Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-28
CLEVELAND'S LETTER.
A Plea for an Honest Administration
ofGovernment.
He Stands by the Chicago Platform
The Civil Service-A Sound
Conservative and yet Point
ed D9cument-The Let
ter i'm Full.


nor Cleveland's letter, formally accept
ing the Democratic nomination for
President of the United States, is as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN Il have received your
communication dated July 2Sth, in
forming me of my nomination to the
office of President of the United States
by the National Democratic Conven-
ton lately assembled at Chicago. L
accept the nomination with greatful
appreciation of the supreme honor con-
ferred, and solemn sense of the re-
sponsibility which, in its acceptance l
assume. l have carefully considered
the platform adopted by the convention
and cordially approve the same. So
plain statement of Democratic faith
and the principles upon which that
party appeals to the suffrages of the
people needs no supplement- or eXpla-
nation. 1t should be remembered that
the office of President is essentially eX-
ecutive in it's nature. The laws enact
ed by the legislative branch of the gov
ernment, the Chief Executive is bound
| faithfully to enforce, and when the
wisdom of the political party which
selects one of it's members as nominee
for the office has outlined its policy,
and declared its principles, it seems to
me that nothing in the character of the
office to the necessities of the case re-
quires more from the candidate accept
ing such nomination than the sugges-
ton of certain well known truths, so
absolutely vital to the safety and well
fare of the nation that they cannot be
too often recalled or too seriously en-
forced. We proudly call ours govern
ment by the people. 1t is not such
when class is tolerated which arro-
gates to itself the management of pub
lie affairs, seeking to control the people
instead of representing them. Parties
are the necessary outgrowth of our
institutions; but government is not
by the people when one party fastens
its control upon the country, and per-
petuates its power by, cajoling and
betraying the people, instead of serving
them. A government is not by the
people when a result which should rep
resent the intelligent will of free and
thinking men is, or can be determined
by the shameless thwarting of their
suffrages. When an election to office
shall be the selection by the voters of
one of their number to assume for a
time a public trust, instead of his dedi-
cation to the profession of politics
when the holders of the ballot, quick
ened by sense of duty, shall
| AVENGE TRUTH BETRAYED
and pledges broken, and when the suf-
frage shall be altogether free and uncor-
rupted, 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 effect
i've than an amendment to the consti-
tuition disqualifying the President for
reelection. When we consider the
patronage of this great office, the allure
ments of power, the temptation to
retain public place once gained, and
more than all, the availability q party
finds in an incumbent whom a horde
of office-holders with zeal 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
from reelection most serious danger
to that calm, deliberate, and intelligent
political action which must character.
ize government by the people.
A true American sentiment recOgni-
zes the dignity of labor, and the fact
that labor lies in honest toll. Content.
ed labor is an element of national pros.
perity. Ability to work constitutes the
capital, and the wages of labor the
income of vast number of our popula.
ton; and this interest should be jeal.
ously protected. Our workingmen are
not asking unreasonable indulgence
but, as intelligent and manly citizens
they seek the same consideration which
those demand who have other interests
at stake. They should receive theil
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 discourage
the immigration of those who come to
acknowledge allegiance to our govern
ment, and add to our citizen population,
yet, as 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
justly entitled 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 L have steadily adhered;
1.-THE laboring classes constitute the
main part of our population. They
should be protected in their efforts to
qeaceably assert their rights when en-
dangered by aggregated capital; and
all statutes on this subject should recog-
nize the
CARE OF THE STATE FOR HONEST TOLL,
and be framed with view of improv.
ing the condition of the workingman.n
A proper regard for the welfare of the
workingman being inseparably connec-
ted with the integrity of our institu-
tions, none of our citizens are more in
terested than they in guarding against
any corrupting influences which seek
to pervert the beneficent purposes OF
our government, and none should be
more watchful of the artful machina-
tions of those who allure them to self
inflicted 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 COM
munity. The limit between the proper
subjects of governmental control and
those which can be more fittingly left
to the moral sense and self-imposed
restraint of the citizen, should be care
fully kept in view. Thus laws unnec-
essarily Interfering with the habits and