The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-10-25
TILDEN's LETTER.

NEW DIRK, october The follow J
ing is Mr.. Tilden's reply to the resclu-
tions of support and confidence adopted
by the National Democratic Conyen-
tion and presented to him by com
mittee from that body !:
GRAYsToNE, October 6, 1884.
The Special committee of the Demo
cratic National Convention thank
you for the kind terms in which you
have communicated resolutions con-
cerring me, adopted BY the Democrats
National Convention. share your
convictions, that reform in the admins
tr.,tion of the Federal Government,
which is our great national want, and
is indeed essential TO the restoration
and preservation of the Government
itself, can only be achieved through the
agency of the Democratic party, and
by installing its representatives. in the
chief magistraey of the United States
The noble historical traditions Of the
Democratic party tho principles in
which 1t was educated and to watch it
has ever been, III the main, faithful
its freedom from the corrupt influences
which grow up in the pro!ongued pos
session of power, and the nature of the
elements which constitute it, all cor
tribute to qualify 1t for that mission.
The opposite characteristics and con-
dition which attach to the Republican
party make it hopeless to expect that
that party will be able to give better
Government than
THE DEBAsINa SYSTEM OF ABUSES,
Which, during it's ascendency, has in
fected political life in this country.
Tie Democratic party had its origin in
the efforts Of the more advanced patri-
OTIS of the Revolution to resist the per
version cf our Government from the
ideal contemplated by the people
Among its conspicuous founders are
Benjaman Franklin and Thomas JEFF
ferson; Samuel Adams and John Han
cock of Massa achnsetts George Clin-
ton and Robert r. Livingston of New
York, and, George w, the and
James Madison of Virginia and from
the election of Mr.. Jefferson as Presi-
dent in 1900, for sixty years the Demo-
cratic party mainly directed our nation
al policy. It extended the boundaries
of our republic and laid the foundation
of al our national greatness, while it
preserved the limitations imposed by
the constitution and maintained a
simple and pure system of domestic ad-
mInistration. 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 natural
ly grow during long possession of un-
checked power, especially in period of
civil war. The patriotic ard yirtuous
elements in it are now unable to eman-
cipate it from
THE SWAY OF SELFISH INTERESTS,
Which subordinate public duty to per-
sonal greed The most hopeful of the
best citizens it contains despair of its
amendment except through its tempo
rary expulsion from power. It has
been boastlngly asserted by modern
Massachusetts, statesman, struggling to
reconcile himself and his followers to
their Presidential candidate, that the
Republican party contains q dispro-
portlonate share of the wealth, the cul-
ture and the intelligence of the country.
The unprincipled Grafton, when taunt-
ed by James Ii with his personal want
of conscience, answered: ''That is
true; but belong to party that has
a great deal OF conscience" Such
reasoners forget that the same claim
has been made in all ages and coun-
tries by the defenders of old wrongs
agains new reforms. 1t was alleged ay
the Tories of the American Revolution,
against the patriots of that day; it
was repeated against Jefferson and af-
terward against Jackson, and it is SO
alleged by the conservatives against
those who in England are now endeav-
oring to enlarge the popular suffrage
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