Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-08-22
MIR. CLEVELAND'S LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE.
A MODEL PRODUCTION.

| -AN~>--~-
The foil owing letter of Governor Cleve-
land, accepting the Democratic nomina-
ton for the Presidency, has been furnish
ed the press:
ALBANY, N. Y, August IS, 1884.
GENTLEMEN:-I 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 Convention lately
assembled at Chicago. 1 accept the nomi-
| nation with grateful appreciation OF the
supreme honor conferred, and a solemn
sense of the responsibility which, in its &C.
ceptance, l assume.
| I 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 ex-
| PLANTATION. 1t should be remembered that
the Office of President is essentially execu-
| tive in its nature. The laws enacted by
| the legislative branch of the Government
the Chief Executive is bound faithfully to
enforce, and when the wisdom of a politi-
|
as the nominee for that Office has outlined
| it's policy and declared its principles, 1T
seems to me that nothing in the character
| of the office or necessities of the case re-
uuires more frum the candidate accepting
such nomination than the suggestion of
| certain we'll known truths so absolutely
vital to the safety and welfare of the ma
ton that they cannot be too often recalled
or too seriously enforced. We proudly call
ours government by the people. 1t is not
such when class is tolerated which ar
rogates to itself the management of public
affairs, seeking to control the people in
| stead of representing them.
Parties are the necessary outgro with of
our Institutions; but the government is
not by the people when one party fastens
its control upon the country and perpetu-
ates its powers by cajoling and betraylng
the people instead of serving them the
government if not by the people when the
result which should represent the intelli-
gent will of free and thinking men is, or
can be, determined by shameless correc-
ton of their suffrages. When an election
| to Office shall be a selection by the voters
Of one of their number to assume for a
time public trust, instead of his dedica-
| tion to the profession of politics; when
| holders of ballots, quickened by sense Of
duty, shall avenge truth betrayed and
pledges broken and when suffrage shall
| be altogether free and interrupted, the
| full realization of government by the
people will be at hand; and Of the means
| to this end not one, in my judgment, will
be more effective than an amendment to
the Constitution disqualifying the Presi-
! dent from reelection. When we consider
the patronage of this great office, the al
| lurements of power, the temptation to re-
| tain public places once gained. and, more
| than all, the availability the party finds in
| an Incumbent whom horde of Of1ice-hOid-
ers with zeal born of benefits received and
| fostered by hope of favors yet to come
stand ready to aid with money and train
| ed political service, we recognize in the
| eligibility of President for re- election a
| most serious danger to that calm, DELHI
crate and intelligent political action
which must characterize government by
| the people. A true American sentiment
recognizes The dignity of labor and the
fact that honor lies in honest toll. Con-
tented labor is an element of national
| prosperity. Ability to work constitutes
the capital and the wages of labor, the in
come of vast number of our population
and this interest should be jealously pro-
tected. Our workingmen are not asking
unreasonable indulgence, but as intelli-
gent and manly citizens they seek the
| who have other interests at stake. They
should receive their full share of the care
and attention of those who make and exc
| cute the laws, to the end that the wants
and needs of employers and employed,
shall alike be subserved, and the prospect
| ty of the country, the common heritage of
both, be advanced. AS related to this
| subject, while we should not discourage
| the i'm migration 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
different rule should prevail concerning
those who, IL they come or are brought to
our land, do not 1ndend to become Ameri-
cans, but will injuriously compete with
those justly entitled to our field of labor.
In letter accepting the nomination to
the office OF GoVernnr, nearly two years
ago. made the following statement, to
which l have steadily adhered:
1.-THE laboring classes constitute the
main part of our population. They should
be protected in their efforts peaceabig to
assert their rights when endangered by
| aggregated capital. and all statutes on
! this subject should recognize the care Of
the State for honest toll and be framed
with the view of Improving the condition
| of the woIk1ngman."
| 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 corruI-
ting influences which seek to prevent the
| benefcent purposes of the Government,
and none should be more watchful of the
| artful Vaccinations of those who allure
them to self-infected injury. In free
country, the curtaiment of the absolute
rights of an individual should only be
| such as is essential to the peace and good
| order OF the community. The limit be-
| tween the proper subjects of the Govern
ment and the control of those which can
be more fttingly left to the moral sense of
| self-impOsed restraint Of a citizen should
be carefully kept in view. Thus, laws un-
necessarily interfering with the habits and
customs OF any of our people which are
not offensive to the moral sentiment of
the civilized world, and which are consis-
tent with good citizenship and public vel
| fare, are unWise and veXatious.
! The commerce Of the nation, to a great
extent, determines its supremacy. Cheap
and easy transportation should therefore
| be literally fOstered. Within the limits of
the Constitution, the General Government
| should so improve and protect it's natural
water ways as will enable the producers of
the country to reach profitable market,
| Inc people pay the wages Of public en-
ployes, and they are entitled to the fair and
honest work which money thus paid should
command. 1t is the duty of those Entrusted
with the management of these affairs to
see that such public service is fdrthcom-
| ing. The selection and retention of su-
| bordinates in the Government EMPLOYMENT
| should depend upon their ascertained fit
ness and the value of their work. and
they should be neither expected nor allow
ed to do questionable party service. The
interests of the people will be better pro-
tected; the estimate of public labor and
duty will be immensely improved; the pub.
lie employment will be open to all who can
| demOnStrate their fitness to enter il. m