The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-26
A Letter from Mr.. Tilden-A Review
of the Political Situation.

|
The Iroquois Club, of Chicago, ILL.,, com
posed of gentlemen prominent in the Demo
cratic party, gave its third annual banquet Al
the Palmer House recently. The local at
| tendance was very large, in addition to which
there was gathering of distinguished gentle
men from all parts of the country.
| After an address by Col w. c. z. Breck.
enridge, of Kentucky, the following letter was
read from ex-Gov. Tilden:
~ "NEw York, April II, 1884.
GENTLEMEN Il have had the honor to re-
ceive your invitation to the third annual ban
quet of the Iroquois Club to respond to the
sentiment, 1.-THE Federal Constitution"
have also received private letters asking a
written response to the sentiment in case am
prevented from attending. | have been for
some time, and am still, exceptionally en-
crossed with business, which have no power
to defer or abandon. / must, therefore, COM
municate with you in writing, and my answer
must be brief
.'On the formation of the federal constitu
ton, when Gouveneur Morris, who had been
a conspicuous member of the convention, be-
ing asked what he thought of the constitution,
replied: "That depends upon how it is con-
strued."
'The Democratic party originated in the
resistance by the more advanced patriots OF
the revolution to efforts which were made to
change the character of our government by a
false construction of the constitution and i'm
pressing on the new system monarchial bias.
''Mr. Jefferson's election in 1900 rescued
our free institutions from the perils which sur
rounded them, and secured sixty years of ad-
ministration mainly in harmony with their
design and true character. When an attempt
was made to break up the Union and dismem-
Der the territorial integrity of the country,
people were compelled to make manly choice
between these calamities and the dangerous
influence of civil war upon the character of
the government. They periodically and wisely
resolved to save the Union first and to repair
the damage which our political system might
sustain when the more imminent dangers had
been provided against. The first work was
successfully accomplished, but 20 years has
since elapsed, and the work of restoring the
government to its original character is not yet
accomplished. Our wise ancestors had warned
us that if we fell into civil discords our free
system was liable to perish in the struggle by
an insensible change of its character. Not
only have the best traditions of the patriots
who won independence and established free
dom lost their authority, but our cherished po-
litical system is slowly losing its hold upon life
under the fungus growth of false constructions
and corrupt practices. The government itself
has become menacing factor in elections.
''As long ago as 1876 L expressed the opln-
ion that the opposition must embrace at the
beginning of the canvass two-thirds of the
voters to maintain majority at the election.
In this history repeats itself. In most coun-
tries the government maintains itself by force
or fraud. Even in the comparatively popular
system of England the monarch has until
lately controlled a majority of Parliament,
and frequently decided elections by court
favors. Jobs and money taken from the public
treasury. This is hard saying, but the re-
cent publication of the papers of her deceased
statesmen leave no doubt upon the subject.
SIN our own country the government, in
stead of standing as an impartial arbter amid
the conflicts of maturing opinion and contend
ing interests, has itself descended into the
arena, equipped with all the weapons of par
tisanship. Its myriads of officeholders, its
alliances with or against vast pecuniary inter-
ests, its unlimited command of money, levied
from its dependents and contractors, have
sufficed to determine majority in every case
but one. In that case it collected military
forces around the Capital, and by this and
other menaces inundated the congressional
representatives of a majority of the people to
reiinquish the fruits of their victory and to
surrender the government to the control of a
minority.
''No reform of administration is possible so
long as the government is directed by party
which is under the dominion offalse doctrines
and animated by enormous pecuniary inter-
ests in the perpetuation of existing abuses.
The first effectual step in the reform of our
government must be fundamental change in
the policy of its administration. The work of
reform will be difficult enough, with the whole
power of the government exerted in accom-
plishing it. ! have such faith in the being
nant Providence which has presided over the
destiny of our country in every great trial
hitherto that do not despair of our ultimate
deliverance Though | can no longer aspire
to be one of the leaders in this great work, |
bid those of you on whom this august mission
may fall God speed. rs. J. TILDEN."