Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-09-02
GOV. CIeveIand's letter.

10 Co.'s w UtdM n. " ltuS, C3utralCI1t,
and ID. z. Bestor and Others, Hens.
1ers of the Notification Commute.
of the Democratic National Conren.
ton.
Gentlemen: 1 have received your
communication dated July 2S, 1854,
informing me of my nomination to the
Office of President of the United
States by the national Democratic
convention lately assembled ut Chi
cago.
1 accept the nomination with q
grateful appreciation of the supreme
honor conferred and solemn sense
of the responsibility which, in its ac-
ceptance, 1 assume.
have carefully considered tho
platform adopted by the convention
and cordially approve the same. Sc
plain a statement of Democratic faith
and the principles upon which thai
party appeals TO the suffrages of the
people needs no supplement or. ex-
PLANTATION.
1t should be remembered that the
office of President is essentially exc
cutiveinitsn nature. The laws enacted
by the legislative branch of the gov
ernment 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
policy and declared its principles, ii
seems to me that nothing in the char
actcr of the Office or the necessities of
the case requires more from the can
didatc accepting the nomination than
the suggestion of certain well-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 govern
ment by the people. Itis not such
when class is tolerated which arro-
gates to itself the management OF
public affairs, seeking to control the
people instead of representing them.
Parties are the necessary outgrowtLl
of ourinstitutions but government
is not by the people when one party
fasteps its control upon the country,
and perpctuates its power by cajoling
and betraying the people instead OF
serving them.
A government is not by the people
when Il result which should represent
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 selection by the voters. of one OF
their own number. to assume for a
time n public trust instead of his ded-
ication to the profession of politics
wien the holders of the ballot, quick
ened by a sense of duty, shall avengc
truth betrayed and pledges broken,
and when the suffrage shall be alto.
gether free and uncorrupted the full
realization of government by tho
people will be ut hand.
And of the means to this end not
one would, to my judgement, be 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 allurements of power, the temp
tation to retain public place once
gained, and, more than all, the avail
ability a party finds in an incumbent
whom ahorde of otI1ceholdcrs, with a
zeal born of benefits received and
fostered by the hope of favors yet 10
come, stand ready to aid with money
and trained political service, we re-
cogniZe in the eligibility of the Presi,
dent for reelection a most serious
danger to that calm, deliberate and
intelligent political action which must
characterize a government by the peo.
pie.
A true American sentiment rccog-
nizes the dignity of labor, and the
fact that honor lies in honest toll
Contentcd labor is an element of ma
tional prosperity. Ability to work
constitutes the capital and tile wage
of our population, and this interest
of labor the income of vast number
should be zealousIy protected. Our
wOrlingmen are not asking unrcason.
able indulgence, but as intelligent
and many citizens they seek the same
consideration 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 execute the laws, tc
the end that the wants and needs OF
the employers and the employed shall
alike be subserved and the prosperity
of the country. the common heritage
of both, be advanced.
AS related to this subject, while we
should not discourage the immigra-
ton of those who come to acknowledge
allegiance to our government and add
to our citizen population, yet as 9
means of protection to our working
men a different rule should prevail
concerning those WHO, if they come
or are brought to our land, do not
intend to become Americans, but will
injuriously compete with those Justly
entitled tn orr fold Of IahOr