The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-08-27
MR.. cLEVgLAHc'S LETTER
His Formal Statement OF
Views on Public
Questions.


President of the United States, is as fol-
lows:
! Gentlemen: have received your
communications dated July 18th, 1884,
informing me Of my nomination TO the
office Of President Of the United States
by The National Democratic Convention
late Y assembled ut Chicago. ] accept
the nomination with grateful apprecla-
ton VI the supreme honor conferred
and Il solemn sense Of the responsibility
which, in its accordance, assume. |
have carefully considered the platform
adopted by the convention, and cordial
ly approve the same. So plain a state
ment Of democratic faith and the princi-
pies upon which that party appeals to
the suiIrages of the people needs no sup.
/ plcmcnt or explanation. 1t should be
remembered that the Office Of President
is essentially executive in its nature.
The laws enacted by the legislative
branch Of the government the chief ex-
ecutiyc is bound faithfully to enforce /;
and when the wisdom Of the political
party which selects one Of its members
rs nnminee for that office has outlined
its policy aud declared its principles, it
seems to me that nothing in character
of the officer, the necessities Of the case,
requires more from the candidate ac-
cepting such nomination than the sug
geston Of weIl-known truths 50 abso.
lutcIy 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 Il
class tolerated which arrogates to itself
the management Of public affairs, seek
ing to control the people, Instead Of rep.
rcsenting them. Parties are the neces
sary outgrowth Of our institutions, but
II government is not by the people when
one party fastens its control upon the
country and perpctuatcs its power by
cajolng and botraying the people, in.
stead OF serving them. a government
is not by the people when II result
which result should represent the
intelligent will Of free and thinking mel
is or can be determined by the shame
less disregard Of their suiiIages Whel
an election 20 office shall be the selection
by the voters Of one Of their number t,
= assume for time public trust instcac
Of his dedication to the profession Of pol
ltics, when the holders Of the ballot
quickcucd by sense Of duty, shal
avcnge the truth betrayed and pledge
broken, and when the suffrage shall b.
altogether free and interrupted, tn
full realization Of II government by tn
people will be at hand, and Of the mean
) to this end not one would, in my judg
! ment, he more effective than IN amend
ment to the constitution dlsqnalityini
the President from reelection.
When we consider the patronage O
this great office, the aluremens Of pow
or, tie temptation to retain public pIac
once gained, and, more than all, tn
availability Il party finds in an lncum
bent whom II horde Of ofiicc-holdcis
with zeal born of benefits received an,
fostcrcd by the hope Of f;lvors yet t
e come, stand too ready toaid with none
q aud trained political services, we recog
nizc in the eligibility Of the Presiden
for reelection most serious danger t.
! that calm, deliberate and intelligent pc
Iitical action which must characterize
government by the people.
A true American sentiment recoe
niecs the dignity Of labor and the fac
that honor lies in honest toll. Contente
labor is Il sign of national prosperity
, Ability to work constitutes the capital
aud the wages Of labor the income Of
vast number Of our population am
this interest should be zealousIy protect
. eel. Oar workingmen are not askin
unreasonable indulgence, but as INTEL
gent and manly citizens they seek tn
+ same consideration which those deman,
I who have other interests ut stake
| They should receive their full share o
the care and attention of those witt
ma Ike aud execute the laws, to the en-,
that the wants and needs Of the employ
crs and employed shall alike be sub
scrlbed, and the prosperity of the com
try, the common heritage Of both, b,
advanced.
As related to this subject, while We
should not discourage the immigration
Of those who come to acknowledge allie
glance to our government and add t.
oul citizen population, yet, rs Il means
OF protection To our workingmcn, diff
ierent rule should prevail concerning
those who, il they come or are brought
to our land, do not intend to become
American citizens, but will injurious!y
compete with those justly entitled to
our field Of labor. In letter accepting
the nomination Of the office Of Governor
nearly two years ago, made The follow
ing statement, to which have steadily
adhered:
"The laboring classes constitute the
main part of our population. They
should be protected in their cllnrts to
pcaceably assert their rights when en-
dnngcred by the aggregated capital,
aud all .he statutes on this sub cct
should recognize the care of the State
for honest toll and be framed with IL
view Of improving the condition of the
worI;ingman."
\ proper regard for the welfare of
the workingmcn Is inseparably connect
ed with the integrity of our institutions
None Of our citizens are more interc. ted
than they in guarding against any Of
the corruptiug influences which seem to
pervert the bcneHcent purposes of our
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