The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-10-17
Tilden Writes a Letter.
Why lie Is FOR GROVER CLEVELAND.

New York, October Z.
In response to the resolutions pre-.
sented to him from the Democratic
National Convention, Samuel J. Tilden
has written the following letter:
GREYsToNE, October 6.
Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Committee | thank you for the kind
terms in which you have communica.
ted the resolutions concerning me
adopted by the late Democratic Ma
tional Convention. / share your con-
viction that reform in the administra-
tion of the Federal Government, which
is our great national want and is in
deed necessary to the restoration and
preservation 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
Democratic party, the principles in
which it was educated and to which it
has ever been in the main faithful, its
freedom from the corrupt influences
which grow up in the prolonged pos
session of power and the nature of the
elements which constitute it, all con-
tribute to quality it for that mission.
The opposite characteristics and con-
ditions which attach to the Republi-
can party make it hopeless to expect
that that party will be able to give
better government than the debasing
system of abuses which during its
ascendancy 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 contemplated by the people.
Among its conspicuous founders are
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
ferson Samuel Adams and John Han
cock, of Massachusetts, George Clin-
ton and Robert r Livingston, of New
York, and George Wythe and James
Madison, of Virginia. From the cleo
tion of Mr.. Jefferson, as President, in
1900, for sixty years the Democratic
party mainly directed our national pol
| icy. 1t extended the boundaries of the
republic and laid the foundations of all
our national greatness, while it preserv-
ed the limitations imposed by the Con-
stituion and maintained simple and
pure system of domestic administra-
ton.
On the other hand, the Republican
party has always been dominated 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 naturally grow up during
a long possession of unchecked power,
especially in period of civil war and
false finance. The patriotic and vir-
tuous elements in it are now unable to
emancipate it 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 boastingly asserted by
modern Massachusetts statesman, strug-
Cling to reconcile himself and his fol-
lowers to their Presidential candidate,
that the Republican party contains a
disproportlonate share of the wealth,
the culture and the intelligence of the
country. The unprincipled Grafton,
when taunted by James III. with his
personal want of conscience, answered:
"Tbat is true, but / belong to a
party that has a great deal of con
science"
Such reasoners forget that the same
claim has been made in all ages and
countries by the defenders of old wrongs
against new reforms. 1t was alleged
by the Tories of the American Revo-
luton against the patriots of that day.
1t was repeated against Jefferson and
afterwards against Jackson. 1t is al
legged by the Conservatives against
those who, in England, are now en-
deavoring to enlarge the popular suf
frage.
All history shows that reforms in
government must not be expected from
those who sit serenely on the noun
tain-tops enjoying the benefits of the
existing order of things. Even the
Divine Author of our religion found
his followers not among the self-com-
placent Pharisees, but among lowly-
minded fishermen. The Republican
party is largely made up of those who
live by their wits and who appear in
politics to advantage over the rest OF
mankind similar to that which theii
daily lives are devoted to securing in
private business. The Democratic
, party consists largely of those who live
by the work of their hands and whose
political action is governed by theil
sentiments or imaginations. 1t results
a that the Democratic party, can bt
, moulded to the support of reform meas
, ures which involve sacrifice of selfsf
, interests.
a The indispensable necessity of ou
. times is a change of administration il
h the great executive offices Of the coun
/ try. This, in my judgment, can onl!
r be accomplished by the election of thu
g Democratic candidates for President
: SAMUEL J. TIDDEN,
n TO II. ii. HENRY, chairman H. b
SMALLEY, and others of the specia
committe of the Democratic Nationa
Convention.