The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-04-18
hAMuEL J. yyLDHW
WriitsH letter to tue iruquois club on
"th- Fslct M CunstitutlOn."

Writha letter 10 tue irGquo club on
"th- F"dc'ai C"nssitutlOn."
Rod at the IroquotS Banquet, Chicago, AprilS
NKw YoRH, Aptll 1l.-Gentlemeu: l
have had the honor to receive your invita-.
ton to the third annual banquet Of the
lrcquois Cinb to respond to the sentiment,
"rhe Federal Constitution" have also |
received private letters asking a written
response In csao | am prevented from Ut.
tending. have been Tor some time, and
am s,ill, exceptionally engroseed with bust.
n'ss which | have no power 10 defer or
abandon. must, therefore, communicate
with you In writing, aud my anawer must
be br!et.
On the formation Of the Federal Copsti.
tuition, Gouverneur Morris, who had been
n conspicuous member OF the convention,
beirg aeked whnt he thought Of the Con.
s,itution, replied: "rhat depends on how
It q construed" The Democratic party
originated in 4 resistance by tho more al.
yanced patriots Of tue Revolution 10 the
tilIrts which were made to change the
character OF our government by false con.
sructions OF tho Constitution, impressirg
on tho new system nonarchial bias. Mr..
JellNrRon's election In 1900 reached our freq
institutions from the perils which sur.
rounded them, and aeCursd sixty years OF
administration mainly In harmony with
their design und true character. When an
attempt was made to break up the Union
and to dismember the territorial integrity
Of the country tho peotl 10 wero comp ,Iled
to make Il manly choice bs.wa,n these
calamites and the dangerous Influences OF
civil wtr upon the character OF the govern.
nen'. They periodically nnd wisely 70.
solved 10 save the Union first, und to
repair the damage which our poll.
teal system might sustain when, the
more imminent dangers had been
provided Agaiust. Tbs frat work was sue
ccssiIlly accomplished; but twenty years
have since elapsed and tho work OF restor.
ing the government to i,s original character
III not yet accomplished. Our Wise anceu.
tors had warned US that, II We fell into
civil discords, our free system was liable to
perish in the struggle, by an insensible
charge Of lis character. Not only have the
BEES: traditions Of tho patriots who won In.
dependence and established freedom los.
their authority, but our cherished political
system is fast losing Its hold upon lie under
the fungus gtowths OF false constructions
and ,corrup. practices. Government itself
has become q menacng factor in tho cleo.
tons. As long ago as 1875. expressed
the opinion thGt the opposition must EN-.
brace, a. tho beginning OF the canvass,
twothirds OF the voters TO maintain ma.
jority at the election. In this, history re-.
pea,s itself. 1u most countries the govern.
lneat malntains itself by force or fraud.
Even in the comparatively popular system
OF England, the monarch hes until lately,
controlled najority OF Parliament, and
irtQusntly decided the election by court
iavoIp, joba, and mol ey takan from tue
public treasury. Thls ia hard saying;
but recent publications Of the papers Of
her deceased statesman, leavs no doub.
upon the subject.
In our own country, the Governm, nt,
instead Of standing as an impartial arbiter
amid the cor hicts OF maturing opinion and
contending inte,es!a, has Itself descended
into the arena, equipped with all tho wea.
pons Of craftsmanship. Ilsmyriads OF office.
holdeH; lls alliances with or against vast
peculiarly interis.f; lis unlimited com.
msnd OF money levied from its Deepen.
dents aud contractors, have sufficied to de.
termine majority in every clss but one.
10 that case, it collected military forces
aronnd the Capitol, and, by this and other
msnacsa, intinidaled the Congressional
representatives Of majority Of the people
TO rclinqu:sh the fruits Of their victory and
surrender the Government to the control
Of tho minority. No reform Of thu ed.
min!srat;on is possible 80 long as the Gov
eminent is directed by party which is
under this dominion OF false d0Ctrines, and
animated by enormous pecuniary interests
ia the parpatua!ion Of existing abuses.
The first enectral step in the reform OF our
Government must b, 4 fundamental change
in the policy OF its administration. Tho
work OF reform will Re difficult enoupl,
with the whole power OF tho Government
excr.ed in accomplishing it. I have such
faith in the benignsrt Providence which
has presided over the destiny OF our coun-
try in ,vaty great trisl hitherto, that Go
not despair OF our ultimate drliyerance.
Though l can no longer aspire to be one OF
the leaders in this great work, bid those
upon whom this august misaien may fall
good speed. ST.. T1LpgS.
Messrs. S Corning Jldd. Chairman, Henry
Waller, j. Secretary, Political Commit
tee lrcquois Club. .1