Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-28
CleVeland'S Acceptance.

ALBANY, Aug. 19.-Gov. Cleve-
lands letter formally accepting the
democratic nomination For president
of the United States, Is AS follows:
GENTLEMEN Il have received your
communication, dated July IS 1884,
informing me of my nomination to
the office of president of the United
States by the national democratic con-
vention, lately assembled at Chicago.
| accept the nomination with a CRATE
full appreciation of the supreme honor
conferred, and with a solemn sense
of the responsibility which in its
acceptance [ assume. | have careful
ly 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
sutfrages OF the people needs no sup
plement or explanation.
1t should be remembered that the
office of president is essentially exec
utive IN it's nature. The laws enacted
by the legislative branch of the gov
eminent, the chief executive is bound
faithfully TO enforce; and when the
wisdom Of the political party which
selects one of its members
as nominee for that office
has outlined It's policy and declared
It's principles, 1t seems TO me that
nothing IN tbs character Of the office
Or the necessities of the case requires
more from the candidate accepting
such q nomination than the sugges-
ton of certain we'll known truths, so
absolutely vital to the safety aud
welfare of the nation, that they can
not be too often recalled or too seri-
ously 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 outgrowth Of our
institutions, but a gov
eminent is not by the people
when one party fastens its control
upon the country and perpetuates its
power by Cabling and betraying tie
people instead of serving them.
A government is not by the people
when a result, which should repre-
sent the intelligent will Of free and
thinking men, is or can be deter
mined 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 as
sumo for time public trust, in
stead of his DEDICATION to the pro
fession of politics; when the holders
of the ballot, quickered by a sense of
duty, shall avenge truth betrayed
and pledges broken, and when
this suffrage shall be altogether
free and interrupted, the full
realization 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
disqualifying the president from re-
election. When we consider the pat
rOnage Of this great office, the allure
ments Of power, the temptation to re-
tam public place once gained, and
more than all the availability party
finds ia an incumbent, whom a horde
of Office holders with zeal born of
benefits received and fostered by the
hope Of favOrS let to come, stand
ready to aid with money and trained
political service, we recognize IN the
eligibility of the president for re elec
ton a most serious danger to that
calm, deli 'eerate and intelligent polit
ical action which must characterize a
government by the people.
A true American sentiment recog-
nizes the dignity of labor and the fact
that honor lies in honest toll. Con-
tented labor is an element of national
prosperity. Ability to work consti
tutes the capital and the wages of la
Dor, the income of vast number of
our population; and this interest
should be jealousy protected. Our
wOrklngmen are pot asking unreaSOn
able Inducements, but as intelligent
and manly citizens, they seek the
same consideration which those de-
mand 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 COM
mon heritage of both, be advanced.
As related to this subject. while we
should not discourage the emigration
of those who come to acknowledge
allegiance to our government,
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
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 [ have steadily adj
hered: ''The laboring classes consti-
tute the main part of our population;
they should be protected IN their eff
forts peaceabIy to assert their rights
when ENDANGERED by aggregated