Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-28
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THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS.
THEIR LETTERS OF ACCEPTANCE.
CLEyELAND'S LETTER.

Democratic Convention lately assembled al
Chicago. 1 accept the nomination with
grateful appreciation of the supreme honor
conferred and solemn sense of the respon'
sibiIity which in it's acceptance assume.
I have carefully considered the platform
adopted by the Convention and cordiallyap'
prove the same. So plain statement OF
the Democratic faith and principles upon
which that party appeals to the sutfrages OF
the people needs no supplement or explana-
ton. 1t should be remembered that the Of
fee of President is essentially executive in
it's nature. The laws enacted by the Legis-
lative branch of the government the Chief
Executive is bound faithfully to enforce,
and when the wisdom Of the political party
which selects oneof its members as its NOM
inee for that Office has outlined its policy
and declared its principles, it seems to me
that nothing in the character of the office or
the necessities of the case requires more from
the candidate accepting such nomination
than the suggestion of certain we'll known
truths so absolutely vital to the safety and
welfare of the nation that they cannot be
too often recalled or too seriously enforced.
We proudly call ours q government of the
people. 1t is not such when a class is toler-
ated which arrogates to itself the manage
ment of public affairs, seeking to control the
people instead of representing them. Par
ties are the necessary outgrowth of our in
stitutions, but the government is not by the
people when one party fastens its control
upon the country and perpetuates its power
by cajoling and betraying the people instead
of serving them. Government is not by the
people when the result which should repre-
sent the intelligent will of free and think
ing men is or can be determined by the
shameless corruption of their suffrages.
When an election to Office shall be the Sc
lection by the voters of one Of their number
to assume for the time public trust, instead
of his dedication to profession of policies,
when the holders of the ballot, quickened
by sense of duty, shall avenge truth be-
trayed and pledges broken, and when the
suffrage shall be altogether free and uncor-
rupted, full realization of the government
by the people will be at hand. And of the
means to this end not one would in my
Judgment be more effective than an amend
ment to the Constitution disqualifying the
President from reelection. When we con-
slider the patronage of this great office, the
allurements of it's powers, the temptation to
retain public place once gained, and, more
than all, the availability party finds in an
incumbent whom hordes of office holders,
with zeal born of benefits received and fos-
tered by hope of favors yet to come, stand
ready to aid with money and trained politi-
cal service, we recognize in the eligibility
of the President for reelection a most Sc
rious danger to that calm, deliberate and in
telligent political action which must char
acterize the government by the people.
A true American sentiment recognizes
the dignity of labor, and the fact that honor
lies in honest devotion to it. Contented Ia
Dor is an element of national prosperity.
The ability to work constitutes the capital,
and the wages of labor is the income of a
vast number of our population, and this in
terest should be jealously protected. Our
working men are not asking unreasonable
citizens they seek the same consideration
which those demand who have other inter-
ests at stake. They should receive their full
share of the care and attention Of those who
make and execute the laws, to the end that
the wants and needs of employers and en-
ployed shall alike be subservient and the
prosperity of the country, the common her
itage of both, be advanced. AS related to
this subject, while we should not discourage
the immigration of those who come to ac-
knowledge allegiance to our government
and add to our citizen population, yet as a
means of protection to our workingmen, a
different rule should prevail concerning
those, who if they come, or are brought to
our land, do not intend to become Amerl-
cans, but will injuriously compete with
those justly entitled to our field of labor.
In the letter accepting the nomination to
two years ago, I made the following state
ment to which I have steadily adhered
"The laboring classes constitute the main
part of our population. They should be
protected in their efforts peaceably to assert
their rights when endangered by aggregated
capital, and all statutes on this subject
should recognize the care of the State for
honest toll and be framed with view OF
improving the condition of the working
man." A proper regard for the welfare OF
the workingman being inseparably connect
ed with the integrity of our institutions,
none of our citizens are more interested
than they in inaugurating war against any
corrupting influences which seek to prevent
the beneficent purposes of our government,
and none should be more Watchful of the
artful Vaccinations of those who allure
them to self-inficted injury.
In free country the curtailment of the
absolute rights of individuals should only
be such as is essential to the peace and good
order of the community. The limit between
snnfS Of of frnI
and those which can be more fittingly left to
the moral sense and self-imposed restraint
of the citizen, should be carefully kept in
view. Thus, laws unnecessarily interfering
with the habits and customs of any Of our
people, which are not offensive to the moral
Sentiments of the civilized world, and which
are consistent with good citizenship and
public welfare, are unWise and vexatious.
The commerce of the nation to great
extent determines its supremacy. Cheap
and easy transportation should, therefore,
be literally fostered within the limits of
the Constitution. The general government
should so improve and protect its natural
waterways as will enable the producers OF
the country to reach profitable market;
The people pay the wages of the public
employees and they are entitled to the fair
and honest work which the money thus paid
should command. 1t is the duty of those
entrusted with the management of these af-
fairs to see that such public service is forth
coming. The selection and retention of
subordinates in the government employ
should depend upon their ascertained fitness
and the value of theirWork, and they should
be neither expected nor allowed to do ques-
tionable party service. The interest of the
people will be better protected.
The opportunity ofpublic labor and duty,
with improved public employment, will be
open to all who can demonstrate their fit
ness to enter it; unseemly scramble for place