The Mineral argus., 1884-09-04
CLEvELAND's ACCEPTANCE.

my nomination to the Office of president of
the United States blythe national Democratic
convention lately assembled at Chicago. 1
accept the nomination with a grateful appre-
citation of the supreme honor conferred and
a solemn sense of the responsibility which in
It's acceptance / assume. I have carefully
considered the platform adopted by the con
vention and cordially approve the same. So
plain a statement of Democratic faith and
the principles upon which that party appeals
to the suffrages of the people needs
no supplement- or explanation. 1t
should be remembered that the
office of president is essentially executive in
its 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 a political party which
selects one of its members as a nominee for
that office has outlined its policy and de-
clared its principles, it seems to me nothlug
in the character of the office or the necessi-
ties of the case requires more from the can
d d tie occupying such nomination than the
suggestion of certain known truths, so abso-
luteiy vital to the safety and welfare of the
nation that they cannot be too often
lie called or too seriously enforced
oNE-TERM POLICY.
When IN election to office shall be the
selection by the voters of one of their num-
Der to assume for q time a public trust
instead of his dedication to the profession of
politics; when the holders of the ballot,
quickened by a sense of duty, shall avenge
truth betrayed and pledges broken, and
when the suffrage shall be altogether free
and uncorrupted, the full realization of a
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
amendment to the constitution disqnalifying
the president from reelection. When we
consider the patronage of this great office,
the allurements of power, the temptation to
retain public place once gained-and more
than all, the availability a party finds in an
Incumbent whom a horde of ofticeholders,
with a zeal born of benefits received, and
fostered by the hope of favOrs yet TO come,
stand ready to aid with money and trained
political servIce-we recognize in the eligi-
bility of the president for reelection a most
serious danger to that calm, deliberate and
intelligent political action which must CHAR
~qcterize a government by the people.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
A true American sentiment recognizes the
dignity of labor, and the fact is that honor
lies in honest toll. Contentedl labor is an ele-
ment of national prosperity. Ability 10
work constitutes the capital and the wages
of labor the income of a vast number of our
population, and this interest should be zeal
ously protected. Our workingmen are not
asking unreasonable indulgence, but as in
t~elligent and manly citizens they seek some
consideration which those demand who have
other interests at stake. They should re-
ceive their full share of the care and atten-
ton of those who make and execute the
laws, to the end that the wants and
needs of employer and employed shall
alike be conserved, and the prosperity OF the
country, the common heritage OF both, be
advanced. As.related to this subject, .whle
we should not discourage the emigration OF
those who come to acknowledge allegiance
to our government and add to our citizen
population, yet as a means of protection TO
our -workingmen a different rule should pre-
vail concerning those who, II they come or
are brought to our land, do not intend to be
come Americans, but will injuriously
compel with those entitled to our held or
labor. In a letter accepting the nomination
to the office of governor, nearly two years
ago, l made the following statement, to
which 1 have steadily adhered:
The laboring classes constitute the main part
of our population, and they should pc pr2tecied
in their efforts peaceably to assert thelr rights
when endangered by aggregated capital, ana AT
statutes on this subject should recognize the
care of the states for honest toll, ana De framed
with a view of improving the condition Of the
workingman. A proper regard for the welIare
CT the workingman being inseparably come 'ed
with the integrity Of our ms buttons, none Of
our citizens are more interested than they In
guarding against any corruptlng influences
which seek to pervert tne DenenCeno
should be more watchful of the arttul
Vaccinations of those who allude to self
inflicted injury. In a free country the curtall-
ment of the absolute rights of the individual can
only be such as are essential to the peace ana
good order of the community. The limit has
been said of the proper subjects of governmental
control. and those which can be more httlngly
left to the moral sense and ~self-imposed restraint
of citizens 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 WIN
good citizenship ana public welfare, are unwlse
and veXaL.ous.
The of a nation TO q great eX-
tent determines its supremacy. Cheap and
easy transportation should therefore be lib
orally fostered Within the limits OF the
constitution the general government should
so improve and protect the natural water
WAYS as will enable the producers OF the
country to reach a profitable.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The neOnle nav the wages of the public en-
J ployes. and they are entitled to the talr ano
honest work which the money paid should
command. 1t is the duty OF those entrusted
with the management of their affairs to see
that such public service is forthcoming. Inc
SELECTION and retention of subordinates in
government employment, should depend
upon their ascertained htnesss and
the value of their work; and they
should be neither expected nor al
lowed TO do questionable party service
The interests of the people will be better
protected, the estimate of public labor
and duty will be immensely improved. II
public employment be open to all who
demonstrate their fitness to enter 1t. Inc
unseemly scramble for places under the
Government. with the consequent importu-
nifty which embitters official life, VIII cease
and the public departments will not be hlleC
with those who conceive 1t TO be their mrs
duty to aid the party to which they owe
their places, instead of rendering patient anC
honest return to the people. l believe tina
the public temper is such that the voters Of
the land are prepared to support the party
which gives the best promise OF al