Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-10-02
DEM0CRACY'S LEADERS.
Letters of Acceptance from Cleveland
and Hendricks.
honesty and Economy-.Sug=estions
that the President should not
be Eligible for Recollection
The Labor Question.
ALBANY, y. V, Aug. IS, 1884.


munication dated July -, 1884, informing
me of my nomination to the Office of presi-
dent of the United States by the National
Democratic convention lately assembled at
Chicago.
accept the nomination with grateful
appreciation II the supreme honor confer
red, and IA solemn sense of the responsibility
which, III lis acceptance. | assume.
have carefully considered the platform
adopted by the convention and cordially
approve the same So plain a statement of
Democratic faith and principles upon which
that party appeals to the suffrages of the
people, needs no supplement or explanation.
IL should be remembered that the office of
president is e' sentialiy executive in its ma
ture. The laws enacted Ly the legislative
branch O. the government, the chief execu-
tive is bound faithfully to enforce And
when the wisdom of the political party
which selects one OF its members as q
nominee for that office has outlined its
policy ard 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 cer;ai''
well known truths, SO absolutely vital 1
the safety and welfare of tine nation that
they cannot be too often recalled or TOO
seriously enforced.
GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE
We proudly call ours government by tn
peole 1t is not suSh when q class is tolerata
which arrogdtes to itself the management
public affairs, seeking to control the ptoi -
instead Of representing them.
Parties are the necessary outgrowth OF {
institution; hut government is not by D..
people when enc party fastens It's con.
upon the country, and parpetuates its pow
by cajolinS and betraying the people insta
of serving them.
A government is not by the people, when
result which should represent the inteil-
gent will of free and thinking men is, or
can be, determined by the shameless corrup-
tion of their sutfrages.
When an election to office shall be the 50
lection by the voters of one of their num-
ber, to assume for a time public trust i'll
stead of his dedication to the profession of
politics.; when the holders of the ballot
quickeued Ly sense OF duty shall avenge
truth betrayed AMI pledges broken, and
when the suffrage shall be altogether free
and uncorrupted, the full realization OF
government by the people will be at hand.
And of the means to this end, no one would
in my Judgment, be more effective than an
amendment to the constitution disqualfying
the president from reelection. When we
consider tie patronage Of this great office,
the alluremenJs Of power, the temptation to
retain public places once gained, and, more
than all, the availability party finds in an
incum~ent whom horde Of otfice-holders
with zeal born Of benefits received, and
fosterel by the hope of favors yet to come,
stand ready to aid with money and trainel
political service, we recognize in the elig;bil-
ity of the pr sident from reelection u mos.
serious danger to that calm, deliberate AM
intelligent political action which must
characterize government by the people.
LABOR MUST BE PROTECTED
A tru, American sentiment recognizes the
dignity of labor, and the fact that honor lies
in honest toll. Contented labor is an ele.
ment of national prosperity. Ability to work
constitutes the capital, and the wage of labor
the income of a vast number of onr popu-
lation, and this interest should be jeal-
ously protected Oar workingmen are
not asking unreasonable indulgence; but
as intelligent and manly citizens they
see 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
emp!oved shall alike be subserved and the
prosperity of the country the common heri-
tace of both, be advanced. As related to
this subject while we should not discourage
the immigration of those who come to ac-
knowledge 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 ill.,
iuriously compete with those justly entitled
to our field of labor.
In letter accepting the nomination to the
office of governor, nearly two years ago l
made the following statement, to which l
have steadily adhered:
s'The laboring classes constitute the main
part of our population. They should be
protected in their efforts peaceably to as
sert their rights when endangered by ag-
gregated capital; and all statutes on this
subject should recognize the care of the
state for honest toll and be framed with
view of improving the condition of the
workingman." ......
A proper regard for the welfare Of the
workingman being inseparably connected
with the integrity Of our institutions, none
of our citizens are more interested than they
in guarding against any corrupting influ-
ences which seek to rervert the benefcent
purposes of our government; and none should
be more watchfnl of the artful Vaccinations
of those who allure them to self inflicted in
jury.
CONSERVATION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
Tn q free country tho curtailment of the
absolute rights of the individual should only
be such as is essential to the peace and good
order of the community, The limit between
the proper subjects of g Overnmental control
and those which can b. more fttingly left
to the moral sense and d.elf-imposed restraint
of the citizen should be carefully kept in
view. Thus laws unnecessarily interfering
with the habits and customs of any of our
neople which Ire not offensive to the moral
sentiments o, the civilized world, and
which are eonsistant with good citizenship
and the pu olic welfare, are unwise and vex.
atious.
The commerce Of nation to great ex
tent determines its supremacy. Cheap and
aasv TRANSFORMATION should therefore be liber
ally fostered Within tho limits Of the con,
stitution the general government should SC
improve and protect its natural waterways
as will enable the producers of the country
to reach profitable market.
- THE PUBLIC SERVICE
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 in
trusted with the management Of their affair