Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-10-23

THE SAGE OF GRAMERCY PARK
SEES REFORM
Only In the Election of Governor Gro
yer Cleveland. An Able Political
Document.
GRsysToSE. Oct. 6. 1884

OTRA1SIONE, oCG. U, 1OOt-
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
Committee
1 thank you for the kind terms in
which you have communicated the
resolutions concerning me ado pted by
the late Democratic National Conven-
ton.
/ share your conviction that the re-
form in the administration Of the Fed
eral Government, which is our great
national want, and is indeed essential
to the restoration and preservation of
the Government itself, can only be
achieved through the agency Of the
Democratic party and by installing
its representative in the Chief Magis-
tracy of the United States.
The noble historical traditions of
the Democratic party, the principles
IN which it was educated, and to which
it has ever been in the main faithful :;
its freedom from the corrupt inAuen-
ces which grow up in the prolonged
possession OF power, and the nature Of
the elements which constitute it, all
contribute to qualify it for that mis-
sion.
The opposite characteristics and
conditions which attach to the Repub-
Lcan 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 as
cendancy, has infected official and po-
itical life in this country.
ORIGIN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The Democratic party had its origin
in the efforts of the more advanced pa
triots of the Revolution to resist the
perversion of our Government from
the ideal contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders are
Benjamin Franklin and Thos Jeffer-
son; Samuel Adams and John Han
cock, of Massachusetts; Geo. Clinton
and Robt. r. Livingston, of n. Y. );
nad Geo. Wythe and Jas. Madison, Of
Virginia. From the election of Mr.
Jefferson as President in 1900, for go
years the Democratic party mainly di-
rected our national policy. 1t extend
ed the boundaries of the Republic and
laid tke foundations of all our national
greatness, while it preserved the limi-
tations imposed by the Constitution
and maintained a simple and pure
system of domestic administration.
CLASS LEGIsLATIoN OF THE REPUBLI-
CANS.
On the other hand, the Republican
party has always been dominated by
the principles 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 dur
ing long possession of unchecked
power, especially in period of civil
war and false finance. The patriotic
and virtuous elements in it are now
unable to emancipate it from the sway
Of selfish interests 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 power.
1t has been boastingly asserted by a
modern Massachusetts, statesman, ,strug-
Cling to reconcile himself and his fol-
lowers to their Presidential candidate,
that the Republican party contains a
disproportionate share of the wealth,
the culture and the intelligence of tn e
country. The unprincipled Grafton,
when taunted by James the Second
with his personal want of conscien ce,
answered, "7hat Is true, but I belong
to party that has a great deal Of
conscience"
HOW TO REFORM THE GOVERNMENT.
Such reasoners forget that the same
IaIrS hoc o1 Il
countries by the defenders of old
wrongs against new reforms. 1t was
alleged by the Tories of the American
Revolution against the Patriots of that
day It was repeated against Jefferson
and afterwards against jackson. It
Is alleged by the conservatives against
those who, in England, are endeavor-
ing to enlarge the popular suffrage.
All history shows that reforms in
government must not be expected from
those who sit serenely on the social
mountain tops enjoying the benefits OF
the existing order of things. Even
the Divine Author of our religion
found his followers not among the self
complacent Pharisees, but among low
ly-mindod fishermen.
The Republican party is largely
made up of those who live by their
wits and who aspire in politics to adj
vantages over the rest of mankind
similar to those which their daily lives
are devoted to securing in private
business.
SAFETY ONLY BY THE ELECTION OF
CLEVELAND.
The Dem ocratic party consists large
ly ofthose who live by the work Of
their hands and whose political action
is governed by their sentiments or i'm
agination.
Its results that the Democratic par
ty, more readil y than the Republican
party, can be moulded to the support
of reform measures which involve a
sacrifice of selfish interests.
The Indispensable necessity of our
times is change Of administration in
the great executive offices of the coun-
try. This, in my judgment, can only
be accomplished by the election of the
Democratic candidate for President
and Vice-President
SAMUEL j. TILDEN.