The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-15
MR. TrLnEN,s LETrER.



The following is Mr.. Tiiden's re
Spouse to the committee of the nationa
democratic convention conveying L
him the resolution Of that body:
GREYsToNE. Oct. 6, 1884. Chair
man and Gentlemen Of the ConsHittee. IL
thank ron for the kind terms in which
you have communicated the resolution:
concerning me adopted By the late dem.
ocrattc national convention. / share
your conviction that reform in the ad.
minisfration of the federal govern.
ment, which is our great national want,
and is indeed essential to the restora.
ton and preservation Of the govern.
ment itself. can only be achieved
through the agency of the democratic
party and by Installing its representa-
lives in the chief magistracy of the
United States.
The noble historical traditions of the
democratic party. the principles in
which 1t was educated and to which ii
has ever been in the main faithful, its
freedom from corrupt influences which
grow up in prolonged possession of
power, ard the nature of the elements
which constitute it, all contribute to
qualify it for that mission. The Oppo-
site characteristics and conditions
which attach to the republican party
make it hopeless to expect that that
party viii be able to give better gov
ernment than the debasing system OF
abuses which, during its ascendency,
has infected official and political life
in this country.
The democratic party had its origin
In the efforts of the more advanced pa
triots of the revolution to resist the
preservation of our government from
the ideal contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders were
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
ferson. Samuel Adams and John Han
cock, of Massachusetts,; George Clin-
ton and Robert r. Livingstone, of New
York, and George Wythe and James
Madison of Virginia. From the cleo
ton of Mr.. Jefferson as president in
1900 for sixty years the temperate par
ty mainly directed our national policy.
1t extended the boundaries of the re-
public and laid the foundation of all
our national greatness while it pre-
served the limitations imposed by the
constitution and maintained a simple
and pure system of domestic admins
tration. On the other hand, the repub-
lican party has always been dominated
by principles which favor legislation
for the benefit of particul 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 the period of civil war
and false finance. The patriotic and
virtuous elements in it are now unable
to emancipate it from the sway of sell
fish interests which subordinate pablo
duty to personal greed. The most
hopeful of the best citizens it contains
despair of its amendment except
through its temporary expulsion from
power.
1t has been boastfully asserted by a
modern Massachusetts statesman,
struggling to reconcile himself and his
followers to their Presidential candi-
dates, that the Republican party con-
tains disproportionate share of the
wealth, the culture, and the intelli-
gence of the country. The unprinci-
pied Grafton. when tainted by James
IL. with his personal want of con-
science. answered: THAT is true, but
l belong to 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 against new
reformers. 1t was alleged by the tor
les Of the American revolution against
the patriots of that day. 1t was re-
peated against Jefferson, and afterward
against Jackson. 1t is alleged by the
against those who i'll En-
gland are now endeayoring to enlarge
lie popular suffrage.
All history shows that reforms an
hn
those who sit serenely on the noun
tain-tops enjoying the benefits of the
existing order of things. Even the d.
vine author of our religion found his
followers. not among the Self-compla-
cent plIarise6s. but among lowly mind
ed fishermen.
The Republican party is largely made
mp of those who live by their wits, and
who aspire in politics to advantages
over the rest OF mankind, similar to
those which their daily lives are devot-
ID to securing in private business. The
Democratic party consists largely of
hose who live by the work of their /
lands and whose political action is
governed by their sentiments or imagi-
lation. 1t results that the Democratic
,arty. more readily than the Republi- I
an party, can be nodded to the support
# reform measures which involve a /
acrifice of selfish interests.
The indispensable. necessity of our
ines is a change of administration in
he great executive offices of the couh-l
ry. This, in my judgment can only 4
,e accomplished by the election of the 1
Democratic candidates for President
nd Vice President.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN. II
% r. II. Henry tChairmanl, B. B.
Smalfey and others of the Special
Committee of the Democratic Ma
finnal GnnN-nntinn