The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-08
SAMUEL j. TILDEN.
He Thinks the Republicans Have Held Power
Long Enough, and Wants a Change.

He THINKS the Republicans Have Held Power
Long Enough, and Wants a Change.
New York, Oct. THE following is Mr.
Tilden's response to the committee of the ma :
tional Democratic convention conveying to him
the resolutions of that body:
"GREYsToNE, Oct. 4, 1884
''0Ir. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Commit
tee: | thank you for the kind terms in which
you have communicated the resolutions con-
cerning me adopted by the late national Demo
cratic convention. 1 share your conviction that
reform in the administration of the federal gov
ernment, which is great national want, and
is indeed, essential to the restoration and pres
ervation of the government itself, can only be
achieved through the agency of the Democratic
party and by installing its representative 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
its freedom from the corrupt influences which
grow up in prolonged possession of power, and
the nature of the elements which constitute it,
all contribute to qualify it for that mission.
The opposite characteristics and conditions
which attach 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, during its ascendency
has infected its official and political life in this
country
''The Democratic party had its origin in the
efforts of the more advanced patriots of the rev
olution to resist the perversion of our govern
ment from the ideal contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders are Benjamin
Franklin and Thomas jefferson, Samuel Adams
and John Hancock of Massachusetts; George
Clinton and Robert r. Livingston, 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 Democratic party mainly directed our ma
tional policy. 1t extended the boundaries of the
Republic and laid the foundations of all our ma
tonal greatness while it preserved the limita-
tions imposed by the Constitution and main
tanned simple and pure system of domestic ad-
ministration. On the other hand, the Repub-
lican party has always been dominated by prin-
ciples which favor legislation for the benefit of
particular classes at the expense of the body of
the people. 1t has become deeply tainted with
the abuses which naturally grow up during long
possession of unchecked power, especially in
period of civil war and false finance The patri-
otto and virtuous elements in it are now unable
to emancipate it from the sway of the selfish in
terests which subordinate public duty to
personal greed. The most hopeful of the best
citizens it contains despair of its amendment ex-
cept through its temporary expulsion from pow
er, 1t has been boastins!y asserted by modern
Massachusetts, statesman, struggling to reconcile
himself and his followers to its presidential can
didate that the Republican party contains a dis
proportionate share Of the wealth, the culture,
and the Intelligence of the country. The un-
principled Grafton when taunted by James Ii,
with his personal want of conscience, answered:
That is true, but belong to a party that has a
great deal of conscience. Such reasoners forget
that the same claim has been made in all ages
and countries by the defenders of Old wrongs