St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-08-28
ST. s5umsburp (aledOnian.
The Candidates.
GOV. cLEvELAND's ACCEPTANCE.

by the national democratic convention
lately assembled ut Chicago. ] accept
the nomination with a grateful appre-
citation of the supreme honor conferred,
and solemn sense of the responsible
ity which, in its acceptance, | assume.
| have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the convention and
cordially approve the same. So plain
a statement of democratic faith and
the principles upon which that party
appeals to the sutfrages of the people,
needs no supplement or explanation.
1t should be remembered that the of
flee of president is essentially eXecu
tive in its nature. The laws enacted
10y the legislative branch of the gov
eminent the chief executive Is bound
faithfully to enforce. And when the
wisdom of the political party which
selects one of its members as nomi
nee for that office has outlined its pol
icy 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 ac-
cepting such nomination than the sug-
gestion of certain well-known truths,
so absolutely vital to the safety and
be too often recalled or too seriously
enforced.
We proudly call ours government
10y the people. IL is not such when il
class is tolerated which aTrogatcs to
itself the management of public affairs,
seeking to control the people instead
of representing them. Parties are the
necessary outgrOwth of our institu-
tiOns but a government il not 10y the
people when one party tastens its con
troll upon the country, and perpeuates
its power, by cajoling and betraying
the people instead of serving them. A
government is not by the people when
a result which should represent the in
telligcnt will of free and thinking men
is, or can he, determined by the
shameless corruption of their suff'rages.
When an election to office shall be
the selection by the voters of one of
their number to assume for time II
public trust instead of his dedication
to the profession of politics; when
the holders of the ballot. quickcned hy
IA sense of duty, shall avcngc truth be
trayed and pledges broken, aud when
the suffrage shall he altogether free
and interrupted, the full realization of
IA government 10y the people will be ut
hand. And of the means to this end,
not one would, in my Judgment, he
more effective than an amendment to
the constitution disqualifying the presi-
dent from reelection. When we con-
slider the patronage of this great office,
the allurcmcnts of power, the tempta-
ton to retain public place once gained,
and, more than all, the availability Il
party finds in an incumbent whom IL
horde of otlicc-holdrrs with zeal born
of benefits received, and fOStcred by
the hope of taVors yet to come, stand
ready to aid with money and trained
political service, we recognize in the
eligibility of the president for rc-clec-
ton, most serious danger to that
calm, deliberate and intelligent politi-
cal action which must characterize IL
government by the people.
\ true American sentiment recog-
nizes the dignity of labor, and the fact
that honor lies in honest toll Con-
tented labor is an element of national
prosperity. Ability to work consti-
tutes the capital and the wage of labor
the income of II vast number of our
population; and this interest should
men are not asking unreasonable in
diligence but as intelligent and man
" citizens, they seek the same consid-
Grafton which those demand who have
other interests at stake. They should
receive their full share of the care and
attention of those who make and exc
cute the laws, to the end that the
wants and needs of the employers and
the employed shall alike bc subserved
and the prosperity of the country, the
common heritage of both, he advanced.
As related to this subject while we
should not discourage the immigration
OF those who come to acknowledge al
legiance to our government and add to
our citizen population, yet as Il means
of protection to our workingmcn, Il
different rule should prevail concern
ing those who, if they come, or are
brought, to our land, do not intend to
become Americans, but will injurious
~ compete with those Justly entitled
to our field of labor. In letter ac-
cepting the nomination to the office of
governor, nearly two years ago, | made
the following statement. to which |
have steadily adhered:
"The laboring classes constitute the
main part of our population They
should he protected in their efforts
peaceably to assert their rights when
endangered 10y aggregated capital
and all statutes on this subject should
recognize the care of the state for hon
est toll and be framed with view of
improving the condition of the work
lngman.' a proper regard for the
welfare of the nottingham being in
separately connected with the integri-
ty of our institutions, none of our citi-
zens are more interested than they in
guarding against any corrupting in
tiucnCcs which seek to pervert the ben
efcent purposes of our government I;
and none should be more watchful of
the arttul Vaccinations of those who
allure them to self inflicted injury.
In free country, the curtailment of
the absolute rights of the individual
should only be such rs is essential to
the peace and good order of the com
munity. The limit between the prop
er subjects of governmental control,
and those which can be more tittingly
left to the moral sense aud sclf-impos-
ed restraint of the citizen should be
carefully kept in view. Thus laws un-
necessarily interfering with the habits
and customs of any of our people which
are not offensive to the moral senti-
meDts of the civilized world. and which
are consistent with good citizenship
and the public welfare, are unwise and
yeNatious.
The commerce of a nation to "A great
extent determines its supremacy.
Cheap and easy transportation should
therefore be literally fostered. With
IN the limits of the constitution, the
general government should so improve
and protect its natural water ways As
will enable the producers of the coun-
try Ia reach profitable market.