The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-10-14
New York Herald, Sth inst.
MIR. Tilden's Letter.

Mr. TildeD'S Letter.
The Democratic Nltional Convention
of 1884 was restrained only by his pro.
hibition on account in his language in q
letter addressed to Mr.. Manning, of his
advancing years and declining strength
The unanimity with which the delegates
turned TO him was an acknowledgment
OF the insight and wisdom of bis decla.
ration, so long ago as 1875, that the
greatest political need of the United
States is administrative reform In the
federal government. That declaration
was then disputed by the republican par
ty, and the democrats were not unani-
nous in accepting its truth, although
they accepted Mr.. Tilden for their can.
didate. 1t was made again by Mr.. Til
den in his letter read to the Democratic
N,tional Convention of 1880, and was
again disputed by the republicans. and
by no means unanimously accepted BY
the democrats in the ensuing canvass.
BIT in the meanwhile facts were accu-
mulatipg to prove it to the most skep-
tical. The persistence of the republican
administrators of the federal government
in accumulating an enormous surplus in
the Treasury, wrung from the people by
unnecessary taxation; the extravagant
schemes of expenditure to which this
surplus gave birth, and the corruption it
engendered that broke out to view in
such frauds as the star route contracts,
at last made such a public impression
that the whole democratic party and
large part of the republicans themselves
recognized the absolute truth Of Mr..
Tilden's words when he wrote to Mr..
Manning on June 10, 1884. that "the
governmental system of the United
States" has become '.infected with the
cancernus growths Of false constructions
and corrupt practices that powerful
classes have acquired pecunisry in
terests in official abuses and the moral
standards of the people have been i'm
paired" and that the redress OF those
abuses and restoration of these stand.
ards is the inevitable issue OF the Presi.
Dental canvass OF the present year.
When the indispensable necessity o.
Mr.. Tilien's issue was fully conce led i,
vas natural that the party meaning to
fight the Presidential campaign upon it
should turn to hi q for its standard hear
er again; and eqrally natural, when it
was found that his ye,rs and strength
we're unequal to the burden, that the
party sh ould seek for its candidate in
his stead that democratic administrator
who, of all others in the country. was
at .he moment the foremost representa-
tive Of the ag gressive issue Of admins
trative reform. 1t found him in the
person of Governor Cleveland, who in
ais letter of acceptance has admirably
and concisely expressed the issue in these
words:
I believe that the public temper Is such
that the voters of the land are prepared
to support the party which gives the best
promises of administering the govern
meut in the honest, simple and plain
manner which is consistent with its
character ana purposes. The statesman
snip they require consists in honesty and
frugality.
But before the Convention adjourned
| it executed grateful duty in appointing
committee to wait upon Mr.. Tlden
with resolutions expressing respect fol
his public service. gratituia for his po
litical counsels aud good wishes for bis
h.alth aud welfare. To this COMMITTEES
Mr.. Tiiden has replied In letter, whict
|
we print IN another column, reitera'in!
his long cherished conviction Of the frs
aud greatest need Of the country, ant
iaverring that the election OF Governo
Gle 7eland and Mr. Hsniricks is im2era
tive for its attainment.
i "The indispensable necessity Of ou
times" says Mr.. Tilden. in summing u
his argument, sis change OF admins
tration in the great executive offices {
the country; AMI this, in my jndgmen
can only be accomplished by the electio
of the democratic candidates for Pres
dent and Vice President