St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-08-07
The Candidates Notified.
GOV. cLEvELAND's RESPONSE.

Committee: Your formal announce
ment does not, of course, convey to me
the first information of the result of
the convention lately held by the de-
mocracy of the nation, and yet when,
as listen to your message, | see about
me representatives from all parts of
the land of that great party which,
claiming to he the party of the people,
asks them to intrust to it the admins
tration of their government, and when
| consider, under the influence of the
stern reality which the present sur
rOundingS create, that / have been
chosen to represent the plans, purposes
and the policy of the democratic party,
| am profoundly impressed by the
solemnity of the occasion, and by the
responsibility of my position. Though
| greatly appreciate it, do not at this
moment congratulate myself upon the
distinguished honor which has been
coRtrfred upon me because my mind
is full of anxious desire to perform
well the part which has been assigned
to me. Nor do | at this moment forget
that the rights and interests of more
than 50,OOO,OOO of my fellow citizens
are involved in our efforts to gain
democratic supremacy. This reflection
presents to nv mind the consideration
which, more than all others, gives to
the action of my party i'll convention
assembled its most sober and serious
aspect. The party and its representa-
tives, which ask to be intrusted at the
hands of the people with the keeping
of all that concerns their welfare and
their safety, should only ask it with
the full appreciation of the sacredness
of the trust, and with firm resolve to
administer it faithfully and well. | am
Il democrat because believe that this
truth lies at the foundation of true de-
mocracy. | have kept the faith be
cause | believe, if rightly and fairly
administered and applied, democratic
doctrines and measures will insure the
happiness, contentment and prosperity
of the people. If, in the contest upon
which we now enter, we steadfastly
hold to the underlying principles of
our party creed, and at all times keep
in view the peoples good, we shall be
strong, because we are true to our
selves, and because the plain and in
dependent voters of the land will seek
! by their suffrages to compass their
release from party tyranny, where
there should be submission to the
popular will and their protection from
party corruption where there should
he devotion to the peoples interests.
These thoughts lend n conservation to
our cause, and we go forth, not merely
to gain partisan advantage, but
pledged to give to those who trust us
the utmost benefits of IL pure and
honest administration of national af
fairs. No higher purpose or motive
can stimulate us to supreme effort, or
urge us to continuous and earnest labor
and effective party organization. Let
us not fail in this, and we may conf
deutly hope to reap the full reward OF
patriotic services well performed.
have thus called to mind some simple
truths, and, trite though they are, il
sceiis-tO me we do we'll To dwell upon
them Mt this time. | shall soon,
hope, signify in the usual formal man.
ner my acceptance of the nomination
which has been rendered to me. In
the mean time, | gladly greet You al
as workers in IL noble cause.
: EX-Gov. HENDRICKS RESPONSE.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of tho
; Committee: | cannot realize that {;
man should ever stand in the presence
of committee representing Il more
august body of men than that which
you represent. In the language o
another, "the convention was large il
numbers, august in culture and patri-
otic in sentiment" and may not add
to that, that because of the power anC
the greatness and the virtues of the
! party which it represented, it was it
u snlf in Il
vention. The delegates came from nj
the states and territories, and | be,
I lieve. too, from the District of Colum
hia. They came clothed with authori-
ty to express Judgment and opinion
upon all those questions which are no
settled by constitutional law-for the
purpose of passing upon those ques
'' tions and selecting Il ticket for th'
t people, that convention assembled
j They decided upon the principles tha
D. they would adopt as Il platform. They
i selected the candidates that they
= would propose to the party for thei
: support, and that conventions wOrE
was theirs. | have not reached til,
II period when it is proper for me to con
" slider the strength and force of th'
u statements made in the platform.
is enough for me to know that it come
! mt Your hands from that convention
addressed to my patriotic devotion t.
= the democratic party. | appreciate
IL the honor that is done me. | need no
VI question that. But at the same tim
e that | accept the honor from you ant
e from the convention, feel that tn
VI duties and responsibility of the oific
d rest upon me also. | know that some
); times it is understood that this particu
IL lar office, that of vice president, doe
u not involve much responsibility, ant
u as general thing that is so bu
sometimes it comes to represent yer
great responsibilities, and it may be $
" in the near future, for at this time tn
=, senate of the United States stands al
: most equally divided between the tw
e great parties, and it may be that thOs
4. two great parties shall SO exactly diffe
1t that the vice president of the Unite
l. States shall have to decide upon ques
N tions of law by the exercise of the cast
5 ing vote. The responsibility wOul
d, then become very great. 1t would ne
N then be the responsibility of repre-
le senting Il state or IA district. 1t wOul
E. be the responsibility of representa-
n the whole country, and the ObligatiO
4 would be to the judgment of the whOI
e. country and that vote, when thu
of cast, should be in obedience to the jul
is expectations and requirements of til
Mt people of the United States.
e. 1t might be, gentlemen, that upO
another occasion great responsibilit
would attach to this Office. 1t migl
ed occur that under circumstances {
We some difficulty, l don't think it will
er the next election, but it may occur III
o. der circumstances of some difficult
DIS the president of the senate will have
! Il 4. 81 -