The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-16
THE SAGE OF GRAMMERCY.
mr.. TILDEN's RESPONSES TO THE CON
: . VENrIoN REsoLUr1oNs. ~


Sentences Reform Needed
In response to the resolutions pre-
sented to him from the National Dem
ocratic Convention, Samuel j. Tilden
tenders his thanks. He says<tne great
nationaI waIrp IoT -rrJrurtn IN the Ma
tional Govcrnmept, which can only be
accomplished oy Democratic admins
tration, fIy says tho Republican party
is largely made up of those who live
y'>t1cE wits, while the Democratic
V party consists of those who live bv the
W6nJ of their hands, and tie indis-
rensable. necessity of our time is n
-change of administration
The following is Mr.. Tildcn's letter
in full: g4....' ~
GRAYSToNE, October G, 1881.
Z mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen ofMe
I CoMmHtee: l thank you for the kind
terms in which you communicated the
resolution concerning me, adopted by
the late Democratic National Conycn-
ton. / share your conviction that
reform in the Administration of tho
Federal Government - which is our
great national want, and is indeed cs-
sentlal to the restoration and prcscrya-
ton OF government itsclf-can only be
2chleved through the agency Of the
DEMOCRATIC party, and by installing it's
representative in the Chief Magistrrcv
or the United States. The noble his
torlcal traditions Of the Democratic
party, the principles in which it was
educated and to which it has been in
the main faithful; its freedom from
corrupt ln1iuenccs-which grow up in
prolonged possession of pOwcr-and
the nature OF elements which cOnSti-
tutc lt-all contribute to qualify il for
that mission. The opposite character
lstlcs and conditions which attach TO
the Republican party make il hopeless
to expect that that party will be able
to give better government than the
dcbasing system of abuses which, dur
ing its ascendcncy, has infected official
and political life in this country.
The Democratic party had its origin
In the efforts Of the more advanced
patriots OF the government from the
ideal contemplated by the people.
Among lis conspicuous founders were
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jctlcr-
son: Samuel Adams and John Ham
COCK, OF Massachusetts; George Clin-
ton and Robert II. Livingston, of New
York, and George Wythc and James
Madison, of Virginia.. From the cleo
ton of Mr.. Jefferson rs President in
1900, for sixty years, the Democratic
party mainly directed our national pol
icy. 1t extended the boundaries oi'thc
Republic and laid the foundations of
all our national greatness, whilcit pre-
served the Limitations imposed bv the
Constitution and maintained a simple
and pure system Of domestic admins-
tratiOn. On the other hand the Rcpub-
llcan 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.
III has been deeply tainted with the
abuses which naturally grow up dur
IN" y long possession Of unchecked
power, especially in Il period Of civil
war and false finance. rho notr;ntic
ana virtuous clomonto ;n IL arc now
unaoic TO cmancipatC it from the sway
Oh sclllSh interests which subordinate
puDllc putty to. personal greed. The
most hopeful Of the best citizens il
contains despair of its amendment, cy-
cept through It's temporary expulsion
from power. 1t has been boastinrlv
asserted by II modern Massachusetts
statesman, struggling to reconcile him.
self and his followers to their prcsi-
dental candidate, that the Rcpublicor
party contains a disproportionatc
share of the wealth, culture and intel
liScncc of the county. The mpriuci-
pied Grafton, when tamted by James
H., with his personal want of con-
science, answered: "That is truc. but
! belong to party that has great
deal or conscicncc.". Such rcasoncrs
forget the same claim hus been made
III all ages and countries bv the defend.
ers OF Old wrongs against new reform.
1t was alleged by the tories of the
American Revolution against the patri-
ots or the day. 1t was repeated
against Jefferson and afterwards Jack
son. 1t is alleged by the Conscrva-
uvcs against those. who in England are
now endcavoring to enlarge the popu-
lar suffrage. All history shows that
reforms in government must not be
expected from those who sit scrcnelv
on social mountain tops ENJOYING the
DEMENT'S OF the existing 0rdes Of things,
Even the divine author of our religion
found his followers, not among the
. scll-complacent Pharisces, but among
the ioWly minded fishermen. The
hcpuoilcan party is largely made up
W '''o7N VIM iFC ny lIlcu wis. The
Democratic party consists largely ofI
those who live by the work of their
Maids and whose political action is
governed by their sentiments or imao-
nation. 1t results that the Demo
cratic party, more readily than thc
hepuohcan party, can be moulded 10
the support of reform measures, which
1r, 1mVolve the sacrifice of selfish interests.
Inc indispensable necessity of our
tlnes Is Il change of administration in
tne great executive Offices of the coun-
Try. lhis, in my judgment, can only
DC accomplished qy The election of the |
Democratic candidates for Prcsidcnt
and Vicc-Presidcnt.
SAMUEL j. TuDrN.
10 IL. IL. Henry, Chairman. r r
st Smalley and others of the Snecioi
committee of tho, Democratic No.
tional Convention. N"-
THE EPISCOPAL CONGRESS-