Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-12
CLEVELAND AND TAMMANY.
Letter From the President on the Tam
many Celebration.

many CeleDfotfons
New YORK, July 5.-The Tammauy Socl
ETY. Yesterday celebrated for the one
hundredth time the anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence. Usually the
celebration takes place in the Wigwam,
but the recent fire there compelled the
braves to assemble IN the Academy Of MI
sic. In addition 10 the well-known Tam
many cheiftains present. there occupied
seats on the platform, as guests, Senator
Vest, Of Missouri; Representatives Roger
@. Mills, of Texas; Patrick A. Collins, Of
Massachusetts,; James B. McCresry, OF
Kentucky; Charles E. Hooker, of Missis-
sippi; Benjamin F. Shively, Of Ind ana
Melbourne H. Ford, of Michigan; William
McAdoo, of New Jersey; Governor Biggs,
of Delaware; s. s. Cox, F. B. Spinola.
General John Newton, Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury Maynard and General Fitz
John Porter Many letters of regret were
read from distinguished Democrats, includ-
ing the following from the President:
Hon james 4. Flaof. Grand Sdchem:
DEAR SIR: regret that 1 am obliged to de-
cline the courteous invitation which l have re-
celved 10 attend the celebration by the Tam
many Society Of the birthday OF our Republic
on the fourth day OF July next The zeal and
enthusiasm with which your society celebrates
this day afford proof of its steadfast patriotism
as well as its care for ali that pertains TO the
advantage and prosperity OF the people. / can
not doubt that the renewal Of a love and E.
votion TO q pure Jef1ersonian Democratic form
OF government which you contemplate, will
suggest the inquiry, whether the people are re-
ceiving all the benefits which are due them IN
der such form OF government These benefits
are not fully enjoyed when our citizens are IN.
necessarily burdened and their earnings and
incomes are uselessly diminished under the
pretext of Government support.
Our Government belongs TO the people. They
have decreed its purposes, and it is their clear
right 20 demand that Its cost shall be limited by
frugality, and that its burden of expense shall
be carefully limited by its actual needs. And
yet needless and dangerous surplus IN the
National treasury tells no other tale but extor-
ton on the part of the Government and per
version Of the peoples intention.
In the midst of our impetuous enterprise and
blind confidence in our destiny it is time to
pause and study our condition. 1t is no sooner
appreciated, than the connection must follow
that the tribute exacted from the people should
be diminished. The theories which cloud the
subject, misleading honest men, and the ap-
peals TO selfish interests which deceive the IN
Outstanding, make the reform, which should be
easy, difficult task.
present evils have always been the friends OF
American labor, and though they declare their
purposes 10 further its inter ests in all their eff
forts yet those who oppose reform attempt TO
disturb our workingmen by the cry that their
wages and their employment are threatened.
They advocate a system which benefits certain
classes OF our citizens at the expense of every
householder in the land-a system which breeds
discomfort, because it permits the duplication
Of wealth without corresponding additional rec
ompense to labor, which prevents the opportun-
ity TO work by sitting production and
limiting the area of our markets, and
which enhances the cost of living beyond the
laborers hard earned wages. The attempt is
made to divert the attention of the people from
the evils of such a scheme of taxation by
branding those who seek to correct these evils
as free traders and enemies of our workingmen
and industrial enterprises.
This is so far from the truth that there
should be no chance for such deception to sue
coed.
1t behooves the American people, while they
rejoice in the anniversary of the day when their
free Government was declared, to also reason
together and determine that they will not be
deprived of the blessings and the benefits which
their Government should AFFORD
Yours very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
Speeches were made by Senator Vest
and Congressmen Mills, Cox, Collins, Nc
Creary, Hooker, Shively and others.