The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-10-09
a Yolos tro.a the Dad.

GEN 1ORks OCts e. AAO 4OIAO"AHk u
Mr.. Tfiden's response to the committee |
Of the National Democratic convention, |
to him the resolutions of that |
bods:
GRKYsToNE. Oct. 4-Mr. Chairman
and gentlemen of the committee, thank
you for the kind terms in which you
have communicated the resolutions con
earning me, adopted by the late National
Democratic convention. l share your
conviction that reform IN the admins
traiion of the Federal gOYernment,w which
il our great national want, and Is in
deed essential to the restoration and
preservation of the government itself,
can only be achieved through the agency
of the Democratic party and by install
ing Its representative In the chief mag
istracy Of che United States. The noble
historical traditions of the Democratic
party, the principles in which 1t Yves ed
ucated and to which it has ever been in
the main faithful, its freedom from the
corrupt influences which grow up
in the prolonged possession OF power,
and the nstu.e of the elements which
constitute It, all contribute to qualify it
for that mission. The opposite charac-
teristics and conditions which attach 70
the Republican party make 1t hopeless to
expect that party will be able to gave
better government than the debasing
system of abuses, which during its as
cendancy has infected official and politi-
cal life in this country. The Demo
cratic party had its origin in the efforts
Of the more advanced patriots of the re-
Volution to resist the perverSion OF our
government from the ideal contemplated
by the people. Among its conspicuous
fOasders are Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams and
John Hancock of Massachusetts, George
Cliuton and Robert r. Livingstone of
and James Madison of Virginia.
From the election of Mr. Jefferson as
president in 1900, for sixty years the
Democratic party mainly directed our
national policy. 1t extended the boun-
diaries of the republic and laid the fOun-
dation for all our national greatness,
while it preserved the Limitations i'm
posed by the constitution and maintain
ed q simple and pure system OF Demo
cratic administration. On the other
hand, the Republican party has always
been dominated over 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
gradually grow up during the long
ly IN period of civil war and false
finance The patriotic and Virtuous
elements IN it are now unable
to emancipate it from the sway of
the selfish interests which sub
ordinate public duty to personal
greed. The most hopeful of the best
citizens despair of Its amendment ex-
cept through its temporary expulsion
| from power. 1t has been bOastiDgly as
serted by q medium Massachusetts,
statesman struggling to reconcile him
self and his followers to its presidential
| candidate, the Republican party con-
tains q disproportionste share Of the
wealthy, culture and intelligence of the
country. The unprincipled Grafton
when tainted by James II, with his per-
sonsl want of conscience, answered (:
| That's true, but l belong to a party
that has q great dsel of conscience"
Such reasoners forget that the same
claim has been made in all ages and
countries by defenders of old wrongs
against new reforms. 1t was alleged by
| the tories OF the American revolution
| against the patriots of that day. 1t was
| repeated against Jefferson and after
wards against Jackson. 1t is alleged by
| the conservatives against those who, IN
England, are now endeavoring to en-
large the popular suffrage. All history
shows that reforms IN government
must not be from those who
sit serenely on the social mountain
tops eyeing the benefits of the exist
| ing order Of things. Even the divine
| author of our religion found his follow.
ers not among complacent partisans, but
among lOWlY- minded flhermen. The
| Republican party is largely made up o
those who live by their wits and who as
pire to advantages over the rest of man
kind, which their daily lives are devoted
To securing in private business. Tht
Democratic party consists largely ol
| those who live by the work of theiI
hands and whose political action i
governed by their sentiment Of
Imlnation. It results that the Demo
cratic party more readily than the Re
publican party can be moulded to thu
| support of reform measures which in
yolve a sacrifice of selfish interests. Tit
indispensable necessity of our times is
change of administration in the grea
executive offices of the country. This. ir
my Judgment, can only be accomplished
by the election of the Democratic can
didates for president and vice president
SAMUEL ]. TIIDRN.
To r. II. Henry, chairman, B. b
Smalley and others of the special com
mittee of the Democratic Nationa
| convention