The Democratic advocate., 1888-06-09

| nnion, The States fused IN all their sover
eighty into federal republic with limited
but ample powers; of a public service conduct
ed with absolute integrity and strict economy;
of reforms pushed to their extreme limit; of
| comprehensive, sound and safe financial poll
cy; giving security and confidence to all enter
| prise and endeavor-a Democratic admins
T tration, faithful to its mighty trust, loyal to
its pledges, true to the constitution, safeguard
ing the interests and liberties of the people.
THE OPENING OF NEW ERA
| 'And now we stand on the edge of another
era, perhaps greater contest, with relation
to the electors that we have not held for a
generation, that of responsibility for the great
| trust of government We are no longer
authors, but accountants; no longer critics,
but the criticised. The responsibility is ours,
and if we have not taken all the power nee
essary to make that responsibility good the
fault is ours, not that of the people. We are
confronted by willy, unscrupulous and des-.
perate foe. There will be no speck on the
record that they will not magnify into blot,
no circumstances that they will not torture
and misrepresent, no disappointment that they
will not exaggerate into a revolt, no class or
creed that they will not seek to inhame, no
passion that they will not attempt to rouse,
no fraud that they will not willingly perpe-
trate. They fancy, indeed, that there is no
imposture too monstrous for the popular ere
dulity, no crime that will not be condoned.
But we stand at guard, full at every
point to meet them. Our appeal is not to
passion nor to prejudice, to class or faction,
to race or creed, but to the sound common
sense, the interest, the intelligence and patri-
otism of the American people.
CLEvELAND's ADMINISTRATION.
'The administration of President Cleveland
! has triumphantly justified his election. 1t
compels the respect, confidence and approval
of the country. The prophets of evil and
disaster are dumb. What the people see is
the government of the Union restored to its
ancient footing of justice, peace, honesty and
impartial enforcement of law. They see the
demands of labor and agriculture met so far
as government can meet them, by the legisla
tive enactment for their encouragement and
protection. They see the veterans of the
! civil war granted pensions long due them to
| the amount of more than twice in number and
nearly three times in value of those granted
under any previous administration. They see
more than thirty two million acres of land,
recklessly and illegally held by the grantees
of the corrupt Republican regime, restored to
the public domain for the benefit of honest
settlers. They see the negro, whose fears Of
Democratic rule were played upon by dema-
| gogues four years ago, not only more fully
protected than by his pretended friends, but
honored as his race was never honored before.
They see a financial policy under which reck.
less speculation has practically ceased, and
capital freed from distrust. They see for the
first time an honest observance of the law
governing the civil establishment, and the
employees of the people rid, at last, of the po-
litical highwaymen with demand for tribute
in one hand and a letter of dismissal in the
other. They see useless offices abolished,
and expenses of administration reduced,
while improved methods have lifted the pub
lie service to high efficiency, They see tran
guilty, order, security and equal justice re-
stored in the land, watchful, steady, safe
and patriotic administration = the solemn
promises made the Democracy faithfully kept.
Itis'an honest government by honest men, If
this record seems prosaic,i if it lacks the blood
thrilling element, If it is not lit with lurid
fires, fit cannot be illustrated by pyrotech-
mic display, if it is merely the plain record of
constitutional party in a time of peace en-
gagged in administrative reforms, it is because
the people of the country four years ago
| elected not to trust to sensation and expert
ment however brilliant and alluring, but
preferred to place the helm in a steady hand
with a fearless, trustworthy, patriotic man
behind it. Upon that record and upon our
earnest efforts, as yet incomplete, to reduce
and equalze the burdens of taxation, we
enter the canvass and go to the polls conf
dent that the free and intelligent people of
this county will say, iWell done good and
faithful servants
WORD TO THE INDEPENDENTS.
$50 the patriotic, independent citizens who
four years ago forsook their old allegiance
and came to our support, and who since that
time have nobly sustained the administration,
Al Aanr Aahk nf'
gratitude. That they have been reviled and
insulted by their former associates is not only
a signal compliment to their character and
influence, but another evidence Of the deca-
dence of the Republican party. Blind wor-
ship of the machine-the political Juggernaut
is exacted from every man who will take
/ even standing rooa in that party, The Demo
cratic temple is open to all, and it in council
I we cannot agree in all things our motto is:
In essentials, unity; in non essentials, liberty;
in all things, charity To all good men we
say: Come in. Good ne 'er halted at the
| doorstone. As four years ago you voted
\ with us to reform the administration, to con-
serye our INSTITUTIONS for the yell-h being of
our common country, so join with Us again in
approval of the work so well accomplished to
complete what remains undone. We ask
you to remember that it is q fatal eFraF to
weaken the bands Of political organization
by which great refnrms' have been achieved
and risk them in the hands of their known
adversaries. Four years ago you trusted the
Democratic party and supported with zeal
and vigor its candidate for President. You
thought him strong in all the sturdy qualities
requisite for the great task of refQrG,
sPLENngn JUSTIFICATION.
'Rehold your splendid justification No
President in time of peace had so difficult
/ IL l,,t,, 20
| had been out of power for twenty four years.
Every member Of it had been almost venom
oqsly excluded from the smallest post where
administration could be studied. Every place
was filled by men whose interest it was to
thwart inquiry and helittle the new admins
! tration, but the master hand came to the helm
and the true course has been kept from the
beginning We need not wait for tine 20 do
Justice to the character and services OF Presi
dent Cleveland, Honest, clear sighted,
patieat, grounded in respect for law and JUS
tiee; with a thorough grasp of PRINCIPLES and
situations; with marvellous and conscientious
industry-the very incarnation of irmness-
he has nohly fulfilled the promise of his party;
nobiy met the expectations of his country
and written his name high on the scroll
where future Americans will read the names
of men who have been supremely useful to
the republic. Fellow Democrats, this is but
the initial meeting in a political campaign
destined to be memorable. 1t will be
clashing of nearly even forces. Let no man
here or elsewhere belittle or underestimate
the strength or reaoqroea Of the opposition.
But greaE as they are, the old Democratic
party, In conscious strength and perfect union,
| faces the Issue fearlessly."
Some miscellaneous business was transact
ed. Mrs. Merriweather, of st. Louis, asked
to be heard on the Woman's Rights Doctrine,
which was granted.
NOMINATION OF CLEVELAND.
Hon. Daniel Dougherty, of New York, was
recognized by the CHAIR and he made the fol-
ing speechI
II greet you, my countrymen, with frater-
nal regard. In your presence, ] bow to the
majesty of the people. The sight itself is in
| spiring, the thought sublime. You come from
every State and Territory, from every nook
and corner of our ocean bound, continent
covering country. You are about to discharge
more than imperial duty with simplest GER
emonials. You, as representatives of the
people, are to choose o magistrate with power
mightier than a monarch, yet checked and
controlled by the supreme law of written
II