, 1884-10-08
The G~rammercy Sage Replies
to the Compliment
rendered Him By the Demo
cratic National Convention.
Reviewing the Grand Record
of the Organization.
Tilden's Reply.


Mr.. Tilden's response to the committee OF
the National Democratic Convention con
veying to him the resolutions of that body:
GREYsToNE. October 6. lSS4=Mr.
Chairman and gentlemen of the com
mittee-I thank you for the kind terms in
which you have communicated the resolu-
tions concerning me adopted by the late
Democratic National Convention. | share
your convictions that reform in the adj
m%inistration of the Federal Government,
which is our great national want, and is
indeed essential t the restoration and pre-
servation of the Government itself.
can only be achieved through the agency
of the Democratic party and by
installing its representative in the chief
magistracy of the United States. The
noble historical traditions of the Demo
cratic party, the principles in which it
was educated and TO which it has ever
been in the main faithful; its freedom
from corrupt influences, which grow up in
prolonged possession of power, and the
nature of the elements which constitute
it, all contribute TO qualify it for that
mission.
The opposite characteristics and condi-
tons which attach to the Republican
party makes it hopeless to expect that
that party will be able to give a better
government than the debasing system of
abuses which during It's ascendency has
infected official and political life in this
country.
The Democratic party had its origin in
the efforts of the more advanced patriots
OF the Revolution to resist the perversion
Of our Government from the ideal con-
templated. Among its conspicuous
founders are Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams and
John Hancock, of Massachusetts, George
Clinton and Robert r. Livingstone, of
New York, and George Wythe and James
Madison. Of Virginia.
From the election of Mr.. Jefferson as
President in 1900, the Democratic party
mainly directed our National policy. 1t
extended the boundaries Of the Republic
and laid the foundations ofall our Nation
al greatness, while it preserved the limita-
tons imposed by the Constitution and
maintained a simple and pure system of
domestic administration.
On either hand the Republican party
has always been dominated by the prin-
ciples which favor legislation for the bene-
fit OF particular classes at the expense of
the body of the people. 1t has been
deeply tainted with abuses which natu-
rally grew during long possession of I'M
checked power, especially in a period of
civil war and false finance. The patriot
ic and virtuous elements in it are
now unable to emancipate them
selves from the sway Of selfish
interests which subordinate public duty to
personal greed, The most hopeful of the
best citizens it contains despair of its
amendment except through its temporary
expulsion from power. 1t has been boast
ingly asserted by a modern Massachu-
sets statesman struggling to reconcile
himself and his followers to their Presi-
dental candidate, that the Republican
party contains the culture and the intelli-
genee of the country. The unprincipled
Grafton, when tainted by James the
Second with his personal want of CON
science, answered, That is true, but l
belong to a party that has a great deal of
conscience" Such r%easoners 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; it was
repeated against Jefferson and afterwards
against jackson, and it is alleged by the
Conservatives against those who in Eng
land are now endeavoring to enlarge the
popular suffrage.
All history shows that reforms in
government must not be expected from
those who sit serenity on the social noun
tain tops enjoying the benefits of the ex.
listing order OF things. Even the divine
author of our religion found his followers
not among the self-complacent Pharisees
but lowly minded fishermen. The Re
publican party is largely made up of thosI
who live by their wits and who aspire ii
politics to the advantages of the rest q
mankind, similar to those which thei
daily lives are devoted to secmr
ing in private business TIL
Democratic party consists largely Of
those who live by the work of their hands
and whose political action is governed b.
their sentiments or Imagination. Ii re
suits that the Democratic, more readil
than the Republican party, can be mould
ed to the support of reform measures
(which involve q s%acrifc Of selfish interests
The indispensable necessity of our time
is a change of administration in the grea
executive Offices of the country. This, i
my Judgment. can only be accomplishe'
by the election Of the Democratic capdi
dates for President and Vice-President
(Sigped). SAMUEL j. T1LDEN,
To II. H. Henry, Chairman, B. B