, 1884-04-16

would elevate the tone of all aspirants b,
making them feel hat they owe all t,
merit, and nothing to patronage. |
would make the service ten fold NOR,
efficient; would greatly reduce expendi
lures; would make principle, no
salary, the chief prize of partl
struggle Its benefcent spirit would Civ,
to merit the highest reward, and woulC
stimulate excellence into competition. L
would demand and stimulate a higheI
grade of intellectual and political educa
ton; it would in time reach the popular
elections and appointments which dictate
politics; it would reach popular opinion
and stamp out all interference with a free
ballot and a fair count, whether by fraud,
force or intimidation; it would put an end
to all forced assessments and to the ex,
penditure of immense corruption funds.
The following letter from Mr.. Tilden
was read:
Gentlemen-I have had the honor to
receive your invitation to the third annual
banquet of the ~Iroquois club to respond to
the sentiment of 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 ex-
ceptionally cngrossed with business, which
| have no power to defer or abandon. |
must, therefore, communicate with you in
writing and my answer must be brief.
On the formation of the federal ~constitu-
ton, Governor Morris, who had been
a conspicuous member of the convention,
being asked what he thought of the con-
stitution, replied that it depends upon how
it is construed. The Democratic party
originated a resistance by more advanced
patriots of the revolution to the efforts
which were made to change the
character of our Government by a false
construction of the Constitution, impress
ing onthe new system a monarchical bias.
Mr.. Jefferson's election in 1900 rescued
our free institutions from the perils which
surrounded them and secured sixty years
of administration mainly in harmony with
their design and true character. When
an attempt was made to break up the
Union and to dismember the territorial
integrity of the country, the people were
compelled 10 make manly choice between
these calamities and the dangerous infu-
ences of civil war on 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 sue
cessfuliy accomplished, but twenty
years have since elapsed, and the
work of restoring the Government to its
original character has not yet been ac-
complished. Our wise ancestors had
warned us if we fell into civil discords
our free system was liable to
persist in the struggle by an
insensible change in its character. Not
konly have the best traditions of the pa
triots who won independence and estab-
lished freedom lost their authority but
our cherished political system is losing
its hold on life under the fungus growths
Of false constructions and corrupt prac-
tees. The Government itself has become
a menacing factor in the elections. As
long ago as 1876 | expressed the opinion
that the opposition must embrace at the
beginning of the canvass two-thirds of
the voters to maintain a majority at the
election. In this history repeats itself
In most countries the Government main
tains 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 fav-
ors, jobs and money taken from the public
treasury. This is a hard saying, but
recent publication of the papers of her
deceased statesmen leave no doubt on the
subj ect. In our own country the govern
ment, instead of standing as an impartial
arbiter amid the conflicts of maturing
opinion and c%ontending interests, has itself
descended into the arena, equipped with
all the weapons of partisanship, its
myriads of Office holders, its alliances with
or against vast pecuniary interests, its UNI
limited command of money levied from
its dependents and contractors, have a
sufficiently determined majority in every
case but one. In that case it collected a
military force around the Capital, and by
this and other menances inundated Con,
gressional representatives of a majority OF
the people to ~relinquish the fruits of Their
victory and to surrender the Government
to the control of the minority. No reform
of administration is possible so long as the
Government is directed by a party which
is under a dominion of false doctrines, and
animated by enormous p~ecuniary interests
and perpetuation of existing abuses. The
first efectual step and reform of GU
Government must be a Fundamental
change ofpolicy. Its administrative worl
of reform will be difficult enough with tn,
whole power of the Government exertet
in accomplishing it. l have such faith il
benignant providence which has presided
over the destiny of our country in ever,
great trial hitherto, that / don't despai
of the ultimate deliyerance. Though
cannot longer aspire to be one of the lead
ers in this great work, | bid those OIL
whom this august mission may fall, Go
speed. (Signed) S. j. TILDEN.
To S, Corning Judd, Chairman Politi