The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-10-18
TILDEN
The Eloquent Statesman TO the
National Democracy.

New YORK, Oct. I'm response
to the resolutions presented to him
from the National Democratic Con-
vention, Samuel ]. Tilden has writ
ten the following:
GREYsToNE, Oct. 6.-Mr. Chair
man and Gentlemen of the Com
mittee: | thank you for the kind
terms in which you have communi-
Gated the resolutions concerning
me adopted by the late Democratic
National Convention. | share your
conviction that reform in the admin
istration of the Federal government,
which is our great national want,
and is indeed necessary to the res
toration and preservation of the
government itself, can only be
achieved through the agency of the
Democratic yarty and by installing
its representative in the Chief
Magistracy of the United States.
The noble historical traditions
of the Democratic party, the
principles in which it was edu-
Gated and to which it has ever
been in the main faithful, its free
dom from the corrupt influences
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
mission. The opposite character
istics and conditions which attach
to the Republican party make it
hopeless to expect that that party
will be able to give better govern
ment than the debasing system of
abuses which, during its ascendency,
has infected official and political life
in this country.
The Democratic party had its
origin in the efforts of the more ad-
vanced patriots of the revolution,
to resist the perversion of our Gov
eminent from the ideal contempla-
ted by the people. Among its
conspicuous founders are Benjamin
Franklin and Thomas Jefferson,
Samuel Adams and John Hancock,
of Massachusetts,; George Clinton
and Robert r. Livingston, of New
York, and George Wythe and
James Madison, of Virginia From
the election of Mr., Jefferson, as
President, in 1880. for sixty years,
the Democratic party mainly direc-
ted our national policy. 1t ex-
tended the boundaries of the Re-
public and laid the foundations of
all our national greatness, while it
preserved the limitations imposed
by the constitution and maintained
a simple and pure system of do
nestle administration On the
other hand, the Republican party
has always been dominated by
principles which favored 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 nat
urally grow up during long pos
session of unchecked power, espe-
cially in period of civil war and
false finance. The patriotic and
virtuous elements in it are now un-
able to emancipate it from the sway
of selfish interests which subordi-
nate public duty to personal greed.
The most hopeful of the best citi-
zens it contains despair of its
amendment, except through its
temporary expulsion from power.
1t has been boastingly asserted by
a modern Massachusetts, statesman
struggling to reconcile himself
and his followers to their Presi-
dental candidate, that the Re-
publican party contains dispro-
portionate share of the wealth, the
culture and the intelligence Of the
country.
The unprincipled Grafton, when
tainted by James the Second with
his personal want of conscience,
answered-"'That is true; but l
belong to a party that has a great
deal of conscience. +" Such reason
ers forget that the same claim has
been made in all ages and countries
by the defenders of old wrongs
against new reforms. 1t was al
legged by the Tories of the Ameri-
can revolution against the patriots
Of that day. 1t was repeated against
Jefferson and afterwards against
Jackson. 1t is alleged by the Con-
servatives against those who in
England are now endeavoring to
enlarge the popular suffrage. All
history shows that reforms in gov
eminent must not be expected from
those who sit serenely on the social
mountain tops enjoying the ben
ehts of the existing order of
things. Even the divine author of
our religion found his followers not
among the self-complacent Phari-
sees, but among lowly-minded fish
ermen.
The Republican party is largely
made up of those who live by their
wits and who secure in politics
advantages over mankind, sim
liar to those which their daily lives
are devoted to securing in private
business. The Democratic party