Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-21
rILpKN,s NoRps OF WIsDoa.

TILDKN's WORDS OF WfsDo3.
Mr.. TiIden's letter read at the BAN
quet Of the Chicago Iroquols club, on
the evening of April 18th, Is the pro-
ducsIon of a statesman and q patriot,
and deserves especial notice and con-
sideration. 1t Is terse and vigorous In
language, clear aud comprehensive In
statement, and sound in its succinct ut
terances Of governmental and political
philosophy.
The constitution, Just as 1t Is inter
pretod, may tend to monarchial or free
institutions. The tendency Of the gov
eminent, under the early construction
given to the constitution, was to mon
archial modes, till the election OF JEFF
frson, when all that tendency was
ended, and the free institution Of the
Republic given the ascendeney.
But after sixty years OF experiment,
successful and assuring, the plotters for
secession assailed these free institutions
and it became necessary either to let
them be overwhelmed in the vortex OF
rebellion, or to rescue and sustain them
at the expense Of civic war. Mr.. Tilden,
with the true instincts of patriot,
sanctioned the latter expedient, taking
all the hazards of civic war "to save
the Union first, and to repair the dam
age which our political system might
sustain" afterwards.
The letter Of Mr.. TILDEN depicts with
effective force the downward tenden-
eies of the party in power, during their
twenty years control Of the govern.
ment, and for the first time, gives pub
lie expression of his views in regard to
the great fraud of 1876, by which a sue
cessful party was cheated out of the
control Of the executive power OF che
government, by a minority. In addi-
ton to the resort to fraud to maintain
their grip upon the government, tho
party in power gave first q military
menace by throwing troops around the
| Capitol and into its basement. to 'intim-
idate the Congressional representatives
of majority of the people to relinquish
the fruits of their victory and to sur
render the government to the control
of 3 minority"
The proof is beyond dispute, that the
party in power had determined to keep
its clutch upon the government at all
hazards, even at the expense Of civil
war, and the overthrow of our free
Democratic institutions, consolidated
by the Jeffersonian construction of the
Constitution.
The following extract from the let
ter embodies the golden words Of a
sagacious statesman, and discloses the
soundest and most profund political
philosophy:
The reform,6fadministration' impos'
sible so long as the government IL
directed by party which Is under the
dominion of false doctrines aud ami
mated by immense pc cuniary interests
in the perpetuation of existing abuses.
The first effectual step in the reform of
our government must be fundamental
change of the policy of its administra-
ton. The work of reform will be diff
cult-wrought with the whole power OF
the government existed in accomplish
ing II. have such faith in the being
nant Providence which has presided
over the destiny of this country in every
great trial that l do not despair of our
ultimate deliveranee.
These are words Of wisdom which
should challenge the thoughtful consid.
Grafton of every patriotic citizen.
The reform OF such a party as the
party in power cannot be hoped for
from within. 1t must be accomplished
from without, and by displacing aid
hurting il from official position. To
this end every patriotic citizen should
labor and possess himself of the cheer
ing faith in "benigRant Providence"
that auimates the heart Of tue sturdy
patriot, 10 whom the eyes OF majority
of the American people are directed, as
their leader to guide thSm int t., re rs.
| form, which, If not soon possessed, will
leave our free institutions to the destruc-
tive forces of false political doctrines,
increasing frauds, and official dishon-
esty and corruption.
The manner in which Mr.. TILDEN's
letter and its sentiments were received
by the large assemblage at the meeting
ofthe Iroquois Club shows that he is the
man for the hour, that he Is indeed the
idol Of the party, the preferred leader
Of the Democracy, to conduct them to
victory, and to rescue the government
from the grasp of the spoilers.
The utteTances Of Mr.. TILDEN's let.
ter were greeted with the heartiest aud
most enthusiastic applause, and will go
forth into the Nation like the utterance
of a voice of salvation, crying for an
absolute and imperative need of gov
eTnmental reform to save the institu.
tons of the republic from slipping away
from the masses of the people into the
permanent control Of an autOcratic, cor
rupt and corr6pting dominant power.
Mr.. TILDEN carefully abstains in his
letter from declining nomination for
he Presidency, but closes his brief but
incisive and eloquent letter with 8
hearty God.speed to the leaders in the
great work of reform.
1t is none too soOG for the Democracy
to raise the banner to the breeze, in
>cribed with the magic, talismanic, tri-
umphant motto: TILDEN AND REFORM.