The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-04-23

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ment of the Federal constitution. have
also received private lettors asking a
written response to the sentiment in
case am prevented from attending.
have been for some time and am still ex.
ceptionally engrossed with business
which have no power to defer or aban-
don. must therefore communicate with
you in writing and my answer must be
brief.
On the formation of the Federal con.
stitution Governor Morris, who had been
a conspicuous member of the convention
being asked what he thought of the con-
stitution, replied: THAT depends upon
how it is construed" The democratic
party originated in a resistance by the
more advanced patriots of the revolution
to the efforts which were made to change
the character of our government by a
| false construction of the constitution, i'm.
pressing on the new system monarchial
bias. Mr.. Jeferson's election in 1900
| rescued our free institutions from the
perils which surrounded them and secur-
ed sixty years of administration mainly
in accordance with their designs ard true
character. When an attempt was made
to break up the Union and to dismember
the territorial integrity of the country,
the people were compelled to make a
manly choice between these calamities
! and the dangerous influences of a civil
war. Upon the character Of the govern
ment they patriotically and wisely re-
solved to save the Union first, and to re-
pair the damage which our political sys-
tenn might sustain when the more immi-
nent dangers had been provided against.
The first work was successfully accom-
plished; but twenty years have since
passed, and the work of restoring the
government to its original character has
not yet been accomplished. Our wise
ancestors had warned us that if We fell
into civil discords our free system was IL
able to persist in the struggle by an in
sensible change of it's character. Not on
ly have the best traditions of the patriots
who won independence as established
freedom lost their authority; but our
cherished political system is slowly los
ing it's hold upon life under the fungus
growths of false constructions and cor
rupt practices. The government itself
has become menancing factor in the
elections. As long ago as 1876 express
sed the opinion that the opposition must
embrace at the beginning of the canvass
two-thirds of the voters to maintain q
majority at the election. In this, history
repeats itself In most countries the
government maintains itself by
force or fraud; even in the com.
paratively popular system of
England the monarch has until lately
trolled majority of the parliament and
frequently decided elections by court fa-
vors, jobs and money taken from the
public treasury. This is hard saying,
but recent publication of the papers of
her deceased statesmen leave no doubt
upon the subject. In our own country
the government, instead of standing as
an impartial arbiter among the the con-
fiicts of maturing opinion and contending
interests, has itself descended into the
arena equipped with all the weapons of
partianship, its myriads of officeholders,
its alliances with or against the vast Pc
cuniary interests, its unlimited command
of money levied from the dependents and
contractors We sufficed to determine .
majority in every case but one. In that
case it collected military forces around
the capital and by this and other menan-
ces intimidated congressional represent
atives of a majority of the people to re-
linquish the fruits of their victory AMI to
surrender the government to the con-
troll ofthe minority. No reform of admin
istration is possible so long as the gov
ernment is directed by party which is
under the dominion OF false doctrines
and animated by enormous pecuniary in
terests and the perpetration of existing
abuses. The first effectual step and re-
form Of our government must be a funda-
mental change of policy of its admins
tration. The work of reform will be diff
ficult enough with the whole power of
the government exerted in accomplish
ing it. 1 have such faith in the benig-
nant providence which has presided over
the destiny of our country in every great
trial heretofore that do not despair OF
our ultimate deliverancc, though l can
no longer aspire to be one of the leaders
in the great work. l bid those upon
whom this august mission may fall, God
speed. S. J. TILDEN.
To S. Corning Judd, chairman political
committee Iroquois club.
PORTLAND, Me-, April 16-The first
district republican convention elected
delegates to the Chicago convention, and
instructed them to support Blaine.
SYRACUSE, n. Y, April 16-The repub-
lican convention of the 25th congression-
al district has chosen delegates to the
national convention who were uninstruct-
ed, but they are for Blaine.
KINGSTON, n. Y, April 16-The 18th
congressional district republican conven-
ton to-day chose delegates to the Chica-
90 convention in favor of Edmunds and
friendly to Blaine.
ELMIRA, n. Y, April 16-The 2Sth con-
gressional district republican convention
to-dav elected delegates to Chicago, in
structing them for Blaine, which was al.
SO worded to include Sherman, Lincoln
or any other man.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, April 16-The re-
publican State convention adjourned at !
o'clock. J. W. Jones (coloredD and Ar.
thur Bingham were chosen electors al
large. Just before adjournment banner
was hung out on the stand inscribed -
Our choice-Chester A. Arthur; second
choice-John A. Logan.
ROCHESTER, n. Y, April 16-The re-
publicans of the 31st congressional dis