The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-23

frankly, was opposed to at the time ana
which l would oppose now were they to be
repeated. But there is one thing which is not
to be found in Mr. Hendricks record, and
that is the least flavor Of corruption or of the
prostitution of official power for private gain.
Here is what the New York Tribune said of
him some years ago: "An honest jurist, an
able and incorruptible statesman, and a wise
politician, his views on public questions are
entitled to great weight. His record as a
Senator, Representative, Commissioner, and
State legislator is pure and untarnished." !"
And this happens to be now the main question.
| therefore do not hesitate to say that were
Mr.. Hendricks not the candidate for the Vice
Presidency merely, but for the Presidency it.
self, | should, in spite of our disagreements
on subjects of policy, accept his election as q
welcome escape from the blood poisoning with
which Mr.. Blaine's election would inevitably
curse the American Republic.
Nobody can deny that | have treated Mr..
Blaine fairly and with moderation. | have
not depended upon statements made by his
enemies or detractors. Ihave not even quoted
the fiery denunciations poured upon him, not
many years ago, by some of his recently mag
netized friends. | have discussed only one
in that phase. / have not taken up his for
eign policy in order to inquire whether it is
true that he recklessly jeoparded the peace of
the country, and that the most important in
ternational questions, as soon as he touched
them, began to revolve around a claim and
seemed to turn into job. | have not touched
his plan of distributing the surplus revenue,
which, of course, involves the preservation of
the surplus as the fountain of a multitude of
Jobs | have not touched his original and
curious conception that the people of Virginia
should not repudiate their debt, but neither
should they pay it, for the United States
should pay it for them, and so on. All these
things, interesting and instructive specimens
of craftsmanship, | have left aside. | have,
as | said, discussed only one salient point in
one phase of his career, and in doing so have
called to the stand as principal witness Mr..
Blaine himself. By his own words, written
and spoken-words authentic beyond cavil,
words imprinted on the official records OF the
Government-Mr. Blaine has convinced me,
and, trust, has convinced you, that his de-
feat as candidate for the Presidency is at
this time the supreme duty of American citi-
zenship To vindicate the honor of the Amer
lean name it should be done by phenomenal
majority, so that the world may know how
strongly the American heart beats for righte
business and honest government. And to re-
pair the honor of the Republican party it
should be done by Republican votes. Yes,
to repair the honor of the Republican party
it should be done by Republican votes, to
make it known that, while strange debauch-
ment of conscience permitted such nomina-
ton to be made, the true Republican heart
revolted at it, to undo by its own act the dis
graceful mischief.
GOV. CLEVELAND CONSIDERED.
On the other hand, the Democratic party
has never presented candidate whom any
friend of good government, Democrat or Re-
publican, could see step into the Presidential
chair with a greater feeling of security than
Grover Cleveland. This time, therefore, is
propitieus for a change of power
on account of the safety with which it can be
effected. And here | may remark, by the
way, that the scandalous stories recently cir
culated about Mr.. Cleveland's private char
acter have to my knowledge been inquired
into by several parties separately-hy men of
high standing in Buffalo, by clerical gentle
man on the editorial staff of the Independent,
and by others-and that the reports of all of
them, as they have come to me, based upon n
conscientious study of the facts in the case,
agree in pronouncing those stories monstrous
calumnies on the man, which will recoil upon
the inventors. The public will undoubtedly
hear more from the investigators through the
press. With this conviction | stand here
speaking of Gov. Cleveland. beg Republi-
cans to remember that when Mr.. Cleveland
was elected Governor ofNew York two years
ago, it was through Republican support that
he received his enormous majority. And
am sure every Republican in New York whose
object was not mere party advantage, but an
honest, able, and fearless administration of
public affairs for the public good, has ever
since congratulated himself upon the support
he gave that Democratic candidate. To be
sure, while receiving the hearty appreciation
and applause of the friends of good govern
ment, Gov. Cleveland also made enemies.
The bitterest among them were the greedy
politicians for whom he was not good enough
a partisan because he was so good Cover
nor; and he was so good Governor just he
cause he was not good enough partisan for
them.
Mr.. Blaine's advocates loudly complain that
Gov. Cleveland ia not q statesman. 1t must
he admitted that he is not a statesman in the
Blaine sense. If he were it would be danger
Gus to vote for him. He has evidently not
the genius to be all things to everybody. He
is not magnetic enough to draw every rascal
to his support. He will probably be cold
enough to freeze every job out of the White
House. He is not brilliant enough to cover
the whole world with Eighty schemes, But,
unless | am much mistaken, he possesses very
much of that kind of craftsmanship which is
now especially required and for which Mr..
Blaine has conspicuously disqualified himself.
And that is the craftsmanship of honest aud
efficient administration. What is the kind of
business which under present circumstances
the executive branch of the National Govern
ment has to attend to-? 1t is in the main ad
business. 1t is to see to it that
the laws be faithfully and efficiently executed,
and, to that end, to introduce and maintain
honest and efficient methods for the execution
of the laws, and to enforce the necessary re-
sponsibility. This is administration, and this
is under present circumstances the principal
business Of the Executive. No flighty genius,
is required to make business for
the Government; but what we want is solid
ability and courageous integrity to see to it
that the business which is found there be well
done.
OF this kind of craftsmanship Mr.. Cleve-
land, as all who have impartially observed his
career will admit, possesses in high degree.
the instinct, and now also the experience.
When he entered upon his duties as Mayor Of
Buffalo, a few years ago, he Saids sit seems
to me that successful and faithful ministra-
ton Of the government of city may be ac-
oomplished by constantly bearing in mind that
we are the trustees and agents of our fellow
citizens, holding their funds in sacred trust to
be expended for their benefit; that We should
at all times be prepared to render an honest
account to them touching the manner of its
and that the affairs of the oity
should be conducted as far as paasihle upon
the same principle as q good business man
manages his private concerns. You may
say that this is neither very brilliant nor quite
original. but it contains after all the funda-
mental principles of honest and efficient ad-
applicable not only to city, but
to State and to the Nation. And when a
public man coming into power speaks such
words, and fully understands what they mean,
and has the ability and courage to give them
full effect, he possesses a craftsmanship for
executive office infinitely more valuable to
the country than Mr.. Blaine's statesmanlike
skill and experience in making himself fuse
full in various channels" and being dead
head in none.
And that Mr.. Cleveland did understand the
meaning of what he said and was determined
to carry it out, he showed sometimes in way
which astonished the natives. Here is ap in