The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-29
GOV. CLEVELAND'S LETTER.
Text OF the Letter Accepting the DEM
Ocratic Nomination.
Following is the text of the letter of Gov
ernor Grover Cleveland accepting the Dem
ocratc nomination for President:
sullled.
ALBANY, Y. Y, August is. 1SSl

ALBANY. n. Y, August lS 1854.
GENTLEMEN: have received your commu-
nication. dated July Is, 1884, informing me of
my nomination to the Office of President of
the United States by the National Democratic
convention lately assembled at Chicago.
accept the nomination with grateful ap-
probation of the supreme honor conferred,
and a solemn sense of the responsibility which,
in its acceptance, | assume.
| have carefully considered the platform
adopted by the convention and cordially APP
prove 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 explana-
ton.
1t should be remembered that the office of
Pre-, ident is es Antially executive in its nature
The laws enacted by the legislative 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 mem
beers as nominee for that Office has outlined its
policy and declared its principles, it seems to
me that nothing in the character of the office
or the necessities of the case requires more
from the candidate accepting such nomination
than the suggestion of certain well-known
truths, so absolutely vital to the safety and
welfare of the nation that they cannot be too
often recalled or too seriously enforced.
We proudly call ours government by the
people 1t is not such when a class is tolerated
which arrogates to itself the management of
public 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 perpetuates its power by ca
joling 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 corruption Of
their suffrages
When an election to Office shall be the
selection by the voters of one of their num-
Der to assume for time a public trust in
stead 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, and when the suffrage shall be alto.
gether free and interrupted the full realiza-
ton of a government 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 amendment to the Constitution disqualify-
ing the President from reelection. 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
incumbent whom a horde of office holders
with a zeal born of benefits received and fos-
tered by the hope of favors yet TO come stand
ready to aid with money and trained political
service, we recognize i'll the eligibility of the
President for re lection a most serious danger
to that calm, deliberate and intelligent action
which must characterize 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 con
stitutes the capital and the wage of labor the
income of vast number of our pODulation
and this interest should be jealousy protected
Our wOrlingmen are not asking Unreasonable
indulgence but as intelligent and manly citi-
zens 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, he advanced
As related TO this subject while We