The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-04-24
THLDEN TALK 3.


CHICAGO, April l5.-The Iroquois
Club of this city, composed of gentle
men prominent in the Democratic
party, gave its third annual banquet at
the Palmer House this evening
After the address by Col. w. G. P.
Breckenridge of Kentucky upon the
sentiment, "The Republic. an Indi.
visible Union of fIndestructiblc States"
the following letter was read from ex-
Governor Tilden:
NEW YORK, April II. 1854.
GENTLEMEN I have had the honor
to receive your invitation to the third
annual banquet Of the IrOquOis Club
to respond to the sentiment, "The
Federal Constitution" / have also
received private letters asking writ.
ten response to the sentiment in case |
am prevented from attending.
have been for some time and am
still exceptionally engrossed with bus
iness which / have no power to defer
or abandon. ] must, therefore, com
municate with you in writing, and my
answer must be brief.
On the formation of the Federal Con
stitution, Governeur Morris, who had
| been a conspicuous member of the
Convention, being asked what he
thought of the Constitution, replied
"That depends upon how it is con.
strued."
The Democratic party originated in
the resistance by the more advanced
patriots of the Revolution to efforts
which were made to change the char.
acter of our Government by a false
construction Of the Constitution, and
impressing on the new system a mon
archical bias.
Mr.. Jelferson's election in 1900 res.
cued our free institutions from the
perils which surrounded them, and
secured sixty years of administration
and true character. When an attem %,
was made to break up the Union and
to dismember the territorial integrity
of the country, people were compelled
to make manly choice between these
calamities and the dangerous influ.
ences of civil war upon the character
of the government. They patriotically
and wisely resolved to save the Union
first and repair the damage which oul
political system might sustain when
the more imminent dangers had been
provided against.
The first work was successfully &C.
complished. But twenty years have
since elapsed, and the work of restor-
ing the Government to its original
character is not yet accomplished Our
wise ancestors had warned US that il
we fell into civil discords our free sys.
tenn was liable to perish in the struggle
by an insensible change of its charac.
ter. Not only have the best traditions
of the patriots who won independence
and established freedom lost their au-
thority, but our cherished political
system is slowly losing its hold upon
life, under the fungus growths of false
constructions and corrupt practices.
The Government itself has become q
menacing factor in elections. AS long
ago as 1876 | expressed the opinion that
the opposition must embrace at the
beginning Of the canvass two thirds OF
the voters to maintain majority at
the election. In this history repeats
itself. In most countries the Govern
ment maintains itself by force or fraud
system of England the monarch has
until lately controlled a majority of
! Parliament and frequently decided
elections by court favOrs, jobs, and
money taken from the public treasury.
This is hard saying, but the recent
publication of the papers of her de-
ceased statesmen leaYe no doubt upon
the subject.
! In our own country the Government
instead of standing as ali impartial
arbiter amid the conflicts of maturing
opinion and contending interests, has
itself descended into the arena, equip