The true northerner., 1884-04-24
District of Columbia Democratic.
THE IROQUOIS CLUB.
Letter from samuel j. Tide,

The Iroauois Club of Chicago, composed of
gentlemen prominent in the Democratic party,
recently gave its third annual banquet at the
Palmer House, in that city The local attend
ance was very large. in addition to which there
was gathering OF DISTINGUISHED Democrats
from all parts of the country Among the
speakers were ex-senator James II.
Doolittle, of Wisconsin,: Senator George
IL. Pendleton,. of OHIO; Col w. G. p. Breckin-
Morton, of Nebraska; and Judge David Turpie
and Hon Bayliss w. Hanna, of Indiana. Let
ters of regret were read from Gov. Tilden, Sena-
tors Baysrd, Vance, and Hampton, David A.
Wells, Abram g. Hewitt, s. s. Cox, Gov. Click,
of Kansas Speaker Carlisle Gen. Mcclellan, ex-
Senator Thurman, and many other Democrats of
equal prominence.
TEXT OF GOV TILDEN LETTER
GENTLEMEN: 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 a
written response 10 the sentiment, in case am
prevented from attending.
have been for some time and am still excep-
tionaly engrossed with business which i have
no power to defer or abandon; must, there
FORE communicate w tn you in writing, and my
answer must be brief.
On the formation of the Federal Constitution,
Gouverneur Morris, who had been conspicuous
member of the convention. being asked what he
thought OF the Constitution, replied: That oe-
pends upon how 1t is construed.
The Democratic party originated in a resist
ance by the more advanced patriots OF the revo-
luton to the efforts which were made to change
the character of our Government by false con-
structions of the Constitution, impressing on
the new system a monarchical bias. Mr.. Jeffer-
sons election in 1900 rescued our free institu-
tions from the perils which surrounded them,
and secured sixty years of administration main
ly in harmony with their design and true char
acter.
When an attempt was made 10 break up the
Union and TO dismember the territorial integ-
to make a manly choice between these calami-
ties and the dangerous influences OF civil war
upon the character of the Government They
patriotically and wisely resolved TO save the
Union first, and to repair the damage which our
political system might sustain when the more
| imminent dangers had been provided against.
The first work was successfully accomplished; {;
but twenty years have since elapsed, and the
work of restoring the Government to its original
character Is not yet accomplished. Our wise
ancestors had warned us that IL we fell into civil
discords, our free system was liable 10 perish in
the struggle by an insensible change of its char
acter Not only have the best traditions or the
patriots who won independence and established
| freedom lost their authority, but our cherished
political system is slowly losing its hold upon life
under the fungus growth OF false constructions
and corrupt practices. Government itself has
| become menacng factor in the elections. As
long ago as 1876 expressed the opinion that the
| opposition must embrace at the beginning OF the
canvass two-thirds of the voters to maintain a
majority at the election. In this, history re-
| peats itself. In most countries the Government
IN intains itself by force of fraud. Even in the
comparatively popular system OF England, the
of Parliament, and frequently decided the elec-
tions by court favors, jobs, and money taken
IRON the public treasury. This Ia hard saying,
| but recent publications of the papers OF her
| deceased statesmen leave no doubt upon the
| subject.
In our own country the Government, instead
| OF standing AZ an impartial arbiter amid the
conflicts of maturing opinion and contending
| interests, has itself descended into the arena,
equipped with all the weapons Of partisanship.
| Its myriads OF ofice-holders its alliances with
| or against vast pecuniary interests; It's unim-
| tied command of money levied from its de-
pendents and contractors have sufhccd TO de-
termine majority in every case but one. In
that case, IL collected military forces around the
Capitol, and by this and other menaces intim-
| idated the Congressional representatives of a
majority OF the people to relinquish the fruits
OF their victory and TO surrender the Govern
ment To the control OF n minority.
No reform of the administration In possible ne
long as the Government IL directed by party
| which IL under the dominion of false doctrines
! and animated by enormous pecuniary interests
| In the perpetuation of existing abuses.
The first effectual steps in the reform OF ON
| the policy OF its administration. The work OF
reform will be difficult enough with the whole
power of the Government exerted in accom-
plishing it,
| have such faith in the benignant providence
which has presided over the destiny Of our
| country in every great trial hitherto, that dc
| not despair Of our ultimate deliverance Though
can no longer aspire to be one of the leaders In
| this great work. bid those upon whom this au-
/ gust mission may fall, godspeed.
| New York, April IL. 1884. 3. j. TuDEN