Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-04-16
TILDEN'S LETTER.
uis THOUGHTS ON ruE uoyEKNmnsr
Though No Longer hspiriug to Be u ne-
form Leader re Bids the Democratic
hctormers God-speed


hcformers God-speed.
The Iruquois club Of Chicago. composed
of gentlemen prominent in the Democratic
party, gave its third annual banquet at the
Pa'wrr house, on Tuesday evening. The
local attendance WAS very large, in addi-
tion To which there was gathering of
distinguished gentlemen from all parts of
the country. Samuel J. Iilden sent u
letter, which read rs follows:
New loRK, April IL, 1854,
GENTLEMEN | have the honor to re-
| ceiye your invitation to the third annual
bauquet 10 the lruquois club tO respond to
the sentiment, Tho Federal COustitu
tlon.' have also received private letters
asking written response to the sentiment
IN case | am prevented from attending.
| | have t'H " some time, aud am still,
exceptionally eugrosSed with business
| which have no power To defer or abandon.
| must therefore, communicate with you
| ia writing, aud my answer must be brief
Ga tho formation OF the federal cousti
| tuition GUuVeTneur Morris, who had been a
| conspicuous member Of tho convention,
| being asked what he thought Of the cOnsti.
tuition, replied: That depends upon how
IL is construct
The Democratic party originated in the
resistance by the moro advanced patriots
of the rrSO UtiOu to efforts which were
made to change the character OF our gov
crnmeut by a false construction of the
constitution. and imprcssing upon the new
system a mpuarChical basis. Mr.. Jettcr
sons election, IN 1900, rescued our free
Institutions trum the perIls which sur
rounded them, aud secured sixty years Of
administration mainly iu harmony with
their design and rue character.
When an attempt vas made to break w
the union 81 4 10 d,smembcr the territorial
IntrrLIity of the country, people wore
compelled to make 4 manly choice between
these Calamities and the dangerous iutlu-
euce of a civil war upon the character Of
the government ruey pltrio.tSIly and
wisely resolved t. save the union first and
to repair the damage which our political
system might sustain when the more
imminent dangers have been provided
| against.
Twenty Years out Of Power
The first work was successfully accom-
! plshGd but tweuty years have elapsed
and the work Oi restoring the government
| to its original character is not yet accom-
| plIshed. Oar wise ancestors had warned
US that II We fell into civil dscOrds our
free system WAS liable to perish in the
| struggle by au inSeuslble change ut lts
OF the patriots who won iudependnuGa and
established freedom lost their au rhDtry,
but our cherished political system is slowly
losing It's hold upon life under the fungus
row .hs Of false constructions and corrupt
practices. The government itself has be
como meulCIng factor in elections.
! As long ago as 1876 | expressed the
! opinion that the opposition must embrace
! al the beginning ot the cauyAses two thirds
OF the voters - MAJ tain majority AZ the
election. Ia this history repeats tJsef, la
most countries the government maintains
itself by force or fraud. Even in tn >
comparatively popular system of EuglAnd
the monarch has until lately controlled a
majority of Parliament, aud frequently
decided elections by court tAyOrs, jobs
aud money taken from the public
treasury. This is hard saying, but
the recent publication Of the papers OF
her deceased statesmen leave no doubt
upon the subject In our own cOuLtry
the gOyerumou;, Instead Of standing rs an
impartial atbI.cg amid the conflict OF ma
, turing opinion and cJnteuding Interests,
has itself descended into the arena
equipped with al the weapons Of partisan
ship. It's myglaus Of UtlicehOldeTs, its
alliance with or against vast peCuniary
interests, its unlimited command OF
money, levied from its dependents aud
contractors, hayo sutliCed 10 determine a
majority in every case bat one. la that
case II collected military forces around the
capitol aud by this aud other menaces,
lutlm.datrd the congressional represc u a.
tIYes of majority Of the people to rehu-
quish the fruits uf their victory aul to
surrender the government to tue control
Oi y minority.
No Reform Possible.
No reform OF administration is pOSSlb Ia
50 lJug as the government is directed by a
party which is under the dominion Of false
doctrines aud animated by enormous pecun
l.ry Interests in the perpetuation of exist
lag abuses. The tGsL eticctual step in the
Reform Of our government must be fund
amGutal change in the policy Of its admin
} istratIUn. The work OF reform will b,
, difficult enough with the whole power 0
the government exerted ia accomplishing
! 1t. have such faith in the beniguau
irJydGnce which has presided over tn,
destiny ol our country in every great triN
hitherto, that do not despair OF our u,ti
: mate dcIlycrauce. Though can no longer
I aspire tD be one OF the leaders in this greA
/ WORK, | bid those Of you On whom this
august mission may fall God speed.
- I TF nEN