The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-24
The Songs of the Iroquois Club.

The annual banquet of the IrOquOis
Club. composed Of gentlemen promi-
nent in the democratic party, was
held one evening last week in Chi
cago. Besides feasting on things ma
terial, the guests had set before them
a most delightful and enjoyable nlelange
of reason and SOUL" contributions
from those beloved patriots and states
men. Mr.. TTLDEN, Mr.. BAYARD, and
others. The democrat who cannot get
comfort and sweeter music than OrpheuS
ever knew from those letters, is not
democrat but a senseless mass of clay.
Mr.. TILDEN, the NestOr of his party,
SAYS to the club, among other things:
In our own country, the government, instead OF
standing a. animpartial arbter amid the CONNECTS
OF maturing opinion and contending interests,
has itself descended into an arena equipped with
all the weapons OF partizanship. It's myrlads OF
of1ce-hOlders; its alliances with or against vast
pecuniary interests; its unlimited command OF
money levied from its defendants and contractors,
have sufficed to determine a majority in every
ease but one and in that case it collected military
forces around the capitol, and by this and other
menaces, intimated 10 the congressional repre-
sentatives Of the majority OF the people 10 REIN
quish the fruits OF their victory and TO surrender
the government to the control OF the minority.
No reform OF administration is possible so long as
the government is directed by party which Is
under the dominion OF false doctrines and anlIna-
ted by enormous pecuniary interests In the per-
petuaUiOn OF existing abuses.
The first enectual step in the reform OF our gov
eminent must be an Unequiyocal change in the
policy OF its administration. The work OF reform
will be difficult enough, with the whole power OF
The government eXerted in accomplishing 1t. L
have such faith in Providence, which has presided
over the destiny OF our country in every great
trial hitherto that 1 do not despair OF our ulti-
mate deliverance, though can no longer aspire
to be one OF the leaders of this great work. bid
those upon whom this august mission may 1al
god-speed.
Senator BAYARD, the statesman Who
is broader than his State, and whose
integrity is almost phenomenal in this
age, writes:
Evidence az maladministration is everywhere
apparent, and confessed in many and proven TO
exist in every department OF the executive branch
Respectable men OF every party are compelled TO
hold their noses over the developments OF the star
route trials. The falling out OF rogueS in Office
and out OF Office is exposing state OF things so
corrupt and shocking that the only marvelis that
public business could have been conducted at all
through such agencies. The testimony OF spec
iaI counsel and agents OF the government u Pres
ident Garields cabinet and official reports OF the
department of justice, are adding chapters in the
history OF maladministratiOn equal 10 the worst
days Of the worst governments. These evils are
thus proven by internal evidence OF facts them
selves, to be so deep-seated and widespread in
every structure and substance of the republican
party, that it cannot reform them from within.
And ex-senator PENDLETON, the
prominent civil service refOrmer of
Ohio. defines his position and the mon
strous condition and tendency OF the
administration during the past twenty
years, and says:
The democratic party is pledged to this reform
to all reform. 1t will gain no victories by fail
passed. 1t will gain no recruits by loud profess
siersa which may afterward be violated or forgot
ten. lit fail whenever and wherever it may have
power in the house Of representatives, in the
senate, to testify y its acts to the faith it pro-
feSSes, it may not have power to succeed, but to
the extent OF its ability it mus. show its SINGER
ity. We dare yield no vantage ground already
won. We dare take no step backward We must
90 forward, onward, 1 believe upward, or
We shall assuredly find that the people are in the
lead OF us and will consign the laggards and cow
ards 10 their ignomtnious and deserved fate.
Other letters were read from promi-
nent democrats ofall parts of the country
and the encouraging notes sent forth by
the IrOquOis braves would seem to indi-
cate that the good old democratic ship, I!
in its onward progress, will avoid Scylla |
and steer clear Of ChaIybdis, and about |
the seventh of NOvembeTpext enter the |
desired harbOr with flying colorg.