Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-29
Cir,.ldu,i'> Letter of Accep,a,ict.


nor Cleyeland's letter formally nc
cepting the Democratic nomination
for President of the United States is
a. follows:
GfNrLLMrN:-I nave received your
communication dated July IS, 1854,
Informing me Of my nomination for
President Of the United States by the
Democratic National Convention
lately assembled at Chicago. l &C
c4pt the nomination with grateful
appreciation Of the supreme honor
conferred, AMI so.emn sense Of
tue responsibility which III lis ac
ceptance | assume. | have c.refuliy
considered the platform adopted by
tbs Convention, and cordially ai'-
prove the saline 50 plain u state
ment Of Democratic faith aud The
principles upon which that party ap-
peals fOl the suilra. yes of the eopte,
needs no supplement or explanation.
1t should be remembered that the
office of President is essentially tx-
ecutivc il It's ha:'tr The laws en-
acted by the ! II. ~. h'anch of
| the Governmen tnt, uI-I Executive
l rs bound fa!.iidll, 10 enforce
When the wisdom of tie political
party which selects one Of its mem
bels as Il nominee for that office has
outlined 'Sp0licy, ana declared its
principles, 1t seems 10 me that moth
Ing in the character of the Office or
the necessities III tho case requires
more from the candidate accepting
such nomination than the suggestion
of certain well known truths, so alb
solutely vital to the safety aud wei.
fare of Tie nation that they cannot
b, too often recalled or too seriously
enforced.
We proudly cali ours Govern
ment by the people. II is not such
when n class is tolerated which AFRO
gates to itself the management of
public affairs, seeking to control the
people, instead of representing them.
Parties are the necessary out
growth Of institutions, but the Gov
ernment cannot he by the people
when one party fastens its control
upon the country and rerpetuates its
power by cabling and betraying the
people, instead of serving them. A
Government is not by the people
when result which should repre-
sent the in elliSent will of free thiuk
ing men is, or can be, determined
by the perversion of their suffraSes.
When an election to office should lie
the selection by the voters of one of
their number to assume, for time,
q position of trust, instead of his
dedication to the profession of poll
tics; when the holders of the ballots,
quickened by a sense of duty, shall
1venge truth betrayed, and pledges
broken; when the suffrages shall be
altogether free and interrupted, the
full realization of Government by
tue people will be attained; and of
the means to this end not one would
in my Judgment, be more etfectual
than an amendment to the constitu-
ton disqualifying tie President from
reelection. When We consider
the patronage of the great Office, the
allurements of power, the temptation
10 retain public place, once gained
and more than all the availability a
party finds in an incumbent, whom q
horde of office seekers, with Zeal
born of benefits received, and fostered
by the hope of favors yet to come,
stands ready to aid, with money and
trained political service, we recos-
nize in the eligibility of the PIesi-
dent for reelection most serious
danger to that calm, deliberate and
intelligent political action which must
characterize u Government by the
people. True American sentiment
recognizes the dignity of labor, and
the fact that honor lies in honest toll.
Contented labor is an clement O:
national prosperity; ability to work
constitutes the capital, and the
wages of labor the income of a vast
number of our population, aud this
interest should be jealously protect
ed. Our workingmen are not asked
unreasonable terms, but as intelli-
gent citizens they seek the same
consideration which those demand
who have other interests at st AXE.
They should receive their full share
of the care and attention of those
who make and execute the laws, to
the end that the wants and the
needs OF the employ crs and employees
should alike he subscrvcl, and
the prosperity of the country, the
common heritage of both, be ad.
vanced.
While we should not discourage
the immigration of those who come
to acknowledge allegiance to our
Government, and add to our
population, yet as means of pro-
lection to our workingmen a differ
ent rule should prevail concerning
those who, if they come, or are
brought to our land, do not intend
to become citizens, but injuriously
compete with those justly entitled
, to our labor. In a let er accepting
the nomination to the office oil
Governor, nearly two years ago, ]
t made the following statement. to
, which have strictly adhered: 1" The
) laboring classes constitute the main
part of our population; they should
be protected in their efforts peace.
ably to assert their rights, when en-.
dangered by capital, aud all statutes
on this subject should recognise the
care of the State for honest toll, and
befriend it with view of improving
the condition of the workingmen, a
proper care for the workingmen be.
> ing inseparably connected with the
integrity of our institutions. None
of our citizens are more interested
than they in guarding against any
corrupting influences which seek tc
pervert the benefcent purposes Of
: