Democratic messenger., 1888-09-15
CLEVELAND'S LETTER
HE ACCEPTS THE NOMINA-
NATION AND ATTACKS
THE REPUBLICAN
PLATFORM.
He Reviews the Political and Commercial
Features Of the Campaign aud
Denies That the Democratic
Party Has Entered OnR
Free Trade Crusade.
WAamiNaTON. Sept. g.

Ihe hilOWihg IL the Tresiuchts ictpcr
OF acceptance:
Washington. Sep. 8, Isss-IIon. Patrick
A Collins and Others, Committee, &c
Gentlemen: In addressing To you my
formal acceptance Of the nomination to
the Presidency of the United States, my
thoughts persistenily dwell upon the i'm
pressive relation of such action to the
American people. whose confidence is
thus invited, and to the political party TO
which belong, just entering upon con-
test for continued supremacy.
The world does not afford spectacle
more sublime than Is furnished when
millions of free and intelligent American
citizens select their chief magistrate and
bid one of their number TO find the high
est earthly honor and the full measure Of
public duty in ready submission to their
will.
II follows that candidate for this high
Office can never forget that when the tur.
moil and the strife which attend the sclec.
tion OF its incumbent shall be heard no
more there must be In the quiet calm
which follows complete and solemn self.
consecration by the peoples chosen Presi.
dent Of every faculty and cndcavor to the
service Of confinding and generous
nation Of freemcn.
These thoughts are intensified by the
light of my experience In the Presidential
Office. which has sobcrly impressed me
with the severe responsibilities which il
imposes, while It has quickened my love
for American institutions and taught me
the priceless value Of the trust Of my
countrymen.
II Is the highest importance that those
who administer our government should
jealously protect and maintain the rights
Of American citizens ut home and abroad,
and should strive to achieve for our coun.
try her proper place among the nations of
the earth but there is no people whose
home interests are so great and whose
numerous objects ot domestic concern
deserve so much watchfulncss and care.
Among these are the regulation of n
sound financial system suited to our needs,
thus securing an efficient agency of na.
tional wealth and general prosperity; the
construction and equipment of means Of
defense TO insure our national safety and
maintain the honor beneath which such
| national safct,. MANASSAS. tt,o ,,rotoc,in,, .,r
our national domain still stretching be.
yond the needs ofa ccniury's expansion,
and its preservation for the settler 6id
the pioneer Of our marvellous growth; n
sensible and sincere recognition Of the
value Of American labor, leading TO the
scrupulous care and just appreciation of
the interests of our workingmcn: the limi.
tation and checking Of such monopolis,ic
tendencies and schemes as interfere with
the advantages and benefits which the
people may rightly claim; a generous re.
gard and care for our surviving soldiers.
sailors and for the widows and orphans of
such as have died, 10 the end that while
the appreciation of their services and sac.
rifices is quickened the application of their
pension fund.- improper cases may he
prevented protection against servile
immigration. which iniuriously completes
with our laboring men In the field of toll
and adds To our population an element
ignorant Of our institutions and laws, i'm.
possible Of assimilating with our people
and dangerous to our peace and welfare
strict and stcadfast adherence to the
principles Of civil service reform and n
thorough execution Of the laws passed for
their enforcement, thus permitting to our
people the advantages of business meth.
ods In the operation Of their government
the guaranty TO our cOlOred citizens OF all
their rights of citizenship, and their jus,
recognition and encouragement in all
things pertaining tn that relation n firm.
patient and humane Indian policy, So iha,
in peaceful relations with the government
the civilization Of the Indian may he pro.
NOTED, with resulting quiet and safety to
the settlers on our frontiers, and the cur.
tailment of public expense by the intro.
duction OF economical methods In every
department Of the government.
The pledges contained In the platform
adopted by the late convention of the ma.
tional Democracy lead 10 the advancement
Of these objects and insure good govern.
ment-thc aspiration Of every true Amer.
lean citizen and the motive for every pa.
triOtic action and effort. In the conscious.
ness that much has been done in the
direction Of good government by the
present administration, and submitting
It's record to the fair inspection of my
counlIymen. endorse the platform thus
presented, with the determination that, II
| am again called To the chief magistracy,
there shall be continuance Of devoted
cndeavOr 10 advance the interests 0f the
entire country.
Our scale of federal taxation and It's
consequences largely engross At this time
the attention of our citizens. and the peo.
pie are soberly considering the necessity
Ofmeasures of relief
Our government is the creatinn of the
people, established to carry out their de.
signs and accomplish their good 1t was
founded on Justice and was madc fora free.
intelligent and yiriuous people. II Is only
useful when within their control. and only
serves them well when regulated and
guided by their constant touch. II is a
free government because II guarantees to
every American citizen the unrestricted
personal use and enjoymen, OF all the re.
ward Of his toil and of MI his income, cx.
cept what may lie his fair contribution TO
necessary public expense. Therefore IL
Is not only the right, but the duty of free
people. Is the enforcement oftlis guaran-
tee. TO insist that such expense should he
strictly limited to the actual public needs.