The Portland daily press., 1884-08-20
CLEVELAND,s LETTER
Accepting the Democratic Nomination for
President.


INV YORK, Aug. 19.-The following is Gov.
Clevelands letter of acceptance:
ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 1S, 1884.
GeRtLenien:--I have received your communication
dated July 2R 1884, informing me of my nomina-
tion to the Office of President of the United States
by national Democratic convention lately assem-
bled in Chicago | accept the nomination with
grateful appreciation of the supreme honor confer
red ane a solemn sense of the responsibility which
sidered the platform adopted by the convention and
cordially approve the same. So plain statement
of Democratic faith and the principles upon which
that party appeals to the suHrages OF the people
needs no supplement or explanation. 1t should be
remembered that the office of President is essential
ly executive in its nature. Laws enacted by the leg
islaive branch of the government, the chief execu
tive is bound faithfully to enforce, and when the
wis ON of the political party which selects one of
its members as the nominee for that office has out
lined its policy and declared its principles it seems
to me that nothing in the character of the office or
OF the necessities of the requires more from
the candidate accepting such nomination than the
suggestion OF certain we'll known truths absolut
y vital to the safety and welfare of the nation that
they cannot be too often recalled or seriously en-
forced.
We proudly call ours government by the people,
1t is not such when a class is tolerated which ar
rogates the management of public affairs seeking
to control the people instead of representing them
Parties are the necessary outgrowh of our institu
tions, but government is not by the people when
party fastens its control upon the country and
perpetuates its power by cai0ng and betraying the
people instead OF serving them. Government is
present the intelligent will of free and thinking
men is, or can be determined by shameless corrup-
tiOn of their suffrage; when an election to office
shall be selection by the voters of one of their
member to assume for time public trust instead
of his dedication to the profession Of polticf
When the holders of the ballot quickened by
sense of duty shall avenge the truth betrayed and
pledges broken, and when suffrage shall be al
together free and uncOrrupted, full realization of
a government by the people Will be at hand.
And of the means to this end nat one wonld nj
ment to the constitution dispualiTying the Presi-
dent from reelection. When we consider the
patronage Of this great Office, the allurements of
power and temptations to retain public place once
gained, and more than all the availability party
finds in an incumbent whom a horde of office
holders 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 eer-
vice, we recognize in the ELIGIBILITY of President
to reelection most serious danger to that calm,
deliberate and intelligent political action which
must characterize government by the people.
true American sentiment recognizes the digni-
ty OF labor and the fact that honor lies in honest
toll. Contehted labor is the element of national
prospersty. The ability to work constitutes the
capital and the wages of labor the income of
vast NUMBER of our population, and that interest
should be jealously protected. Our workingmen
are not asking unreasonable iudulgence) but as in
telligent and manly citizens they seek the same
sideration which those demand who have other in
terests at stake. They should receive their full
share of care and attention from those who make
and execute the laws 10 the end that the wants and
needs of employers and employed shall alive be sub
served, and the prosperity of the country, the
mon heritage of BOTH be advanced.
AS related to this subject, while we should not
discourage the immigration of those who acknowl.
edge allegiance to our government and add to our
citizen population, yet as means of protection to
our workingmen different rule should prevail con-
corning these, who, if they come or are brought to
our land do not intend so become Americans, but
will nnjustly compete with those Justly entitled to
our field of labor. In my letter accepting the
nation to the office of Governor nearly two years
ago, made the following statement to which
have steadily adhered "rhe laboring classes con-
stitute the main part of our population. They
should be protected in their efforts pesceably to
assert their RIGHTS Whau andanpared nv qo cd
capital and all the statutes the subject should
recognize the care of the State for honest toll and
be framed with view of improving the condition
of the workingman."
A proper regard for the welfare of the working
man being inseparably connected with the integrity
OF our institutions none OF our citizens are more in
terested than they in guarding against any corrupt
ing influences which seeJ to prevent the benefcent
purposes of our government, and none should be
mere watchful Of the artful Vaccinations of these
who allure them TO self infect ed injury.
In free country the curtailment Of ebscute rights
of the individual should only be such as is essential
to the peace and good order of the community. The
limits between the proger subjects of governmental
control and these which can be willingly left
to the moral sense and self imposed restraint of the
citizens, should be carefully Kept in view. Thus
the laws unnecessarily interfering with the habits
and customs of our people which are not offensive to
the moral sentiment of the civilized world and
which are consistent with good citizenship and the
public welfare are unwise and vexatlous.
The commerce of nation to great extent deter
mines its supremacy Cheap and easy transporta-
tien should therefore be literally festered within
tuO VI Lie GENERAL BOVerO-
ment should improve and protect It's natural wat
er ways as will enable the producers OF the country
TO reach profitable market
The people pay the wages of public employees and
they are entitled to the tair and honest work that
the money thus paid should command 1t is the
duty of those intruSted with with the management
OF their affairs to that such public service is
forthcoming. The selection and retention of subor-
d1nates In government employment should depend
upon their ascertained fitness and the value of
their work and they should be neither expected
nor allowed to do questionable party services.
The interests of the people will be better projected
the estimate OF public labor and duty will be i'm
mensely improved, public employment will be open
to all who can demons trate their fitness enter it,
the unseemly scramble for place under the govern,
ment with the consequent importantly which en-
bitters official life will and the public depart
ments will not be filled with those who conceive it
their first duty to aid the party to which they owe
their places instead of rendering patient and honest
return to the people,
believe the peblc temper is such that the voters
es the land are prepored to support the party which
gives it best promise of administering the govern
ment in the honest, simple and plain manner, which
is consistent with its character and purposes They
have learned that mystery and con cealment in the
management of their affairs, cover tricbs and be-
trayals. The craftsmanship they require consIsis s
in honesty and frugaity, prompt response to the
needs OF the people they arise and the vigilant
protection of all their varied interests.
II should be called to the chief magistracy of
this nation by the sufrageS of nay fellow ciaizens
will assume the duties of that high office with sol
emn determination to dedicate every effort to the
country's good; and with humble reliance upon the
lleve will always bless honest human endeavor in
the conscientious discharge of public duty.
lS1gne0 GROVER CLEVELAND.
10 Col VIM. f. Villas, Chairman, and d. p. BestOr
and Others, members of the notification committee
of the Democratic National Convention.