ers to their presidential candidate, that
the republican party contains dispro>
portionate share of the, wealth, the culture
and the intelligence of the country. The
unprincipled Grafton, when taunted by
James | with his personal want of cons
science, answered. that is true, but I be-
long to party that has great deal OF
conscience" Such reasoners forget that
the same claim has been made in all ages
and countries by defenders of old wrongs
against new reforms. 1t was alleged by
the tories of the American revolution
against the patriots Of that day, it was re-
peated against Jackson, and it is alleged
by the conservatives against those who
in England are now endeavoring to en-
large the popular suffrage All history
shows that reforms in government mus
not be expected from those who sit ser
enely on the social mountain tops enjoy.
ing the benefits of the existing order O.
things. Even the Divine author of oul
religion found his followers not among
the self complacent Pharisees, but among
the lowly minded fishermen.
2 The republican party is largely made
up of those who live by their wits an(
!; who aspire in politics to advantages o
the rest of mankind similar to those which
their daily lives are devoted to securing
; in private business. The democratic par
ty consists largely of those who live b.
the work of their hands and whose poll
tical action is governed by their senti
ments or imagination. 1t results that th'
e democratic party, more readily than tn
t republican party, can bemoulded to tn
!, support of reform measures, which in
) volve a sacrifice of selfish interests. TIL,
r indispensable necessity of our times is {
change of administration in the great ex
i ecutive offices of the country. This, il
my judgment, can only be accomplishe
by the election of the democratic candi
date for president and vice president.