The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-28
ABILENE REFLECTOR.
Grover Cleveland's Letter.

Gov. CLEvELAND's letter OF accept
ance is an able, practical, stateSmanl1ke
document. 1t has the clear ring OF hon
esty and sincerity. There is nothing
ambiguous about it. lie doesn't assall
the country with a lot OF unmeanlng
rhetoric in an effort TO conceal MS real
policy. Nor does he indulge IN any
twaddle about tariff and foreign affairs.
As regards those questions he recog-
nizes that Congress fOrmulates and reg
ulates the policy of the Government,
and he is willing to leave them to Con-
gress. That he will enforce the policy
of his party is shown by the following,
which is also arefutatiOn OF the charge,
made bv the New York Sun, that he Is
not good democrat:
Iaccept the nomination with grateful apprecia-
tion of the supreme honor conferred and a solemn
sense of the responsibility which IN its acceptance
assume / have carefully CONSIDERED me pat
form adopted by the convention, anu CoIulaiiy dP
nroye the same So plain a statement OF demo
cratic faith and the principles upon wIilch tnst
party appeals to the sUtfrages OF the people heeu
no supplement or explanation. II should De re-
,neubered that the office of Presidents essentially
executive in it, nature. The laws enacted Dy the
legislative branches of the Government the cnlel
executive il bound faithfully to enforce ana when
tho wisdom of the Do ical party which selects one
of it, members a. the nominees for lnat oliVe ma
outlined his policy and declares lis principles,
seems 10 me that nothing in the character vi lnc
office or the necessities OF the case requires oIe
from the candidate accepting such nomination
than the suggestion Of well known truths so aDSo-
luteIy essential TO the safety and welfare ol the
Nation that they cannot be 100 olleh reCaleu"l wv
seriously enforced
In the face of almost certain election
he has the hardihOOd and courage TO
recommend what no republican candl-
date ever recommended, VIZ: An
amendment TO the Constitution dlsqual-
living the President from reelection.
He does this in the belief that it will
make easier an honest administration
and supports his proposition by pow
erful argument.
AS conclusive reply to the charge
that Mr.. CLEVELAND IS the enemy OF
the wOrkingmen, we reproduce what he
saws in regard to them. There can be
no installing his position:
Atrue American sentiment recognizes the dignity
and the fact that honor lies in honest toll. Wen
paid labor il sign of national prosperity. ADillty
10 labor constitutes the capital and the wages OF
labor the increase of a vast number OF our popu-
Iaton and This interest should be jealousy protec
fed Our workingmen are not asking unreasona-
BILE indulgence, but, a. Intelligent ana manly Cili
Zens they seek the same consideration WHICH
thos, demand who have other interests at stake
In a letter accepting the nomination Tor Governor,
nearly two years ago, made the following Stale
ment to which / have steadily adhered: lhe
laboring classes constitute the main part OF our
ponulafion They should be protectedin their ef-
forts 10 peaceably assert their rights when endai-
,rered by aggregated capital, and all statutes on
This subject should recognize the care OF the sate
Tor honest toll and be framed with view of i'm
Droyinr the condition of the WOrklngman, a proper
regard for the welfare of the workingmen being
inSeparably connected with the integrity OF our
constitution.
In regard to personal liberty he takes
strong and unmistakable ground. He
stands by the side of CLICK when he
says:
In a free country the curtailmenE Of the absolute
rights of the individual should be such as Is essen
tial TO the peace and good order of the community
The limit between the proper subjects OF govern
mental control and those which can be more nj
tnry left to the moral sense and self imposed re-
straint of the citizens should be carefully kept IN
view Those laws unnecessarily interfering with
the habit and customs OF any 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
veXatiOus.
To increase our commerce he recon-
mends an improvement of natural wat
erWays, to the end that artificial compe-
tition may be made to lower its rate to a
minimum and thus create easy and cheap
transportation. He closes with this adj
mirable paragraph, the principle OF
which is the foundation of his charac-
ter. and the application of which will
insure to this country the greatest vol
time of prosperity, peace and happiness.
Beyond securing these results states
manShip is not required to go:
is the duty of those entrusted with the man.
arement of their affairs To see that such public
service is forthcoming; the selection and reten-
ton of subordinates in Government employment
should depend upon their ascertaned fitness and
the value of their work and they should be neither
expectednor allowed to do questionable party ser
vice. the interest of the people will be better pro-
tected: the estimate of public labor and duty Will
Inc immensely improved: public employment will
be open TO all who demonstrate their fitness to en-
ter it. The unseemly scramble for place under
the Government with the consequent importantly
which embitters official life will cease, and the
public departments will not be filled by those who
conceive it to be their first duty to aid the party
to which they owe their places, instead of rem
derng patient and honest return To the people.
The craftsmanship they require Consists in its
honesty and frugality, a prompt response 10 the
needs of the people they arise ana the vigilant
protection of all their varied interests If should
be called To the chief magistry of the nation by
the suffrages of my fellow citizens, l will assume
the duties of that high Office with solemn deter
mlnatlOn 10 dedicate every elloTI 10 the :
good and with an humble reliance upon the favor
and support Of the Supreme Being who believe
will always aid honest human endeayOr in the con-
scious discharge Of public duty.
The letter is admirable in all its parts
and will bear the closest scrutiny. 1t
will convince the people that this coun-
try will be safe in the hands of GROVER
CLEVELAND.