Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-04
Cleveland's Vindication.

yindicaiion OF Mr.. BLAINE. This could
not righifully be claimed; because the
charges against Mr.. BLAINE contained In
the MuLLIGAN correspondence were such as
the average voter would not trouble him.
self about.
But the only charge that has been brought
against MIR. CLEVELAND was one that his
neighbors and fellow-citizens in the town
Of Buffalo know all about. His reception at
that city on Thursday night was full,
round, and complete" answer to
that charge. They know his history.
They are thoroughly acquainted with his
record. They know all The facts upon
winch has been based the charge TO which
we allude, and yet they rise up rs one man
10 testify their appreciation OF his charac-
ter, and TO certify TO the people OF the
United States that he is q candidate for
whom they may safely vote; that his noml-
nation was one eminently III to he made ;
and that IL he shall not be elected President
OF the United States il will not he because
those who know him best do not account
him worthy OF lhal nonor.
The address Of the venerable gentleman
who had been selected 10 welcome Gov
ernor CLEVELAND home was evidently pre-
pared carefully and with an eye to the
charge hereinbefore referred to. Mr.. MAR
TIN, the president Of the Manufacturers and
Traders Bank, and the Oldest banker in
Buffalo, measured his words, and spoke
from the head as well as from the heart.
lie spoke to the people Of the whole Union.
What said he? Read his language, and
ponder II. Tie said:
Mr.. MARTINS ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Mr.. Martin said Governor Cleveland.
IN behalf Of this thronging multitude OF
your old friends and1neighbors / welcome
YOU home tonight. You came to our city
boy; you learned your profession he-e,
and for more than twenty years you have
gone i'm ard out before us, respected and
trusted and honored by all. In the course
OF time the public need demanded you,
and regardless Of party affiliations we elect
ed you our mayor. The singleness OF pur-
pose. rugged honesty, faithful discharge OF
duty. unpretentious yet ever watchful care
OF the public interests which marked your
administration OF our civic affairs. led the
people Of this proud state, by an uneXam-
pied majority. TO elect you as their Chief
Magistrate. You entered upon this great
Office. While you have held IL you have had
the public eye turned fully at times on YOU
as prominent candidate for the presi-
dency, and at period remarkable in its de-
mand for pure and good government and
the reform Of old abuses. You have stea'
l,lx, ,,,,rauod your vyay 1pciiinp every
question which has arisen out Of the mani
fold affairs or needs Of this great Common
wealth, or which has been urged 10 the
front by cunning opponents, with that
same integrity OF purpose End thoughtful
care which marked your career at home.
Again has fidelity to duty produced its re-
suits, and we welcome YOU tonight as the
presidential candidate Of great party, and
of thousands upon thousands who recog-
nize the demands OF public service as supe-
rior TO party ties. And we, your old friends
and neighbors. sir, hearing towards you
the full measure Of high personal esteem,
rejoice to know that in this bitter cam
paign not one reputable man has yet been
able 10 point TO one solitary act OF your
administration aud pronounce II subject
TO lust criticism that not one reputable
mas has been heard TO say that IN any
one single official act you have made
the interests Of party or OF self superior to
the public good, or for one instant forgot
ten that your Office was a sacred and
solemn trust TO be administered for the
best interest of the whole people. We be-
licve, sir. that the calm, good sense OF the
nation Is with you tonight; that rectitude
and truth and earnestness OF purpose and
fidelity to duty, and iirmness In the dis
charge Of duty, are at this day and time
recognized as essential in the Chief EX-
ecuiiye OF the republic, and that surely
and resistlessly the current oi public SEN
timent il doing its perfect work. which
shall end In your triumphal election. We
congratulate YOU. sir, from our hearts upon
the success which has marked your past
career, and upon the assurances OF coming
victory. and we welcome you TO the city
whose chief pride tonight is in the fact
that 1t is the home Of Grover Cleveland.
II is evident that that address was in
tended TO settle once for all every question
that could possibly arise as to GROVER
CLEvELAND's fitness TO be the successor OF
WASHINGTON, MADISON, MONROE, and the
other illustrious men who have filed the
office OF President Of the United States.
Read II again. II Is model OF style. II
came from strong mind. 1t contains
everything that ought 10 have been said,
and saws nothing that ought TO have been
omitted. Let us examine 1t carefully;
1. Mr.. CLEvELAND's "old friends and
neighbors" are the persons who composed
the immense crowd which Mr.. MARTIN adj
dressed. They, therefore, were called upon
to certify that Mr.. MARTIN spoke for them
when he asserted that Mr.. CLEVELAND was
"resptcted and trusted and honored by
ALL"
2. Mr.. MARTIN tcstifles that MIR. CLEvE.
LANDS neighbors had elected him TO the
mayorslty Of Buffalo, and that he had SC
faithfully discharged the duties OF that Of
fee as to induce them to elect Tor aid in
electing) him TO the high Office OF Governor
OF the Empire State Of the Union.
5. Mr.. MARTIN testi6es that though Mr.
CLEVELAND had, in consequence OF thu
facts We have lust stated, become promi
nent as q candidate for President OF thu
United States, he nevertheless executed thu
Office OF Governor "witb the same in.egrit,
of purpose and thoughtful care which had
marked his career at home" Note. sgain
that in Buffalo, speaking to Mr.. CLEyE
lAsp's neighbors-to men who knew
whereof he afiirmed-Mr. MARTIN appealed
TO CLEvELASD's "cdreer al home y
rs the highest standard Of compare
son. He claimed for CLEVELAND only
that as Governor at Albany he had been a,
faithful 10 the trust confded TO him as he
had been at home as mayor OF Buffalo. lie
deemed that praise such as every citizen Of
Buffalo would consider the highest that
could be bestowed upon CLEVELAND. For,
40 the venerable orator said afterwards,
the "chiq pride" Of Buffalo Is that III is
the home Of Grocer Cleveland.
4. Mr.. MAsrx testi6es emphaticslly that
snot one reputable man " has been able to
point 10 "one solitary act" Of CLEyELAND's
administration as Governor as the subject
OF lust criticism. Who has ever described
. model President better than Mr.. MARrIS
describes such an officer In speaking Of
GRoyxR CLEvELASD's characteristics as an
Executive oficefi Mr.. MAKrY said
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