The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-10-11
LETTER FROM MIR. T1LpEN.
His Reply to the Address Presented
by the National Convention.

In response to the resolutions presented to
him from the National Democratic Convention
| Samuel j. Tilden has written the following
| letter:
GRAYsToNE, Oct. 6, 18s4,-Mr. Chairman
and Gentlemen of the Committee: / thank
you for the kind terms in which you have
communicated the resolutions concerning me
adopted by the late Democratic National
| convention.
share your conviction that the reform in
the administration of the federal government,
which is our great national want, and is In
deed essential to the restoration and preser-
walton of the government itself, can only be
achieved through the agency of the Demo-
cratic party, and by installing its representa-,
tive in the Chief Magistracy of the United
| States.
The noble historical traditions of the Demo
cratic party, the principles in which it was
educated, and to which it has ever been in
the main faithful; its freedom from the cor
rupt influences which grow up in the prolonged
possession of power, and the nature of the
elements which constitute it, all contribute to
qualify it 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-
/ UdSlIB SJSIclH Vi duuSeS ITO sio-
tendency, has infected official and political
| life in this country.
The Democratic party had its origin in the
efforts of the more advanced patriots of the
revolution to resist the perversion of our gov
eminent from the ideal contemplated by the
the people. Among its conspicuous founders
are Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson,
Samuel Adams and John Hancock, of Massa-
chusetts, George Clinton and Robert r. Liv-
ingston, of New York, and George Wythe and
James Madison, of Virginia. From the cleo
ton of Mr.. Jefferson as President in 1900,
for sixty years the Democratic party mainly
the boundaries of the republic and laid the
| foundations of all our national greatness,
while it preserved the limitations imposed by
the constitution and maintained simple and
pure system of domestic administration.
On the other hand the Republican party
| has always been dominated by principles
which favor legislation for the benefit Of par
ticular classes atthe expense of the body ofthe
people. 1t has become deeply tainted with
the abuses which naturally grow up during a
long possession of unchecked power, especi-
ally in a period of civil war and false finance.
The patrio tic and virtuous elements 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 ex-
pulsion from power.
1t has been boastingly asserted by modern
Massachusetts, statesman, struggling to recon-
Gle himself and his followers to their presi-
dental candidate, that the Republican party
contains disproportionate share of the wealth
the culture and the intelligence of the country
The unprincipled Grafton, when tainted by
! I T Il Il i g
conscience, answed, THAT is true, but | be-
long to party that has great deal of con-
| science"
| 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 afterwards against jackson. 1t is alleged
by the conservatives against those who, i'll
England, are now endeavoring to enlarge the
popular suffrage.
all history shows that reforms in govern
ment must not be expected from those who
sit serenely on the social mountain tops en-
joying the benefits of the existing order of
things Even the Divine Author ofour religion
found His followers not among the selt-com-
placent Pharisees, but among lowlyminded
| 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
mankind similar to those which their daily
lives are devoted to securing in private bust
ness.
/ 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
moulded to the support of reform measures
which involve a sacrifice of selfish interests:
The Indispensable necessity of our times is
a change of administration in the great exec
utive offices of the country. This, in my judg
ment, can only be accomplished by the cleo
ton of the Democratic candidates for Pres-
dent and Vice President.
/