The Dillon tribune., 1884-10-11
TII.DEN'S LETTER.

Nn' ~'>| - uc lOllOwlnS is
Itlden's response to the committee Of the
| Nationa! Democratic Convention, con.
| veying to him the resolutions OF that BODY
GREisroNE, Oct. 6, 1854.
10 TIE Chairman md Gentlemen Of Tire Cou:.
m.tce::
thank you for the kind terms in which
YOU have communicated the resolutions
concerning me adopted by the late Demo.
cratic National Convention. share your
convictions that reform in the ad,ninistra-
ton of the Federal governments which is
our great national want and is indeed cs
| sentlal to the restoration and preservation
OF the government itself, can only be
achieved Though the agency ofthe Demo
cratic party and BY the installation OF its
representative rs the ietmasis,rate of the
United States. The noble historical ira.
ditions of the Democratic party, the prin-
ciplcs III which it was educated and to
which it has ever been in the main faithful.
its t'redom from corrupt influences which
grow up in prolonged possession Of power,
and the nature of the elements which con-
stitutc It all contribute to qualify it for that
mission. The opposite characteristic and
condition which attach to the Republican
party makes il hopeless to expect ,ta, tina,
party will be able to give Il better govern
mcnt than the dcbasins system of abuses
which, during it, asccndencv, has infected
| ~. - 4
The Democratic party had its origin in the
efforts Of the more advanced patriots of the
Revolution to resist the ptrvcrsion Of our
government from the ideal contemplated
| by the people. Among its conspicuous
founders are Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams and
John Hancock, of Massachusetts; George
Clinton and Robert r. Livingston, oi New
| York, and George W.yt the and James Mad.
ison, OF Virginia, and from the election Of
MIR. Jefferson as President IN 1900 for sixtv
years the Democratic party mainly direct.
ed cur national policy. It extended the
boundaries of our republic and laid th>
foundation of all our national greatness,
while ii preserved the limitations imposed
by the constitution and maintained sim.
pie and pure system u! domestic adninis-
t'''''@'' On the Other band the i,..r,,l,';
can party has always been dominated! bv
principles which favor legislation Tor the
benefit Of particular classes at the expense
OF the body of the people. It has become
deeply tainted with abuses which naturally
grow during long possession OF political
power, especially il the period Of civil w.r
| The patriotic ard vrtuous elements in it
are now unable TO cnancpatc it from tho
sway OF selfish interests "Iiic.I subordinate
public duty to personal greed. Tie most
hopeful OF its best citizens it contains dis
pair OF its amendment cxcep. through it.
temporary expulsion from power. 1t has
been boa>iinsly asserted by Il modern
Massachusetts, statesman struggling so rec
oncilr himself and his followers 10 thci,
! Presidential candidate that the Republican
, party contains di~propor,ionatc share of
the wealth, the culture and the intelligence
o! the country. The unprincipleti Grafton,
| wlc:. iaunted by James the Second with
/ his personal want o. conscience, answered: ::
"that is true, but hcior. to i party tia;
! has I. great dcai OF conscicncc' .Sucl, r,.a-
| soner, forget that the same Claim ',a, hc>t,
,naG2 in all ages and countries hv ,ly i,t..t-
er> OF old wron :;> a,ciu~t ncw reforms. Il
was alleged by the Tories OF the Rcvoiu-
! ton against the patriots OF that tlav. II
was repeated against Jefferson and ;.flr.
"a!s: against Jackson, AND it is alleged ~,
ltnE'AnI arc now rndratoring tu cnlar.cc
/ he popular suffrage. History show that
reforms N government must not Lu ex.
! I'HctrH t;O,l t:1Osr who 1t ~e!tl.Uiv On the
| benefited hv the existing or.'cr of tii,r!.>
Even the divine. author ct uvr rcliyiou
found hi, followers uot among these self
culDpiac1 mt l'lar SEES but ..tnol4., tl. lp,. l.,
minded fishermen. TIE Republican party
is largely made up oi those who ,ivc b.
their wits il:d who aspire in politics to The
advantages OF III" rest ul' mankind, similar
to those which their daily li.c> are devoted
to securing in private business. The Dem.
ocra'ic party consists !nr.cy y OF those who
live b' the work OF their hands, and vilas,,
political action is governed by their ser.t:
mcnt> Or Imagination. Ii results then ,llu,
the Democratic, more readily than the Re
publican party, can be moulded to the sup
sacrifice Of selfish interests. Tho nsli>. !