The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-28
Cleyeland's Letter.
AI,BANY. n. Y. AUG. is. 1854


Cleveland's Letter.
ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. IS, 1884,
Gentlen,et:-I have received your com
munication, dated July IS, 1884, inform
ing me Of my nomination to the office O.
President OF the United States by tn,
National Democratic Convention latel,
assembled in Chicago. I accept the nom
ination with a grateful appreciation OF thu
supreme honor conferred and a solemn
sense Of the responsibility which, in it,
acceptance, | assume. l have CAREFUL,
considered the platform adopted by tn,
Convention, and cordially approve The
same. So plain statement of Demo
cratic faith and the principles upon which
that party appeals to the suffrages of The
people, needs no supplement or explana
tion. 1t should be remembered that the
office Of President is essentially executive
in it's nature. The laws enacted by the
legislative branch of the Government, the
Chief Executive is bound faithfully to EN-
force, and when the wisdom of the politi
cal party which selects one of it's members
as a nominee for that office has outlined
its policy and declared it's principles, il
seems to me that nothing in the character
of the office OF the necessities of the case
requires more from the candidate accept
ing such nomination than the suggestion
of well known truths, so absolutely vital
to the safety and welfare Of the nation,
that they cannot be too often recalled OF
too seriously enforced. We proudly call
ours 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
instead of representing them.
Parties are the necessary 0utgroWth OF
our institutions, but Government is not
by the people when one party fastens its
control upon the country, and perpetuates
its power by cabling and betraying the
people instead of serving them. A gov
eminent is not by the people when
a result which should represent the intel
ligent will of free and thinking men, is,
Oh can be, determined by the shameless
corruption of their suffrages. When an
election to office shall be the selection by
sumo for a time public trust instead of
his dedication to the profession of politics
when the holders of the ballot, quickened
by a sense of duty, shall avenge truth be
trayed and pledges broken, and when the
suffrage shall be altogether free and un-
corrupted, the full realization of a gov
eminent 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-elec-
ton. 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 a party finds in an incumbent
whom a horde of of1iceholders, with yea
born Of benefits received, and fostered by
the hope of fayors yet to come, stand ready
to aid with money and trained political
service, we recognize in the eligibility OF
the President for reelection most seri-
Gus danger to that calm, deliberate and in
telligent political action which must char
acterize 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. Abil
ity to work constitutes the capital, ano
the wage of labor the income OF vast
number of our population, and this inter.
est should be zealously protected. Oul
working men are not asking unreasonable
indulgence but as intelligent, manly cit
liens they seek the same consideration
which others demand who have other III
terests at stake. They should receive theil
full shares of the care and attention OF
those who make and execute the laws tt
the end that the wants and needs OF the
employers and the employed shall alike bt
subserved and the prosperity OF the coun
try. the common interests of both be ad
yanced. AS related to this subject, while
we should not discourage the immigration
! of those who come to acknowledge allegi
ance to our Government and to add tt
our citizen population, yet as a means
| of protection to our WOrkingmen differ
emit rule should prevail concerning those
who, il they come, or are brought, u
/ our land, do not intend to become Amer
leans but will injuriously compete witt
those Justly entitled to our field OF labor.
In a letter accepting the nomination tt
the office of Governor nearly two years
ago, made the following statement tt
which have steadily adhered: The labor
| ing classes constitute the main part OF oul
population. They should be protected il
! their efforts peaceably to assert their right
| when endangered by aggregated capital
and all statutes on this subject should re
cognize the care Of the State Tor homes
| toll and be framed with view OF i'm
proving the condition of the workingmen.
A proper regard for the welfare OF tn
workingman being inSeparably connected
|
| of our citizens are more interested thai
they in guarding against any corruptlng IN
huence which seek to pervert the bench
cent purpose of our Government an
none should be more Watchful OF the art
| full Vaccinations of those who allure then
to self-intlicted injury.
In free country the curtailment OF the
absolute rights Of the individual SHOULD
ONLY be such as is essential to the peac
and good order of the community. Th
| limit between the proper subjects OF gov
ernmental control, and those which can b
more fittingly left to the moral sense an
self imposed restraint of the citizen, shoul
be carefully kept in view. Thus laws un
necessarily interfering with the habits ant
customs of any OF our people which al
not offensive to the moral sentiments 0
the civilized world, and which are con
sistent with good citizenship and the put
! lie welfare, are unwiSe and veXatlouS.
1 The commerce of a nation to a great eX
tent determines it's supremacy. Cheap an
! easy transportation should; therefore, b
literally fostered. Within the limits 0
the Constitution, the general Government
should so improve and protect its nature
water ways as will enable the producers
the country to reach a profitable market
The people pay the wages OF the publ
employees. and they are entitled to the fail
honest wages which the money thus pal
should command. 1t is the duty of thos
intrusted with the management of thei
affairs to see that such public service
Forthcoming.
The selection and retention of subord
mates in Government employment shoul
depend upon their ascertained fitness an
the value of their work, and they shoul
be neither expected nor allowed to d
questionable party service. The interest
of the people will be better protected I'll
estimate of public labor and duty will
immensely improved public employmel
will be open to all who can demonstrat
their fitness for it. The unseemly scrambl
for place under the Government with I'd
consequent importantly which emblttel
official life will cease and the public d'
partments will not be filled with those VIII
conceive it to be their first duty to aid tn
party to which they owe their place
instead Of rendering patient and homes
return to the people. | believe that til
public temper is such that the voters {
the land are prepared to support the part
which gives the best promise OF admins
tering the government in an honest, simp
and plain manner which is consistent wit