Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-12-27

papers, but use it in furthering their
political aims-Cheboygan Democrat.
At reception recently given to
Governor Cleveland, of New York,
that gentlemen, in answer to the well
coming address said:
1t is not without great embarrass-
ment that ! attempt to say few
words in response to those so well
spoken and to express my thanks for
the kindness and good will Of which
this occasion is an evidence. This
scene and these surroundings are new
and strange to me, and, notwithstand-
ing all that is calculated to reassure and
comfort me in the kindness Of your
welcome, when am reminded of the
circumstances which gave rise to this
reunion, a sense Of grave responsible
ty weighs upon me and tempers every
other sentiment. We stand tonight,
in the full glare of grand and bril-
liant manifestation Of popular will,
and, in the light of it, how vain and
small appear the tricks of politicians
and the movements Of partisan ma
chinery He must be blind who can
not see that the people well under
stand their power and are determined
to use it when their rights and inter-
ests are threatened. There should be
no skepticism as to the strength and
perpetuity Of our popular government.
Parties and leaders have learned, too,
that the people will not unwittingly
and blindly follow, and that some
thing more than unmeaning devotion
to party is necessary to secure their
allegiance. | am quite certain, too,
that the late demonstration did not
spring from any preexisting love for
the party which was called to power.
Nor did the people place the affairs of
state in our hands to be by them for
gotten. They voted for themselves
and in their own interests.
If we retain their confidence we
must deserve it, and We may be sure
they will call on us to give an account
of our stewardship. We shall utter
ly fail to read Alright the signs of the
times if we are not fully convinced
that parties are but the instruments
through which the people work their
will, and that when they become less
or more the people desert or destroy
them. The vanquished have lately
learned these things, and the victors
will act wisely if they profit by the
lesson. / have read and heard much
of late touching the great responsible
ity which has been cast upon me, and
e it is certainly predicated upon the
fact that my MAJ ority was so large as
to Indicate that many not members of
my party supported me. God knows
how fully appreciate the response
bility of the high Office to which I
have been called, and how much /
sometimes fear that shall not bear
the burden well. 1t has seemed to
me, however, that the citizen who has
been chosen by his fellows to discharge
public duties owes no less nor more to
them, whether he was elected by a
small or large majority. In either
event he owes to the people who hon
ored him his best endeavors to care
fully protect their rights and further
their interests. But if it is merely
intended to remind me that as a mem
Der of party, attached to its princi-
Piles and anxious for its continued SUI
premacy, my conduct should be such
as to give hope and confidence to those
that are with US, have to say that
this supremacy should be shared by
all the members of the party. An
administration is only successful in
partisan sense when it appears to be
the outgrowth and result of party
principles. Men who lead and others
who follow should all strive to COM
mend to the people in this, the time
of our opportunity, not an admins
tration alone, but party which shall
appear adequate to their wants and
useful to their purposes. The time
honored doctrines Of the party are
dear to me. If honestly APP
piled ! know the affairs of govern
ment would be fittingly and honestly
administered. and | believe all the
wants and needs of the people would
be met. They have survived all
changes. Let us hold them as sa-
cred trust, and let us not forget that
an intelligent people will look to the
party they put in power to supply all
their various needs and wants, and
the party which keep pace with the
developments and progress of the time
which keeps in sight its landmarks
and yet observes those things which
are in advance, and which will con-
tinue true to the people as well as to
its traditions, will be the dominent
party of the future. In conclusion,
may bespeak for myself your kind
support and consideration? My only
aspiration is faithfully to perform the
duties Of the office to which the peo-
pie Of my State have called me.
hope and trust that personal endeavor
will light the way to successful adj
ministration.