St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-20
He Stands Squarely Upon the
Democratic Platform With
out a Quibble.
Quoting His Letter of Two Years ago,
Shows His Friendship for
Workingmen,
Without Subjecting Him to Suspicion of
Trimming Sail for the Present,
Time.
Honest Government Pledged and the In
terests of the People to be
Protected.


lands letter formally accepting the Demo-
cratic nomination forpresident of the United
States, is as follows:
Gentlemen: 1 have received your COM
munication dated July %, 1884, informing
me of my nomination to the office of presi-
dent of the United States by the national
Democratic convention, lately assembled at
Chicago. l accept the nomination with
grateful appreciation of the supreme honor
conferred, and a solemn sense of the respon-
sibility which, in its acceptance, I assume.
have carefully considered the platform
adopted by the convention, and cordially ap-
prove the same. So plain a statement of
which that party appeals to the suffrages of
the people, need no supplement or explana
ton. 1t should be remembered the
office of president is essentially executive in
its nature. The laws enacted by the legis-
lative branch of the government the chief
executive is bound faithfully to enforce, and
when the wisdom of the political party which
selects one of its members as nominee for
that office has outlined its policy and declared
its principles, it seems to me nothing in the
character of the Office or necessities of the
case requires more from the candidate ac-
cepting such nomination than the sugges-
tion of certain well known truths, so abso-
solutely vital to the safety and welfare of the
nation that they cannot be too often recalled
or too seriously enforced.
We positively own government by the
people. II is not such when class is toler-
ated which arrogates to itself the manage
ment of public affairs, seeking to control the
people instead of representing them. Parties
are the necessary outgrowth of our institu-
tions, but government is not by the people
when one party fastens its control upon 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 of
it can be determined by the shamelessness of
their suffrages. When an election to office
shall be the selection by the voters of one
of their number to assume for time public
trust instead of his dedication to the profess
sion of politics, when the holders of the bal
lot quickened by sense of duty shall avenge
truth betrayed and pledges broken, and
when the suffrage shall be altogether free and
uncorrupted, the full realization of a govern
ment by the people will be at hand, and of the
means to this end not one would, in my
judgment be more effective than an amend
ment to the constitution disqualifying the
president from rejection. When we con-
slider 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 zesl born of benefits
received, and fostered by the hope of favors
yet to come, stand ready to aid with money
and trained political service, we recognize in
the eligibility of the president to reelection
most serious danger.
In that calm, deliberate and intelli-
gent political action which must char
acterize 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 an element of national prosperity.
Ability to work contributes the capital and
number of our population, and this interest
should be jealously protected. The working
men are not asking unreasonable indulgence
but as enlightened and manly citizens they
seek the same consideration which those de-
mand who have other interests at
stake. They should demand their
full share of the care and attention of those
who make and execute the laws, to the ends
that the wants aud needs of employer and
employed shall alike be subserved and the
prosperity of the country, the common heri-
tage of both, be advanced as related to this
subject. While we should not discourage
the emigration of those who come to ac-
knowledge the allegiance to our government,
and add to our citizen population, yet as a
means of protection to our workingmen a
different rule should prevail concerning
those who, if they come or
are brought to our land, do
not intend to become Americans, but viii
be injurious to compete with those entitled
to oV field of labor. In a letter accepting
the nomination to the office of governor
nearly two years ago 1 made the following
statement to which have steadily adhered:
'sThe laboring classes constitute the main
part of our population and they should be
protected in their efforts peaceably to assert
their rights when endangered by aggregated
capital, and all statutes on this subject should
recognize the care of the states for
honest toll aud be framed with
view Of improving the condition of working
men. A proper regard for the welfare of the
workingman being 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 to prevent the beniaeent pur-
poses Of cur government, and none should
be more watchful of the artful Vaccinations
of those who allude to the self inflicted in
jury.
In free country the curtailment OF the
absolute right Of the individual can only be