Year: 1876

The Jackson Corps of Albany and a large


number OF citizens, with band, gave ser


enade" to Governor Tilden at Albany last


week Thursday night TIE Governor in re
sponse spoke az follows:


| Gentlemen OF the Jackson Corps: cor
daily thank you for this manifestation OF
your kindness do not forget that last year
you enrolled me among you as an honorary
member. regard with satisfaction and pride
your excellent discipline and training as a


military body. recognize among you many
representatives Of the workingmen of Albany
and, when l say workingmen, do not forget
that in our country the number who live upon
the income of what they have accumulated or
inherited wealth Is extremely small, and that
nearly every citizen Of our vast republic lives
on the product OF his daily toll. In America
we are nearly all workisgmen. Therefore the


interest and prosperity of that class may al
most be sald 10 be the interest and prosperity
of all No country which the sun ever shone
upon has had so many blessings as our own.
Stretching from the Atlantic To the Pacific,
and from the great lakes of the North TO the
Gulf of Mexico with a genial climate, with
fertile soils, with every natural and artificial
facility for travel and transportation, with
all the arts and industries OF old civilization
planted and tlourishng amid the boundlesS
natural wealth OF virgin continent we ought
to be to-day the most prosperous, the most
happy and contented people in the world.
But what is our actual condition? All bust.
ness depressed, every industry languishing,
labor without employment, and the wolf at
the door of nearly every home in the land,
gaunt and hungry.


What is the matter? We know that for
tha 1nc al ba hp por rp
ings OF labor and the income of capital have
been consumed or wasted in governmental
expenditures. The taxes drawn from the peo-
pie of the United States have been larger than
the entire net savings of the whole f0rty.four
millions. These taxes have increased within
short period fOur-told, and the influence is
felt upon every business and every industry,
and in every home throughout our OrOad land
What next do we find in the public admins
tration everywhere? Abuses peculations
frauds and corruption, until We are almost
becoming ashamed of the institutions OF our
country, and, instead of holding them up as
examples for the oppressed people of other
countries, we are contessng them as a scan.
dial in the eyes of mankind. What else do we
find? We find the office holding class have
become SO numerous, powerful and unscru
pulous that they assume to control the cleo
tions; and, if the people are indifferent, or at
all equally divided, are able 20 exert u cor
rupt influence sufficient to perpetuate their
own power. At last we are reaching the worst
condition of the countries of the Old World.
The government nc longer exists for the peo.
ple the people exist only for the government,
Our Centennial product is the wrongs, license
and evils TO escape which our ancestors
abandoned their homes in the Old World and
planted themselves in wilderness.


Now, | ask what is the remedy for these
public evils, for this private distress, for this
disorder in business, which carries suffering
into every household? 1t is comprised in
mInis,ration. Upon this subject there is a
difference of opinion. One class say, Elect
the nominees OF the party under which these
evils have grown mp by means of the office
holding class, which is interested in pcrpetu.
ating these abuses and wrongs. Adopt mega
tlycs on whom all the contending factions
could agree without danger or harm to any
or to the system by which they fatten on the
sufferings OF the people. That is one opin-
ion. There is another opinion, and that
opinion demands a change--a change of men
for the sake of reform in administration.


Fellow citizens, do not intend to argue
the question. | intend to simply state it, and
leave it to your judgment of the people.
am heartily with you in sympathy and action.
am happy to meet you to night. thrust
shall have an opportunity OF seeing you here.
after. Again thanking you for your kind
attention, bid you good evening"


y,f, ,l,a ani,t at l,.l '.4n