Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-10-10
4 StateSmanlike Document
The Sage of Graystone Speaks.

J.
Tllden : response to the Comriticc
Of Tie National Democratic CCnven-
ton conveying to him the resolutions
of that body:
GEAYsToNE, Oct, 6, 1884.
To the Chairman and Gentlemen
of the Committee: l thank you for
kind teims i'll which you have COM
muuicated the resolution concerning
me, adopted by the |; Re Democratic
National Convention. l share Your
convictions thai iefolm in the ad-
ministration Of the federal govern
ment, which is our great national
want, and Is indeed essential to the
restoration and preservation Of the
G"veinme it-e!f. can only be ac-
cLieved through the agency of the
Democratic party and by installing
its representative in the chief magls
tracy Of the United States. The
noble historical traditions of the
Democratic party, the principles il
which II wa, e 'ucated and to which
1t hls ever been, III the main, faith
In, lis freedom from corrupt in
huences which grow up in the pro-
forged possession Of power, and the
nature Of the elements which con.
stitute it, all contribute to qualify it
for that mission. The opposite char
acteristics and conditions which at.
tach to the Republican party make it
hopeless to expect that the party
will be able TO give better govern
ment than the dcb.sing system of
abuses which, during its ascendency,
has infected official and political life
III thus country.
THE TWO PARTIES
the Democratic party has its
origin in the efforts of the more ad-
vanced patriots of the revolution to
resist the perversion of our govern.
ment from the ideal contemplated by
the people. Among its conspicuous
founders are Benz amin Franklin,
Thomas jefferson, Samuel Adams
and John Hancock of Massachusetts.
George Clinton and Robert r. Liv-
inSston of New York, and George
Wythe aud James Madison of Viz
gnia; and from the election OF Mr..
Jefferson as President in 1900, for
sixty years the Democratic party
mainly directed our national policy.
1t extended the boundaries of the
republic and laid the foundation of
oil our national greatness, while it
preserved the limitations imposed by
the constitution, and maintained a
simple and pure system of domestic
administration.
On the other hand, the Republi-
can 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 abuses, which naturally
grow during long possession of un-
checked power, especially in a per-
iod of civil war and false finance.
Tho patriotic and virtuous elements
in it are now unable to emmaucipate
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 it's amendment, except through lis
temporary expulsion from power.
HISTORICAL COMPARISONS.
1t has been boastingly asserted,
10y modern Massachusetts states
man, struggling to reconcile himself
and his followers to their Presiden.
tial candidate, that the Republican
party contains disproportionate
share OF the wealth, the culture and
intelligence of the country. The IN.
principled Grafton when tainted by
James the Second, with his person
al want of conscience, answered:
"That is true, but l belong to q
party that has great deal Of con-
scieuce." Such reasoners forget
that the same claim has been made
in all ages and countries by defend
ers OF all wrongs against new re-
forms. 1t was alleged by the tories
OF the American revolution against
tho patriots of that day; it was re-
peated against Jefferson, and after
wards against Jackson; and it is al
legged by the conservatives against
those who, in England, arc now
endeavoring to enlarge the popular
suffrage. All history shows that re-
forms in government must not be
expected from those who sit serenely
on the social mountain tops, enjoy
ing the benefits of the existing order
OF things. Even the divine author
Of our religion found his followers
no! among these solf.complacent
Pharises, but among the lowly
minded fishermen.
IN CoNCIUsloN.
The Republican party is largely
made up of those who live by their
wits, aod who aspire in politics to
advantages Of the rest of mankind,
similar to those which their daily
lives are devoted to securing in pri-
vate business.
The Democratic party consists
largely of those who live by the work
of their hands, and whose political
action is governed by their senti-
ments or their imagination. 1t re-
suits then that the Democratic more
readily than the Republican party
can be moulded to the support of
reform measures, which involve a
sacrifice of selfish interests.
The indispensable necessity of our
time is a change of administration in
the great executive officers of the
country. This, in my judgment, Can
only be accomplished by the election
Of tue Democratic candidates for
President and Vice President.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
To r. H. Henry, Chairman; B. B.
Smallev and others of the special
COm mi tfoo NJ tho nap,oorot;o Matt,