Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-08-28
CLEVELAND'S ACCEPTANCE.
THE CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE
SPEAKS PLAINLY 70 TIE POINT.
n Governments for the People and by tho
People, in which tho People Rule and
Their Servants Obey, That 1t may
be Administered in Honest,
Simple and Plain Manner,

be Administered in an Honest
simple and Plain Manner.
ALBANY, n. Y, Aug. 19.-GEK-
TLEMEN Il have received your COM
munication dated July %, 1884, in
forming me of my nomination to the
office of President of the United States
by the National Democratic conven-
ton lately assembled at Chicago.
accept the nomination with grateful
appreciation Of the supreme honor
conferred and a solemn sense of the
responsibility which in its acceptance
| assume.
1 have carefully 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 sufrages of the
people needs no supplement or expla-
nation. 1t should be remembered that
the office of President is essentially ex-
ecutivc in its nature.
The laws enacted by the legislative
branch of the government the Chief
Executive is bound faithfully to en-.
force, and when tho wisdom of a po-
litical party which selects one of its
members as the nominee for that Of
flee has outlined its policy and declar-
ed its principles, it seems to me that
nothing in the character of the office
or the necessities of the case requires
more from candidate accepting such
a nomination than a suggestion of GER
tain well-known truths 50 absolutely
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 a
class is tolerated which arrogates TO
itself the management of public offices,
seeking to control the people instead
of representing them.
Parties are the necessary outgrowth
of our institutions, but the government
is not by the people when one party
fastens its control upon the country,
and perpetuates its power by cajoling
and betraying the people instead of
serving them.
The government is not by the peo-
pie when the result which should rep
resent the Intelligent will of free and
thinking men is, or can be, determined
by the shameless corruption Of their
suffrages.
When an election to office shall be
q selection by the voters of one of
their number to assume for time a
public trust instead of his dedication
to the profession of politics; when the
holders of ballots, quickened by a
sense Of duty, shall avenge the truth
betrayed and pledges broken, and
wnen suffrage shall be altogether free
and uncorruptcd, the full realization
Of 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 amendme mt to
the constitution disqualifying the Pres
ident from reelection.
When We consider the patron age OF
this great office, the allurements OF
| power, the temptation to retain public
/ places once gained, and moro than all
the availability a patty finds in an in
| cumbent when horde of office hol-
ders, with zeal born of benefits rsceiv.
ed and fostered by the hope of favors
yet to come, stand ready to aid with
money and trained political service,
we recognize in the eligibility of ths
President for reelection a most ssri-
GUS danger to that calm, deliberate
and intelligent political action which
must characterize government of the
people.
A true American sentiment recog-
nizss the dignity of labor, and the
fact that honor lies in honest toll.
Contented labor is an element OF
National prosperity.
Ability to work constitutes the cap
ital, and the wages Of labor is the in.
come of vast number of our popula
ton, and this interest should be jeal
ously protected.
| Our working men are not asking
unreasonable indulgence, but as intel
ligent and manly citizens they seek
| the same consideration which those
! demand who have other interests al
stake.
They should receive their full share
! of care and attention of those who
/ make and execute the laws, to the
end that the wants and needs of EN-
ployers and employed shall alike b.
subserved, and the prosperity of tn,
country, the common heritage of both
be advanced.
AS related to this subject, while VI
should not discourage the immigration
of those who come to acknowledge al
legiance to our government and add
to cur citizen population, yet no mean
of protection to our workingmsl
should be neglected.
a different rule should prevail con
cerning those who, if they come or ar
brought to our land; do not intend t
become Americans, but will injurious
ly compete with those justly entitle'
to compete with our field of labor.
In the letter accepting the nomina
ton to the office of Governor, nearl
two years ago, I made the followin
statement to which 1 have steadily &C
hered: "The laboring classes const
tute the main part of our population
, They should be protected in their e
| forts to peaceably assert their righ
, when endangered by aggregated cap
| tai, and all statues on this subjet
f should recognize the care of the Stat
L IL