The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-04-26

Below is Mr.. Tilden's letter in
full, read to the Iriqnois Club ban.
quet in Chicago:
NEW YORK, April IL, 1884.
GENTLEMEN Il have the hon.
or to receive your invitation to
the third annual banquet of the
lriquois club, to respond to the
sentiment, "The Federal Constitu-
tion." l have also received pri-
vate letters asking written res
ponse to the sentiment in case l
am prevented from attending. l
have been for some time, and am
still, exceptionally engrsssed with
business which | have no pewer
to defer or abandon. l must,
therefore, communicate with you
in writing, and my answer must
be brief. On the formation Of the
Federal constitution Gouyerneur
Morris, who had been a conspicu-
GUS member of the convention,
being asked what he thought of
the constitution, replied: "That
depends upon how it is con-
strued." The democratic party
originated in resistance by more
advanced patriots of the revolu.
tion to efforts which were made
to change the character of our
government by false construc.
tion of the constitution, imposing
on the new system a monarchical
bias. Mr.. Jefferson's election
in 1900 rescued our institu.
tions from the perils which sur.
rounded them aud secured sixty
years of administration mainly in
harmony with their de:ign and
true character. When an attempt
was made to break up the Union
and to dismcmber territorial in.
tegrity Of the country, the people
were compelled to make manly
choice between these calamities
and the dangerous influences Of
civil war upon the character of
the government. They patriotic
ally and wisely resolved to save
the Union first and to repair the
damage which our political system
might sustain when moro immi-
nent dangers had been provided
against. The first work was sue.
cessfully accomplished, but TWEEN.
ty years have elapsed and the
work Of restoring the government
to its original character is not yet
accomplished. Our wise ances.
tors had warned us If we fell into
civil discords, our free system was
liable to perish in the struggle by
ali inscnsible change of character
Not only have the best traditions
of the patriots who won our indie
pendence and established freedom
lost their authority, but our cher
ished political system is slowl,
losing its hold upon life under fun
gus growths of false construction
and corrupt practices. Govern
ment itself has become q mena
cling factor In elections. As Ion,
ago as 1876 l expressed the opin
ion that the opposition must EN-
brace at the beginning Of the can
vass two-thirds of the voters I,
maintain q majority of the elec
tion. In this history repeats il
sclf. In most countries the GOV
ernment maintains itself by fore
or fraud. Even in the compare
lively popular system Of Englan
the monarch has until lately col
! ; trolled the majority in parliament
and frequently decided election
by court favors, jobs and none
. taken from the public treasur.
This is q hard saying, but recer
publication of papers of decease
: statesmen leave no doubt upo
! the subject. In our own countr.
the government, instead of stan
ing as an impartial arbiter ami
conflicts of maturing opinion an
contending interests, has itself d
: scended into the arena, equippe
with all the weapons of partisa
: ship. Its myriads of office-hol
ers, it's alliance with or again
= vast pecuniary interests, its unlil
= tied command of money levi'
y from its defendants and contrat
- ors, have sufficed to determil
). ' the majority in every case b
10 one. In that case it collected IN
4 itary forces around the capt.,
and by this and other menaces
timidated congressional represe
tatives of a majority of the peop
| to relinquish the fruits of the
a. victory and to surrender the go
ernment to the control of the
Is nority. No reform Of administl
n tion is possible so long as the go
ne ernment is directed by q par
at which is under the dominion
- saIse doctrines and animated
:" enormous pecuniary interests