The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-10-16
THE DEMOCRATIC CANVASS.
Concise and Powerful Exposition OF tho
Political aituat ion.

Concise and Powerful opposition Of the
Political sttuatton.
New York, Oct THE following il Mr..
Tilden's response to the committee Of the
National Democratic convention, conveying to
him the resolutions of that body:
Grey Stone, Oct 6, 1SS4-Mr Chairman and
Gentlemen Of the Committee: l thank you
for the kind terms in which you have COM
municated the resolutions concerning me,
adopted by the late Democratic national con-
vention. share your conviction that reform
in the administration of the federal govern
ment-which is our great national want, and
is indeed essential to restoration and preserva-
ton of the government iteelf-can only be
achieved through agency of the Democratic
party and by installing its representatives
in the chief magistracy of the United
States. The noble historical traditions of the
Democratic party, the principles in which 1t
was educated and to which it has ever been In
the man faithful, its freedom from corrupt
influences which grow up IN the prolonged
possession of power and the nature of the ele-
ments which constitute it, all contribute to
qualify it for that mission. The opposite
characteristics and conditions which attach to
the Republican party, makes it hopeless to ex-
pect that that party will be able to give hettAr
government than the debasing system of abuses
which during its ascendency has infected Of
fetal and political life i'll this country. The
Democratic party had its origin in the efforts
of more advanced patriots of the Revolution
to resist the pervefSlon of our government
from the ideal contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders are Benja-
min Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, Samuel
Adams and John Hancock of Massachusetts,
George Clinton and Robert r. Livingston of
New York, and George Wythe and James
Mall of ipia ErOy, tba al nfM
Jefferson as president IN 1870 for sixty
years the Democratic party mainly directed
our national policy. 1t extended the boundaries
of the republic and laid the foundations of
all our national greatness while 1t preserved
the limitations imposed by the consti-
tuition and maintained simple and
pure system of domestic administration.
ARRAYING THE REPUBLICANS
On the other hand, the republican party has
ALWAYS been dominated by principles which
favor legislation for the benefit of particular
classes at the expense of the body of the people.
1t has become deeply tainted with the abuses
which naturally grow up during long possession
of unchecked power, especially III a period of
civil war and false finance. The patriotic and
virtuous clements in it are now unable to
emancipate it from the sway of selfish interests
which subordinate 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 boastingly asserted by
a modern Massachusetts, statesman, strug-
Cling 10 reconcile himself and his fol-
lowers to their presidential candidates, that
the republican party contains a dispropor
nonate share of the wealth, the culture and the
intelligence of the country. The unprinclpled
Grafton, when tainted by James II. with his
personal want of conscience. answered. That
is true, but belong TO a party that has great
deal of conscience. ''Such reasoners forget
that the same claim has been made in all ages
and countries by defenders of old wrongs
against new reforms. 1t was alleged by the
Tories OF the American Revolution against the
the patriots of that day. 1t was repeated
against Jefferson and afterward against Jack
son 1t is elleged by the conservatives against
those who IN England are now endeavoring to
enlarge the popular suffrage. All history
shows that reforms in government must not
be expected from those who sit serenely 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-compla- |
cent pharisees, but among the lowly mind |
ed fisherman. 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 mankind similar to those which |
their daily lives are devoted to securing in pri- |
vate 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 indispen- |
sable necessity of our times in change of
admnistr alton in the great executive offices of |
the country This i'll my Judgment, can only be |
by the election of the Democratic |
candidates for president and vice president
GSignedl SAMUEL J. TuDEN.
To r. H. Henry, chairman, B. B. Smalley |
and others of the special committee Of the |
Democratic national convention.