The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1884-04-27
a LETTER FROM TILueA.


ocratic OrsanlzatIOn oil Chicago, had
invited MIR. TIiden to respond to the
toast, "The Federal constitution" at
its third annual banquet III that city, in
person II possible, UInerwise III writi;:S.
Being unable To attenu the meeting oI the
club ON account oI business winch en-
CROSSED his attention, MIR. 1Ilden re-
spOnded To the toast above mentioned III
II letter as IoiIUws: "On the formation
OF the Federal Constitution, GUuverneur
Morris, who had been II conspicuous
member oI the convention, being asked
what lie thought OF the Constitution re-
phed: "Gnn; depends upon how it is
construed" Inc Democratic party
originated in "a resistance by the more
advanced patriots OF Revolution TO the
efforts winch were made to change the
character Oi our Government by false
constructions of the Constitution i'm.
pressing On the neS system monarch
lcal blAs. Slr. JeifeTson's election III
loUO, rescued our Tree institutions from
the penl which surrounded them, and
secured sixty years Oi administration
mainly IN harmony with their designs
and true character. When nn attempt
WAS made to break up the Union aud
dismember our territorial int, gritty, the
people were compelled to make IL manly
choice between III. So csilamItIes and the
dangerous influences ui II civil war upon
the character OI the Government. Tney
patnUuc,liy and wisely resolved to save
the Union first, and To repair the dam
age which our political system mig 1t
sustain when. the more imminent dan
gers had ben provided against. The
INST WORK WAS successfully accomplished
that the WORK Oi restoring tae Govern
E.cnt to Its Original character has not
yet been accomplished.
Cur wise ancestors had warned us
that II We Icil into cIvIl dIscortis, our Tree
system was Liable To per sin III the strug-
SIC by Hn EIscHsIOle change OF Its char
wCter. Not only have tine best traditions
oI the patriots vino won our ind, pend
uucc and established freedom lost their
authority, bat our cherished political
system ~ owIy losing is hold upon lie
under the fungus grUwthS OF false con
struCuon and corrupt practices. The
Government ItselI has become u mcnHc-
H.s inctUT III the elections. As long ago
as 1876 ! expressed the opinion that the
opposition must embrace tYO-tnIrds OF
tue voters Ia maintain IA majority at the
election. Ia tins history repeats itself
In most countries the Government maiu-
iHIAs Itself y iOTCc Or fraud. Even i'll
the comparatively popular system OF
EnS!uld, the monarch has until lately
controlled a majority of PaTiinm, ut, and
frequently decided elections by court
iUyurs, jobs and money taken from the
public treasury. This Is II hard saying,
but II recent publication of the papers uf
the deceased statesmen leave no doubt
upon the subject.
ia our own country the Government,
instead of standing as AN impartial ar
bitter amid the conflicts OF maturing
opinion and cOntendIng interests, has
Itself descended into the arena. Equip
ped with all the weapons of partisanship
ITS myriIds Of oiicuhuldg ~, its alliances
with or against vast pCcuniary interests,
itg unlimited command of money levied
from its dependents and contractors
have sU!liccd To- determine u majority III
every case but one. In that case il col
lcctrd military forces around the Capital
AID by tins and other mennces intimi-
dated tie Congressional representatives
OF a majority Oi the people to rc.inquisll
the fruits oi their victory and to surrcu-
der t.c Government TO the control OF
the minority. No reform of admins.
truiiuu is possible so long as the Gov.
eminent Is directed byu party which is
under the domain OF iulsc doctrines and
animated by enormous rccuniary inter.
csts and the Prrpc,untiun OF existing
abuses. The first ofIcctuul step and
reform Of our Gov, ruIHcnt, must he Il
fundamental change OF it, administra.
tion. The work Of reform will bc diff,
cult enough with the whole power oi
Government cXcrtcd i'll accomplishing
! 1t. | have such faith III the bcnignant
Providence which has presided over the
destiny Of our country i'll every great
trial hitherto, that | do not despair o
0ur ultimate dclivcrunCc, though | ear
no longer aspire TO be one of the lead. r.
in this great work. II hid those upon
whom the august mission may fall
God-spccd."