The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-05-15
A Letter From Mr.. TiIden.

The third annual banquet of the Iro-
quois Club, of Chicago, was recently
given in that city. Among the letters
received from distinguished guests who
were unable to be present was the fol-
lowing from Mr.. Tilden.
GENTLEMEN:-I have had the honor to re
ceive your invitation to the third annual BAN
4uet of the lroquis Club to respond to the sem
timent: 1.-THE Federal Constitution" l have
also received private letters asking written
response to the sentiment in case / am pre-
vented from attending. have been for some
time and am still exceptionally engrossed
with business which i have no power to defer
or abandon. / must, therefore, communicate
brief. On the formation of the Federal Con-
stitution, Gouveneur Norris who had been
a conspicuous member of the convention, be-
ing asked what he thought of the Constitu-
ton. replied: That depends upon how 1t is
construed" The Democratic party originated
in resistance by the more advanced patriots
of the Revolution to the efforts which were
made to change the character of our Govern
ment by false construction of the Constitu-
ton.
Jefferson's election in 1900 rescued our free
institutions from the perils which surrounded
them and secured sixty years of Administra-
true character. When an attempt was made
to break up the Union and to dismemher the
territorial integrity of the country the people
were compelled to make manly choice be-
tween these calamities and the dangerous in.
fuences of civil war upon the chan acter OF
ly resolved to save the Union first and to re-
pair the damage which our political system
might sustain when more imminent dangers
| was successfully accomplished, but twenty
years have since elapsed and the work of re-
| storing the Government to its original Char
| acter Is not yet accomplished. Our wise an
cestors had warned us that il we fell into civil
| discords, our free system was liable to perish
ene Sy ony am baTe tS OF
| ditions of the patriots who won independence
! and established freedom lost their authority,
| but our cherished political system is slowly
losing its hold upon life under fungut
| growths of false constructions and corrupt
| practices. The Government itself has become
| a menacing factor in elections. As long ago
as 1876 l expressed the opinion that the oppo-
| sition must embrace at the beginning of can
majority at the election. In this; history re-
peats itself by force or fraud. Even in the
comparatively popular system OF England
jority of Parliament and frequently decided
elections by court favors, jobs, and money
taken from the public Treasury: This is :
| hard saying, but the recent publication OF
| papers of her deceased statesmen, leave nc
| doubts upon the subject In our own coun.
an impartial arbiter amid the conflicts of ma
| turing opinion and contending interests, has
| itself descended into the arena and, equipped
ads of office-hoIders, its alliances with OF
against vast pecuniary interests. its unlimited
command of money levied from its dependents
| case but one. In that case it collected mil
tary forces around the capital, and by this and
other menaces intimidaued the Congressiona
| representatives of the majority of the people
| to relinquish the fruits of their victory and IL
surrender the Government 10 the control o
the minority. No reform OF Administrator
| is pcssible so long as the Government is di
rected by the party which is under the do
minion of false doctrines and animated b.
| enormous pecuniary interests in the perpetu
| alton of existing abuses The first efectua
stepin the reform of our Government must bt
| a fundamental change in the policy of its ad
mnistration: The work of reform will be diff
| ficult enough with the whole power of tn,
Government exerted in accomplishing it
| have such faith in the benignant Providence
which has presided over the destiny of ou
| country in every great trial hitherto. that dt
do not despair of our ultimate deliverance
| Though can no longer aspire to be one of tn,
| leaders in this great work, i bid those of yol
on whom this august mission may fall Coz
| speed. (Signed) S. j. TILDEN.
To s. Corning Judd, Chairman of Politica
Committee of 1roquis Club.
The Ithaca Journal does no
think that Mr.. Blaine will be nomi