Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-08
TILDEN TALKS.
TIE GREAT NATIONAL WANT

A Change In the Administration-The Resto.
ration Of the Government Only 20 be
Achieved Threush the Democratic Party.
lBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l
New YoRK, October TN response TO
the resolutions presented to him from the
National Democratic Convention, non
Samuel j. Tilden sends the following letter:
GRgYsToSE, October 8, 1884.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Com
miffce:
thank YOU for the kind terms in which
Won have communicated the resolutions
concerning me adopted by the late Demo-
cratic National Convention. share your
conviction that reform in the administra-
ton OF the Federal Government (Which Il
our great national want. and Is. indeed. IS
sential TO the restoration and preservation
Of the Government itself can Only DE
achieved through the agency OF the Demo-
cratic party and by installing It's repre-
sentative in the chief magistracy OF tue
United States.
The noble historical traditions OF the
Democratic party, the principles In wnich
1t was educated and to which il has ever
been, in the main, faithful; its free
dom from the corrupt influences
which grow up in prolonged pos
session OF power and the nature OF the
elements which constitute 1t, all contribute
TO qualify it for that mission. The oppo-
site characteristics and conditions when
attach to the Republican party make II
hopeless to expect that that party VIII DE
able TO give better government Than the
debasing system Of abuses which during
Its ascendency has Injected official and po-
litical life in this country.
The Democratic party had Its origin in
the efforts o. the more advanced patriots
OF the revolution TO resist the peryersion
OF our Government from the ideal contein-
plated by the people. Among its conspicu-
Gus founders were Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas jefferson, Samuel Adams and John
Hancock, Of Massachusetts, George elm
ton and Robert Il. Livingston. OF New
York, and George Wythc ana James Mldi-
son. Of Virginia.
From the election CT Mr.. Jefferson rs
President in 1900. for nearly sixty years the
Democratic party has mainly directed our
national policy. II extended the bOunda.
ries OF the republic and laid the foundations
OF all our national greatness; while II
preserved the limitations imposed by
The Constitution and maintained a
simple and pure system OF dOmcs-
tic administration. On the other Maud,
the Republican party has always been
dominated by principles which favor lcgi,-
lation for the benefit OF particular clas-e'
at The expense Of the body OF The people
II ha, become deeply tainted with abuses
which naturally grow no during long
possession OF unchecked power. cspe
cially in the period OF the evil war and
| false finance. The patriotic and Vir!uou'
| elements in it are now unable to cmancplt,
! II from the sway Of selfish interests Whici
! subordinate public duty to personal greed
| The most hopeful OF the best citizens 1t con
| tains despair OF lis amendment except
through IL temporary expulsion IRON
power. II has been hoastingly asserted By
a modern Massachusetts statesman strug
Cling TO reconcile himself and his follower
to thCir presidential candidate that tie Re
publican party contain, a isproportionlt'
share = tie wealth, culture, and intelli
gcnce Of the country.
Urpriuciplcd Grafton. when taunt ad b.
James the Second with his personal wan
Of conscience, answered "That i true
but belong to "A party that has grc;i
deal Of conscience" such reasOncr- iOrge
that the same claim has been made IN 4
aggs and countries by The defenders Of Oh
wrongs against new reforms. II Wa
alleged by the Tories OF the American
Rev olution agllnSttne patriots OF Tint day
II was repeated against Jefferson ana after
wards against Jackson; IT is alleged by "a
Conservatives against those Who in In
land are noW endeayoring 70 enlarge p0py
lar suiTrageS. All history show, that +,
forms in government mustnot be eXpeete
from those who sit severely on the soci;
mountain.tops enjoying the benefits OF IN
existing order OF thing. Even the diyin
author Of our religion found Ills follower
not among the self-c0mplacent Pbtrl>ee'
but among the lowly-minded fishermen.
The Republican party is largely mad
up Of those who live by their wits, an
who aspire in politics to advantages 0y'
the rest OF mankind similar TO those whC
their daily lives are devoted to securing
private business.
The Democratic party consists largely
those who live by the work Of their han'
and whose political action is governed
their sentiments or Imagination. 1t r
suits that the Democratic party more readi
than the Republican party can be monldt
TO the support OF reform measures whiC
involve the sacrifice OF selfish interest
The indispensable necessity Of orr times
a change OF administration in the gre
executive offices Of the country.
This. in my judgment, can only be a
complshcd by the election OF the Dem
cratic candidates for President and Vie
President. SAMUEL y. TILDEN.
To Il. II. Henry (Chairmah), d. y. Smaile
and others, Of the Special Committee
he Democratic National Coarcniton.