Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-10-16
SAMUEL ]. TILDEN SPEAKS.
He Sees True Reform Only i'm the
Election OF Cleveland.

He Sees True Reform Only i'm the
Election of Cleveland.
Samuel ]. Tilden, the veteran Democrat,
has issued his answer to the address of the
National Democratic convention expressing
their regret at his positive refusal to become
the standard bearer of the party, and thank
ing him for once carrying the party to vic
tory out of which they were defrauded by
Republican Electoral commission. Mr.. Til
den's response is as follows:
GRAYsToNE, Oct. 6, 1884.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Com
l thank you for the kind terms in which
you have communicated this resolutions con-
cefning me adopted by the late Democratic
National convention.
| share your conviction that the reform in
the administration of the Federal govern
ment, which is our great national want, an
is indeed essential to the restoration and
preservation Of the government itself, can
only be achieved through the agency OF the
Democratic party and by installing its repre-
sentative in the chief magistracy of the United
States
The noble historical traditions Of the Dem
ocratic party, the principles in which it 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 el-
ements which constitute it, all contribute to
qualify 1t for that mission.
The opposite characteristics and conditions
which attach to the Republican party make
it hopeless to expect that that party will be
able to give better government than the de-
basing system of abuses which, during its
ascendancy, has infected official and political
hfe in this country
The Democratic party had its origin in the
efforts of the more advanced patriots of t.
Revolution to resist the perversion of our
government from the ideal contemplated by
tie people. Among its c6nspicuoys found
srs erT BsiijAmin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
1ey-on, Samuel Adams anS John Hancock
of Ma-Achusstts; George Clinton and Rob
ers r. Livingston, OF New York, and
George Wythe and James Madison, of Vir-
ginia. From the election of Mr.. Jefferson as
President in 1900, for sixty years the Demo
cratic party mainly directed our national
policy. 1t extended the boundaries of the
Republic and laid the foundation of all our
ma ional greatness, while it preserved the linn
itations imposed by the Constitution and
maintained simple and pure system Of do
mestic administration.
On the other hand, the Republican party
has always been dominated by principles
which favor legislation for the benefit of par
tichlar classes at the expense of the body of
the people. 1t has become deeply tainted
with the abuses which naturally grow up
during a long possession of unchecked power,
especially in a period OF civil war and false
finance. The patriotic and virtuous elements
In it are now unable to emancipate it from
the sway Of selfish interests which subor-
dinate public duty to personal greed. The
most hopeful of the best citizens it contains
despair Of its amendment except through its
temporary expulsion from power.
1t has been boastingiy asserted by modern
Massachusetts, statesman struggling to re-
concile himself and his followers to their presi
DENTAL candidate, that the Republican party
contains a disproportionate share of the
wealth, the culture and the intelligence of the
country. The unpt.ncipled Grafton, when
taunted by James the Second with his per-
sonal want OF conscience, answered; That
is true, but l belong to a party that has q
great deal of conscience"
Such reasoners forget that the same claim
has been made in all ages and countries by
the defenders Of old wrongs against new re
forms 1t was alleged by the Tories of the
American revolution against the patriots of
that day. 1t was repeated against jefferson
and afterward against jackson. 1t Is al
legged by the conservatives against those
who, in England, are now endeavoring to en-
large the popular suffrage
All history shows that reforms in govern
ment must not be expected from those who
sit sereneiy 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 lowIy-
minded fishermen.
The Republican party is largely made up
of those who live by their wits and who aspire
in politics to advantages over the rest of man
kind similar to those which their daily lives
are devoted to securing in private business.
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 that the Democratic party, more
readily than the Republican party. can be
nodded to the support Of reform measures
which involve a sacrifice Of selfish interests.
The indispensable necessity OF our times is
change Of administration in the great ex-
ecutive offices Of the country This, in my
Judgment can only be accomplished by the
election Of the Democratic candidates for
President and Vice President
SAMUEL J. TIIDEN
To r. H. Henry, chairman; B. B. Smalley
and others, Of fhe special committee Of the
Deriocrstic National convention.