Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-24
THE IRoQUoIs CLUB BANQUET.
Political Measures Discussed-Til-
den's Letter.

SnllAbOr hO bhAla
nual banquet of the lroquois Club was
held at the Palmer House last evening
The attend ance was very large. Err
skine NJ. Phelps, the President, deliv-
cred strong tariff reform ADDRESS.
After an address by Col. W. c. P.
Breckenridge, of Kentucky, upon the
sentiment, "The Republic, an Endura-
BILE Union of Indestructible States. "
the following letter was read from ex-
Gov. Tilien:
New YORK, April IL, 1884.
GENTLEMEN:--I have had the honor
to receive your invitation to the third
annual banquet of the Iroquois Club
to respond to the sentiment, "The
Federal Constitution. / have also
received private letters asking for a
written response to the sentiment in
case am prevented from attending.
have been for some time and am
still exceptionally engrossed with bus
iness, which | have no power to defer
or abandon. | must therefore COM
municate with you in writing and my
answer must be brief.
On the formation of the Federal
Constitution, Governor Morris, who
had been a conspicuous member of the
Convention, being asked what ne
thought of the Constitution, replied
"That depends upon how it is con-
strued." The Democratic party origi-
mated in the resistance by the more ad-
vanced patriots of the Revolution to
efforts which were made to change
the character of the Government by a
false construction of the Constitution,
imposing new system of monarchlal
bias
Mr.. jefferson election IN 1900 res
cued our free Institutions from the
perils which surrounded them, and Sc
cured sixty years of administration
mainly in harmony with their design
and true character. When the at
tempt was made to break up the I'm
lon and to dismember the territorial
tegrity of the country, the people
were compelled to make manly
choice between the calamities and dan
gerous influences OF civil war upon
the character of the Government.
They patriotlcally and wisely resolved
to serve the Union first, and repair
the damage which our political system
might sustain when the more immi-
nent dangers had been provided
against.
The first work was successfully &C
complished, but twenty years have
since elapsed and the work of restor-
ing the government to its original
character is not yet accomplished.
Our wise ancestors had warned us
that, if we fell into civil discords, our
free system was liable to perish IN the
struggle, by an insensible change of
its character. Not only have the best
traditions of patriots who won the in,
dependence and established freedom
lost their authority, but our cherished
political system is slowly loosing its
hold upon life under the fungus
growths of false constructions and cor
rupt practices. The government it.
self has become menacing factor in
elections.
AS long as 1876 | expressed the
opinion that the opposition must EN-.
brace at the beginning of the canvass
two thirds of the voters to maintain q
majority at the election. In this his
tory repeats itself. In most countries
the government maintains itself by
force or fraud. Even in the compare
lively popular system of England the
minority has until lately controlled
the majority in Parliament and fre
quently decides elections by couri ia.
vors, jobs and money taken from the
public treasury. This is a hard say.
ing, but the recent publication of pa
pers of her deceased statesmen leaves
no doubt upon the subject.
= In our own country the government
instead of standing as an impartial ar
bitter amid the conflicts of maturing
opinion and contending interests, has
itself decended into the arena, equipped
with all the weapons of partizanship.
Its myriads of Office holders, its ALI.
ances with or against vast pecuniary
interests, its unlimited command Of
money levied from its defendants and
contractors. have sufficed to determine
the majority in every case but one. Ir
that case it collected military forces
around the Capitol, and by this ano
other menaces intlmated the Congress
sional representatives Of the majority
of the people to rellnquish the fruits
Of their victory and to surrender the
government to the control of the mi
nority.
No reform of the administration i.
possible so long as the government il
directed by a party which Is under th'
dominion of false doctrines and ami
mated by enormous pecuniary interes
in perpetration of existing abuses. Th'
first effectual step in the reform of ou
Government must he Fundamental
change in the policy of its admins
tration. The work of reform will b
difficult enough with the whole powe
of the Government exerted in accom-
plishing it. l have such faith in be
nlgnant Providence which has presi