San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-08-28
CLEvELAND's ACCEPTANCE.
A Statesmanllke Document.

| hLhANt, Az Ass <Aoboos ~"'
Clevelands letter accepting the Dem
ocratic nomination for president o
the United States is as follows
Gentlemen / have received youl
communication, dated July 2Sth
1884, informing me OF my nomination
to the office of president Of the Unit
ed states by the National Democratic
Convention. lately assembled at Chi
cago. I accept the nomination will
a grateful appreciation OF the su
preme honor conferred and q solemn
sense Of the responsibility, which il
its acceptance, I assume. l have
carefully considered the platform
adopted by the convention, and cor
daily approve the same. So plain
a statement Of the Democratic faith,
and the. principles on which that
party appeal to the suffrages of the
people, needs no supplement or OK,
planation. 1t should be remembered
that the office of president is essen
TALLY executive inits nature. The
laws enacted by the legislative branch
of the government the chief executive
is bound faithfully to enforce, and
when the wisdom of the political
party selects one of its members as
the nominee for that office, has out
lined it's policy and declared its prin-
ciples, it seems to me that nothing
| in the character OF the Office, or the
necessities of the case requires more
from the candidate accepting such
nomination than the suggestion OF
certain well.known truths, 80 abso-
lutely vital to the safety and welfare
of the nation that they cannot be too
often recalled or too seriously en-
forced.
We proudly call ours a government
by the people. It is not such when
class is tolerated which arrogates
to itself the management of public
affairs, seeking to control the people
instead of representing them. Par.
ties are the necessary outgrowth OF
our institutions, but government is
not by the people when one party
fastens it's control on the country
and perpetuates its power by cajoling
and betraying the people instead OF
serving them. A government is not
by the people when result which
should represent the intelligent will
of free and thinking men, is or can
be determined by the shameless use
of their suffrages. When the election
to Office shall be the selection by the
voters of one of their number to as
sumo for time public trust instead
dedication to the profession OF poll
tics; when the holders Of the ballot,
quickened by a sense of duty, shall
avenge truths betrayed and pledges
broken, and when the suffrage shall
be free and dncorrupted, the full real
ization of government by the peo-
will. be at hand, and as to the means
to this end, not one would, in my
Judgment, be more effective than an
amendment to the constitution dis
qualifying the president from re-elec-
ton.
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 party finds
in an incumbent whom horde Of
office-holders, with zeal born OF the
benefits received and fostered by
hope of favors yet to come, stand
too ready to aid with money and
trained political service, we recog-
nize in the eligibility of the president
for reelection the most serious dan
ger to that calm, deliberate, and intel
ligent political action which must
characterize a government by the
people. A true American sentiment
recognizes the dignity of labor and
the fact that honor lies in honest toll.
Contented labor is sign OF national
prosperity. Ability to work consti.
tutes the capital and the wages OF
labor the means of vast number OF
our population, and this interest
should be jealously protected Oui
workingmen are not asking unreason
able indulgence, but as intelligent
and manly citizens they seek the
same consideration which those de
mand who have other interests al
stake. They should receive their full
share of the care and attention Of
those who make and execu te the laws
to the end that the wants and needs
of the employers and employed shall
alike be subseryed, and the prosperi-
ty Of the country, the common heri-
tage of both be advanced. As relates
to this subject while we should not
discourage the emigration Of those
Who come to acknowledge allegiance
to our government and add TO our
citizen population, yet, as q means Of
protection to our workingmen, diff
ferent rule should prevail concerning
those who, IL they come or are brought
to our land do not intend 10 become
Americans. but viii injuriously com.
pete with those justly entitled TO our
feld Of labor. In a letter accepting
the nomination Of the Office Of gov
ernor, nearly two years ago, / made
the following statement 10 which ]
have steadily adhered: "fbe labor
ing classes constitute the main pari
Of our population. They should bC
protected IN their efforts Peaceably te
assert their nights when endangered
By aggregated capitAl, and all statutes