Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-10-10

xancasrer fntelligenret. |
TUEsDAY EvENMo. OCT 10. ise2.
4 Letter that Promises Coed.
Grover Cleveland, the Democratic
candidate for governor ofNew York,
has written q letter Of acceptance we'll
calculated to strengthen his party by
showing his soandhess upon the vital
political questions of the day and DEM
onstrating, 20 far as words can do it, his
title to represent the virtuOus sentiment
upon them. His utterances are particu-
larly pleasing upon the questions as to
the respective rights Of corporations and
the people, the proper method Of secur.
ing efficiency in the civil service and
upon the duty of their governors to the
people governed. He declares the sub
ordination Of public officers to the people
they serve and whose will it is their duty
to obey. He opposes the undue interfer-
ence of Legislatures with the govern.
ment of municipalities. He avOws that
corporations are created by the law
for certain defined purposes" and
that " acting within their legitimate
sphere they should be protected but
when by combination or by the exercise
of unwarranted power they oppress the
people, the same authority which created
should restrain them and protect the
rights of the citizen - which is sound
doctrine, we'll stated. He truly affirms
,h,. "tte laboring classes constitute the
ma;n ,art Of our population and
">:.ouid he protected in their efforts
i,,w,.,',!y to assert their rights when
endangered by aggregated capital" lie
considers that the public servant cannot
fail to properly guide his course if he
constantly remembers that he is "put in
place to protect the rights of the people,
to answer their needs as tLey arise and
to expend for their benefit the money
drawn from them by taxation" That
is expressing the duty of the statesman
in a nutshell it is simply to remem-
her that he is the peoples ser
want appointed to consider their welfare.
1t is needless to say that this is not the
conception of the ordinary politician,
who seeks Office for the benefit he may
do himself and who considers the people
as men to be bossed " and plucked for
the good of those who have managed
to secure power over their affairs. If
Grover Cleveland and the men who are
about to come into power in this coun-
try under their declarations of subordi-
nation to the people, act up to their
professions their days are likely to be
long in the administration of public
affairs. The people know that they have
the power to protect themselves by
placing over them men who will hold
themselves amenable to them, and who
will discharge the functions they give
them for their benefit. Just as they are
wise in choosing such governors will
he their degree of prosperity. If they
permit themselves to be duped it is their
own fault. For long time they have SO
submitted to imposition. Their grow
ing intelligence renders it unlikely that
they will continue to do so. This coun.
try has been the office holders domain,
and the prey of men who use office and
money for its conquest. 1t should be
the country of the people who seek in il
the happiness that is the reward of hon
est labor. AS Mr.. Cleveland also says in
his letter" subordinates in public places
should be selected and retained for theil
efficiency, and not because they may be
used to accomplish partisan ends - as
in case of private employment, they
should he required to give full value fol
their compensation and their places
should depend upon their merit. In
sucl, case he is not wrong in thinking
that the anxiety for public employment
would be greatly diminished. And SC
would be the scheming to gain the more
exalted places in the government, il
their duties would he exactingly required
to he performed aud if public plundel
was no longer their dishonest reward.