Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-10
TILDEN'S RESPONSE
A REVIEW OF THE REPUBLI.
CAN AND DEMOCRATIC
PARTIES.

New York, Oct. THE following is Mr..
Tilden's response to the committee of the
National Democratic Convention, carrying
to him the resolution of that body, ut Grey
stone, October 4th, 1884:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the COM
mittee thank you for the kind terms in
which YOU nave communicated the resolu-
tons concerning me, adopted at the late Ma
tional Democratic Convention. l share your.
conviction, that reform in the administra-
ton of the federal government is our great
material want is indeed essential to the re-
storstion and preservation of the govern
ment itself, and can only be achieved through
the agency of the Democratic party and BY
installing its representative in the chief
magistracy of the United States. The noble
historical traditions Of the Democratic party;
the principles to which it was educated and
to which it has ever been i'll the main
faithful; its freedom from the corrupt infu-
ence, which which grows up in the pro-
longed possession of power, and the nature
of the elements which constitute it, all con-
tribute to qualify it for that mission. The
opposite characteristics and conditions
which attach to the Republican party make
it hopeless, except that party will be able to
give better government than the debasing
system of abuses which, during its ascend
ency, has afflicted official and political life
in this country. The Democratic party had
its origin in efforts of the more advanced
patriots of the revolution to resist the per-
version of our government from the
ideal contemplated by its people.
Among its conspicuous founders are Benja-
min franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Samuel
Adams and John Houck, of Massachusetts,,
George Clinton and Robert p. Livingston,
of New York. and George Wythe and James
Madison, of Virginia. From the election of
Mr.. Jefferson as president in 1900, for sixty
years the Democratic party mainly directed
our national policy. 1t extended the bound
aries of the republic and laid the founda-
tons of all our national greatness, while it
preserved the limitations imported by the
constitution and maintained simple,
pure system of domestic adj
the Republican party has always been
dominated by principles which favor legsla-
ton 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 gnaw up during long pos
session 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 selfish interests which subordinate public
duty to personal greed. The most hopeful
of the best citizens it contains despair
of its amendment, except through its tenn
porary expulsion from power. 1t has been
boastingly asserted by modern Massachu-
sets statesman, struggling to reconcile HIM
self and his followers to its presidential can
didate, that the Republican party contains
disproportionate share of the wealth, cul-
ture and intelligence of the country. The
unprincipled Grafton, when tainted by
James the Second, with his personal want of
conscience, answered: 'That's true, but
| belong to party that has great deal OF
conscience" Such reasoners forget
that the same claim has been made in all
ages and countries by defenders OF the old
wrongs against new reforms. 1t was al
| legged by the Tories of the American revolu-
ton against the patriots Of that day. 1t was
| repeated against Jefferson, and afterwards
against Jackson. 1t is alleged by the con-
/ seryatves against those who, in England, are
now endeavoring to enlarge the popular suf-
frage. All history shows that reforms in
general must not be from those
who sit serenely, ON the social
mountain tops, eyeing the benefits of the
existing order of things. Even the divine
author of our religion found his followers,
not among complacent partisans, but among
| lowlv-minded fishermen, The Republican
party is largely made up Of those who live
BY their wits and who aspire to advantages
over the rest of mankind, in which their
daily lives are devoted to securing their
ends in private business. The Democratic
party consists largely of those who live by
the work of their hands, whose
political action is governed by their
sentiments or Imagination, 1t results that
the Democratic party can readily be mould
ed to the support of reform measures which
involves sacrifice of selfish interests. The
indispensable necessity of our times Is a
change of administration in the great execu-
tive offices of the country. This, in my
judgement. could be accomplished by the
election of the Democratic candidates for
president and vice president.
SAMUEL j. TLDES.
R. II. Henry, Chairman, b. b. Smalley, and
others of the special committee of the
Democratic national convention.