Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-08-28

CLEYELAND'S LETTER.
Rather Puny Production Compared With
Blaine's.

cratic nomination for President of the
United States, is as follows:
GENTLEMEN:-I have received your
communication, dated July 20, 1884, in
forming me of my nomination to the
office OF President of the United States
by the National Democratic Convention,
lately assembled at Chicago. l accept
the nomination with a grateful apprc-
citation of the supreme honor conferred,
and with solemn sense of the respon-
sibility which in its acceptance | as
sumo. have carefully considered the
platform adopted by the convention,
and cordially approve the same. So
plain a statement of Democratic faith
and the principles upon which that
party appeals to the suffrages of the
people needs no supplement or explana-
ton.
1t should be remembered that the
office of president is essentially execu-
tive in its nature. The laws enacted by
the legislative branch Of the govern
ment, the chief executive is bound
faithfully to enforce; and when the wis
dom of the political party which selects
one of its members as nominee for
declared its principles, it seems to me
that nothing in the character of the
Office or the necessities of the case re-
quires more from the candidate accept
ing such a nomination than the sugges-
ton of certain well known truths. so
absolutely vital to the safety and welfare
of the nation, that they cannot be too
often recalled OF too seriously enforced.
We positively own a government by
the people. 1t is not such when class
is tolerated which arrogates to itself the
management of public affairs, seeking
to control the people by representing
them. Parties are the necessary out
growth of our institutions, but gov
eminent is not by the people when one
party fastens its control upon the coun-
try and perpetuates its power by caiol-
ing 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 disposal 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
profession of politics; when the holders
of the ballot. quickened by a sense of
duty, shall avenge truth betrayed and
pledges broken, aud when this suffrage
shall be altogether free and uncorfupt-
ed, the full realization of government
by the people will be at hand; and of
a mo To
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 in
cumbent, whom a horde of office hold
ers with q zeal born of benefits received
and fostered by the hope of fayors vet
to come, stand ready to aid with money
and trained political service, we recog-
nize in the eligibility of the President
for reelection most serious danger to
that calm, deliberate and intelligent
political action which must character
ize 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 pros
Derity. Ability to work constitutes the
capital and the wages of labor, the in
come of a vast number of our popula-
ton; and this interest should be jeal-
ously protected. Our workingmen are
not asking unreasonable inducements,
but as intelligent and manly citizens,
they seek the same consideration which
those demand who have other interests
at stake 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 needs of
the employers and the employed shall
alike be subserved. and the prosperity
of the country, the common heritage of
both, be advanced. As related to this
subject, while we should not diScour-
age the emigration of those who come
to acknowledge allegiance to our govern
mcnt, and add to our citizen popula-
ton. 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
will injuriously compete with those en-
titled to our field of labor.
In letter accepting the nomination
to the office of governor nearly two
years ago, | made the following state
ment, to which have steadily adhered:
The laboring classes constitute the
main part of our populations; they
should be protected in their efforts
pcaceably 10 assert their rights when
endangered by aggregate capital, and
all statutes on this subject should rec
ognize the care of the state for honest
toll and be framed with view of i'm
proving the condition OF the working
man. A proper regard for the welfare
of the workingman being inseparably
connected with the integrity of our in
situations, none of Our citizens are more
interested than they in guarding against
any corrupting influences which seek to
pervert the beneficient purposes of our
government, and none should be more
watchful of the artfdl Vaccinations of
those who would allure them to self-n-
flicted injury. In free country the
curtailment of the absolute rights of
the individual should only be such as is
| essential to the peace and good order
of the community. The limit between
proper subjects of governmental con-
troll and those which can be more fit
tingly left To the moral sense and self
imposed restraint of the citizen should
be carefully kept in view Thus laws
unnecessarily interfering with the hab-
its and customs of any of our people,
which are not offensive To the moral
sentiments of the civilized world and
which are consistent with good citizen
ship and the public welfare, are unwise
and veXatious,
The commerce of nation to a great
extent determines its supremacy.
Cheap and easy transportation should
therefore be literally fostered. Within
the limits of the constitution the general
government should SO improve and pro-
tect its natural Waterways as will en-
able the producers of the country to
reach profitable market.
The people pay the wages of the pub
lie employees and they are entitled to
the fair and honest work which the
money paid should command. 1t is the
duty of those entrusted with the man
agement of their affairs to insist that
such public service is forthcoming.
The selection and retention of subordi-
mates in government employment should
depend upon their ascertained fitness
and the value of their work; and they
should be neither expected nor allowed
to do questionable party service. The