The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-07-07

Tammany Hall, New York, Democrats
always celebrate the Fourth of July. On
Wednesday last they had one of the best ever
held in their existence, Speeches were made
by Henry Waterson, Gov. Riggs, of Del, and
others. President Cleveland was invited,
but his engagements would not permit his
presence. He sent the following letter:
"ExEcUrIvE MANSION,
Washington, d. c., June 30.
ssHon. James A. Fldck, Grand Sdchem:
"DEAR SIR regret that 1 am obliged to
decline the courteous invitation which | have
received to attend the celebration by the Tam
many Society of the birthday of oar Republic,
on the fourth day of July next.
sThe zeal and enthusiasm with which your
society celebrates this day afford proof of its
steadfast patriotism, as well as its care for all
that pertains to the advantage and prosperity
of the people:
az cannot doubt that the renewal Of !loVe
cratic form Of Government, which you con-
template, will suggest the inquiry whether the
peonle are receiving all the benefits which are
due them under such form of Government.
These benefits are not fully enjoyed when our
citizens are unnecessarily burdened and their
earnings and incomes are uselessly diminished
under the pretext governmental support.
"Our Government belongs 70 the people.
They have deereed its purposes; and it's their
cleat right to demand that its cost shall be
limited by fEugality, and that its burden ofex
pense shall be carefully limited by its ACTUAL
needs.
SAND yet a useless and dangerous surplus
ip the National Treasury tells no other tale
but extortipn on the part Of the Government,
and perFersian Of tie peoples intention.
SIN 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 conviction must
follow, that the tribute exacted from the
people should be diminished.
1.-THE theories which cloud the subject, mis-
leading honest men, and the appeals to selfish
interests which deceive the understanding,
make the reform, which should be easy, a
difficult task. Although those who propose a
remedy for present evils have always been the
friends of American labor, and though they
declare their purposes. 10 fnrther its iateresss
ia all their efforts, yet those who oppose re- :
form ATTEMPT ia disturb or EoEkihgnen by
the cry that their wages and their employment
are threatened.
"TAey advocate o system which benefits
certain classes of our oitlxsns at the expense
Of every householder in the land-a system
which breeds discomfort because it permits
the duplication of wealth without correspond
ing additional recompense to labor, which
prevents the opportunity to work by sitting
production and limiting the area Of our mar
kets, and which enhances the cost of living
beyond the laborer's hard-earned wages.
s'The attempt is made to divert the atten-
ton of the people from the evils of such
scheme of taxation by branding those who
seek to correct these evils as free traders and
enemies of our workingmen and our indus
trial enterprises.
'.This is so far from the truth that there
should be no chance for such deception TO-
succeed.
''It behooves the American people, while
they'reioiee ID 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 bone.
fits which their government should afford.
"Yours, very truly,
'sGRovER CLEVELAND"