Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-10-17
Tilden Talks Senae.


Tilden Talks Sense.
The following is Mr.. Tilden's re-
SPONGE TO the committee Of. .thelNational
Democratic convention conveying to
him the resolutions of that body:
GREYsroNE, October 4. 1885,.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of tue
Committee:
thank you for the kind tcfr.1s in
which you have communicated the res
olutions concerning me, adopted by the
late national democratic convention.
l share your convictions that reform in
the administration of the federal gov
ernment, which is our great national
want, and is indeed essential to the res
toration and preservation of our gov
ernment itself, can only be achieved
through the agency Of the democratic
party, and by installing its representa-
tive in the chief magistracy of the
United States. The noble historical
traditions of the democratic par ty, the
principles in which it was educated;
and to which it has ever been, in the
main, faithful, its freedom from cor
rupt influences which grow up i'm pro-
longed possession of power, and the
nature of the elements which constitute
it, all contribute to qualify lit for that
mission. The opposite characteristics
and conditions which attach to the re-
publican party, make it hopeless to ex-
rect that party will be able to give
better government than the debasing
system of abuses, which, during its as
tendency, has infested official and polit-
ical life in this country.
The democratic party has its origin
in the efforts of the more advanced
patriots of the revolution to resist the
perversion of our government from the
ideal contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders are
Benz. Franklin and Thomas Jefferson,
Samuel Adams and John Hancock, of
Massachusetts,, Geo. Clinton and Robt.
II. Livingston, of New York, and Geo.
Wyethe and James Madison, OF vir-
ginia. From the election of Mr.. Jeffer-
son as president in 1900, for sixty years
the democratic party mainly directed
our national policy; it extended the
boundaries of the republic, laid the
foundation of all our national great
ness, while it pre- served the limitations
imposed by the constitution and MAIN
tanned a simple and pure system of do
mestic administration.
On the other hand, the republican
party has already been dominated by
principles which favor legislation for
the benefit of particular classes at the
expense of the body of the people; it
has become deeply tainted with the
abuses which naturally grow up during
long possession of unchecked power
especially in period of civil war and
false finance. The patriotic and virtu-
Gus elements in it are now made to en-
ancipate from the sway of selfish inter-
ests which subordinate public duty To
personal greed. The most hopeful OF the
best citizens it contains, despair of its
amendment except through its tempos
rary expulsion from power. 1t has been
boastingly asserted by Massachusetts,
statesman struggling to reconcile HIM
self and his followers TO it's presidential
candidate, that the republican party con-
tains a disproportionate share Of the
wealth, culture and intelli gence of the
country. The unprincipled Grafton
when taunted by James ii with his per-
sonal want of canscience answered;
ss. IN.xf yNoIs 20 m
party that has great dead of
conscience" Such reasoners forget
that the same claim has been made iE
all ages and countries by defenders Of
old wrongs against new reforms. It
was alleged by the tories of th Q Ameri-
can revolution against the patriots
of that day; it was repeated ag ainst
Jefferson, and afterwards against Jack
son; it islalleged by the conservatives
against those who, in England, are now
endeaSoring to enlarge the popular
suffrage. al history shows that re-
forms in government must not be
from those who sit serenely on the So
cial mountain tops eteing the benefits Of
the existing order Of things. Even the
Divine Author of our religion found
his followers not among the complacent
partisan but among lowly minded fish
ermen. The republican party is large
Iy made up by those who live by their
wits and who aspire to advantages over
the rest of mankind which their daily
lives are devoted to searching in private
| business.
The democratic party consists large
of those who live by the work of their
hands, and whose political action is
governed by their sentiments or inn
agination. Ii results in that the DEM
ocratic party, more readily than the
republican party can be nodded to the
support of reform measures, which in
wolves sacrifice Of selfish int erests.
The indispensable necessity OF our times
is change of administration in the
great executive Office of the country.
This, in my judgement, can only be ac-
complished by the election OF the DEM
ocratic Candidates for president and
vice president. tSigned.}
SAM'L. j. TILDEN.
| TO r.. III. Henry, chairman, B. B.
Smalley and others Of the special COM
mittee of the democratic national
| convention.