Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-08-12

and was clearly, as the Governor declared,
mot IN the interest of the workingmen," as
those for whose benefit it was supposed to
be intended now admit. I call attention to
the twenty four reasons given by the meet
ing of the workingmen held in New York
city on the Gath of this month in favor OF
the election of Gov. Cleveland, all based
upon his messages and his signatures to a
multitude of bills in the interest of the i'm.
migrant, the laborer, depositors in banks,
the travelling public and kindred reforms.
These are the true voices of labor, and they
will drown in this canvass the lying utter
ances OF the slanderer and the demagogue.
THE RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
"'The advocates of Mr.. Blaine have not
hesltated to drag the question Of religion
lh1sses into the contest, and Catholics, as
such. are invited to desert the Democratic
party and vote the Republican ticket this
year on account of alleged religious bias on
the part of Gov. Cleveland. Their bill of
particulars is-First, Governor Cleveland s
veto of the Freedom of Worship bill, and,
second, his veto of the appropriation for
the Catholic Protectory. 1t ought to be a
sufficient answer to the first charge to say
that the Governor did not veto the Free
dom of Worship bill. He never had a
chance to do SO, as it never passed the Leg
islature. 1t did pass the session of 1881,
when his Republican predecessor vetoed it,
which is probably the foundation of the lie
told against Gov. Cleveland. Had such a
bill reached Gov. Cleveland am assured
that it would promptly receive his sigma
ture. The Catholic Irotectory is most
excellent institution, located in New York
city, for the shelter and care of destitute
children in New York and vicinity 1t is
not, as may be supposed, public institu-
ton, though by long usage all such insti-
tutlons receive more or less financial aid
from the county treasury, and in some rare
cases from the State. The Catholic Pro-
tectory in 1888 was granted $4,000 by the
Legislature, and the Governor withheld his
approval on the ground, among others,
that the cost of maintaining that institution
was properly chargeable upon the city and
county of New York, rather than upon the
state at large. In this view every lawyer
will concur, including the eminent counsel
for the Protectory, Mr.. John E. Develin.-
Loud applause I have no desire to in
troduce religious issue into the canvass.
But | would fail in my duty to myself if l
failed to defend our candidate from mis-
representations so vile and charges so mean
and mendaciOus. Those of us who were
born in Ireland or spring from the Irish
race are here to stay. Whatever our Irish
affiliations, ties, or affections may be-and
hope there are many-in American poll
tics we are Americans, pure and simple
We ask nothing on account of race or creed,
and we submit to no slight or injury on ac-
count of either. We and our children and
our children's children are here merged in
this great, free, composite nationality, true
and loyal citizens of the State and Federal
systems, sharing in the burdens and the
blessings of the freest people ON the earth.
All we ask is equality for us and ours The
man who takes less or demands more is no
true American. Those who seek to make
US clamoring class in the community,
seeking to use American political means to
other than American ends, are merely in
verting Known Nothingism and playing up
on the impulses of men for their own self
ish purposes. 1t is no compliment to us
that schemers fancy we can be thus played
upon.
BLAINE's FOREIGN POLICY.
"'Mr. Blaine's friends promise that he
will gveus vigorous foreign policy. -
He does not promise that himself, but per-
mits his serviceable friends to whisper it
for him. The man who, as Secretary of
of State, with all the power of the Govern
ment over our foreign relations intrusted to
him, permitted Americans to pine and die
in British prisons without as much as ut
tering ten vigorous words in as many
months, will give the British lions tail a
most vigorous twist and make the beast
howl if you will only give him your votes
and make him President. His friends will
even promise that his first work as Presi-
dent will be to free Ireland-for votes. Why
did not the bold Blaine even say word
when Grover Cleveland twice asked him in
manly speech from the platform in Buffalo
in April and December, 1882? He felt
much more at home IN editing Know
Nothing newspaper and sending out anti
Catholic circulars from his Office in Angus
ia some years ago, for nothing exceeds the
zeal and venom of a renegade. This new
found love of Blaine and the New York
Tribune is like limited railway ticket,
''good for this train and trip only"
Laughter
CLEvELAND's EXPERIENCE.
referring to the charge that Gov.
Cleveland was lacking in public experience,
the speaker said -
"'That Grover Cleveland has filled the
difficult post of Governor of New York
State so admirably is the highest test to
which his character and intellect could be
subjected. He is broad, liberal, courageous,
discriminating, generous, and just. In the
full prime of vigorous manhood, with
sound training and ripe experience, with
lofty sense Of the sanctity and responsible
ty of public trust, he will enter the White
House with a Jackson's s work to purify the
public service and administration, restore
the Republic to its old-time reign of pros
perity, economy, and democratic simpIici-
ty.' Loud and longcontnued cheering"]