Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-10
TI1DEN's LETTER.

Press. The following is Mr.. TIL
den's response to the committee of
the national Democratic Convention,
conveying to him the resolutions Of
that body:
GREYsToNE, October 4, 1884.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of
the Committee 81 thank you for the
kind terms in which you have COM
municated the resolutions concerning.
me adopted by the International Demo-
cratic Convention. Ishare your con-
viction that reform in the admins
tration 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,
by installing its representative-in
chief in the Magistracy of the
United States.
The noble, historical tradition of
the Democratic party, the principles
in which il was educated and 10
which it has ever been in the main
faithful, its freedom from corrupt in
fluences which grow up in the pro-
longcd possession of power and the
nature of elements which constitute
it, allcontributc TO qualify il for that
mission. The opposite Characters
tics and conditions which attach to
the Republican party make it hope
less except that that party will be able
to give better government than the
debasing system of abuses which dur
ing its existence has infected official
and political life in this country. The
Democratic party had its origin in
the efforts of the more advanced pa
triots of the revolution to resist the
perversion of our government from
the idea contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders are
Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, Sam
ucl Adams and John Hancock, Of
Massachusetts; George Clinton and
Robert II. Livingston, of New York
and George Wythc and james Madi.
son, of Virginia. From the election
of Mr.. Jefferson as President in 1900
for sixty years the Democratic party
mainly directed our national policy
II extended the boundaries of the re.
public and laid the foundations of our
national greatness, while it preserved
the Limitation imposed by the consti
tuition and maintained simple and
pure system Of domestic adminisira.
ton. On the other hand the Repub.
lican party has always been DONNA.
ted by principles which favor legisIa.
ton for the benefit of particular class
es at the expense OF the body of thu
people. 1t has become deeply tainted
with the abuses which naturally grew
up during ali administration of un
checked power, especially in perio,
of civil war and false finance. Tn
patriotic and vlrtuous elements in
are now unable to emancipate it from
the sway of selfish interests whicI
subordinate public duty to persona
greed. The most hopeful of the hes
: citizens it contains despair of it
; amendment, except through its TEN
porary expulsion from power. 1t ha
been boastingly asserted by mod
ern Massachusetts statesman, strug
CLING to reconcile himself an
his followers 10 its Pres
: dental candidate that the republica
party contains dlsseparatc share G
the wealth, the culture and the inteI
L ligcnce of the country. The unprir
y cipled Grafton, when tainted b
| james H., with his personal want G
, conscience, answered, that is true, bu
| belong to party that has a grea
j.. deal of conscience. Such reasonel
forget that the same claim has bee
J. made in all ages and countries by Dc
Tenders of old wrongs against ne,
reformers. 1t was alleged by tn
}, Tories of the American revolutio
s against the patriots of the day.
!, was repeated against Jefferson All
If afterwards against Jackson. 1t
:, alleged by the conservatives again
: those who, in England, are now el
C deavoring to enlarge the popular su
frage. All history shows that re
forms in government must not be C!
pected from those who SIT serenel
on the social mountain tops enioyil
the benefits of the existing order
things. Even the Divine Author
" our religion found his followers, N
among the complaisant in paradis
" but among lower minded iisherme
y The Republican Party is largely mat
;" up of those who live by their wi
j. and who aspire to similar advant
y, ges over the rest of mankind, viii,
~ their daily lives are devoted to secu
ing in private business. The Dem
- cratic party consists largely of tho
- who live by the work of theii~hand
" and whose political action is COVER
cd by their sentiments or imagin
~ ton. 1t results that the Dem
: cratic party is moro readily, than Il
> Republican party can be, moulded
70 the support ofreform measures Will
:" involve sacrifice of selfish interes
~ The indispensable necessity of o
y time is a change of administration
the great oXecuiiye officas of :