The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1884-10-10

His Response 20 the Committee OF thc
National Democratic Convention.

lowing Is MT. llIuen 3 IeSpous0 w 'nO
Committee of the National Democratic
Convention, conveying to him the reso-
luton of that body:
GRAYsToNE, October 6, 1884.
To THE CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE COMMITTEE: l thank you tor
the kind terms in which you have CON-
municated the resolution concerning
me adopted by the late Democratic
National Convention. | share your
convictions, that reform in the admins
tration of the Federal Government,
which is our great national want, and
is indeed essential to the restoration
and preservation of the Government
itself, can only be reached 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 Demo-
cratic party; the principles In which 1t
was educated and to which it has ever
been, in the main, faithful; its freedom
from the corrupt influences which grow
up in the prolonged possession OF power,
and the nature of the elements which
constitute tall contribute to qualify
it for that mission.
The opposite characteristics and con-
ditions which attach to the Republican
party, make it hopeless to expect that
that party will be able to give better
government than the debasing system
of the abuses which during its ascend
ency has infested its official and politi-
cal life in this country. The Demo-
cratic party had its origin in the efforts
of the more advanced patriots of the
Revolution to resist the perversion OF
our Government from the ideal contem-
plated by the people. Among its con-
spicuous founders are Benjamin Frank
lin and Thomas Jefferson, Samuel
Adams and John Hancock, George
Clinton and Robert r. Livingston,
George Wythe and James Madison;
and from the election of Mr.. Jefferson
as President in 1900, for sixty years the
Democratic party mainly directed our
national policy. 1t extended the
boundaries of the republic and laid the
foundation of all our national greatness,
while it preserved the limitations i'm
posed by the Constitution and main
tanned simple and pure system of do
nestle administration.
On the other hand, the Republican
party has always been dominated by
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 abuses,
which naturally grow during the long
possession of unchecked power, especi-
ally in the period of the civil war and
false finances. The patriotic and virtu-
| Gus elements in it are now unable to
emancipate it from the sway of the
selfish interests which subordinate pub
lie duty to personal greed, and the
most hopeful of the best citizens it
contains despair of its amendment ex-
cept through its temporary expulsion
from power. 1t has been boastinely
asserted by a modern Massachusetts,
statesman. struggling to reconcile him
self and his followers to their Presiden-
taial candidate, that the Republican
party contains disproportionate share
| of the wealth, the culture and the in
telligence of the country.
The unprincipled Grafton, when
tainted by James ii with his personal
! want of conscience, answered: THAT
is true, but | belong to a party that has
a great deal of conscience. Such rea-
soners forget that the same claim has
been made in all ages and countries by
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 afterward against
Jackson, and it is alleged by the Con-
servatives against those who in En-
gland are now endeavoring 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 the lowly- minded fishermen.
The Republican party is largely
made up of those who live by their
wits, and who aspire in politics to take
advantages over the rest OF mankind
similar to those which their daily lives
are devoted to securing in private bust
ness. The Democratic party consists
largely of those who live by the work
of their hands. and whose political
action is governed by their sentiments
or Imagination. 1t results then that
the Democratic. more readily than the
Republican party. can be nodded to the
support of reform measures which in
yolye sacrifice of selfish interests.
The indisnensahle necessity of onr times