San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-08-28

the workingman being inseparaoly
connected with tho integrity Of oui
constitution, none OF our citizens
are more interested than they in
guarding against any corrupting in
fluences which seek 10 pervert the be
nificent purposes Of our government,
and none should be more watchful
Of the artful Vaccinations OF those
who allure them TO self inflicted In
Jury. In q free country whore the
curtailment Of tho absolute rights OF
the individual should only be such as
is essential TO tho peace and good
order Of the commudity, the limit
between the proper subjects Of gov
ernmental control and those which
can be more fittingly left to the moral
sense and self-imposed restraint OF
the citizen, should be carefully kept
in view. Thus laws unnecessarily in
terfering with the habits and customs
of any Of our people, which are not
offensive to the moral sentiment OF
the civilized world, and which are
consistent with good citizenship and
the public welfare, are unwise.
The commerce Of a nation, to q
great extent, determines its suprem-
acy. Cheap and easy transportation
should, therefore, be literally fostered
within the limits Of the constitution,
and the general government should
so improve and protect its natural
waterways as will enable the pro-
ducersof the country to reach q profit
able market.
The people pay the wages OF the
public employees, and they are entitled
to the fair and honest work which
the money thus paid should command.
1t is the duty Of those intrusted with
the management Of their affairs to
see that such public service is forth
coming The selection and retention
of subordinates in government en-
ployment should depend on their
ascertained fitness, and the value OF
their work, and they should be
neither expected nor allowed to do
questionable party service. The
interests Of the people will be better
protected, the estimate ofpublic labor
and duty will be immensely improved,
if public employment will be open to
all who demonstrate their fitness to
enter it. The unseemly scramble for
place under government, with the
consequent importantly which embit-
ters official life, will then cease, and
the public departments will not be
filed with those who conceive it to
be their first duty to aid the party
to which they own their place instead
Of rendering patient and honest
return to the people.
I believe that the public temper is
such that the voters of the land are
to support the party which
gives the best promise Of administer
ing the government in the most
honest, simple and plain manner,
which is consistent with it's charac-
ter and progress. They have learned
that mystery and concealment in the
management of their affairs cover
tricks and betrayal. The statesman
ship they require consists in honesty
and frugality, q prompt response to
the needs Of the people as they arise,
and a vigilant protection OF all their
varied interests.
If I should be called to the chief
Of the nation by the suffrage
of my fellow. citizens, I will assume
the duties of the high Office, with a
solemn determination to dedicate my
every effort to the country's good,
and with an humble reliance upon
the favor and support of the Supreme
Being, who, I believe, will always
bless honest human endeavor in the
conscientious discharge Of public
duty. GROVER CLEVELAND.
To Colonel VIM. f. Villas, chairman,
and d. P. Bestor and other members
of the notification committee OF the
Democratic National convention.