Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-12-27
SELFISHNBSS In POLITICS.
AN ADDRESS BY MR.. CLEVELAND.
MASSACHUSETTS, ASKED TO TAKE THE LEAD
AS IT DID IN CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

of Boston and New England crowded the
| spacious apartments of the Hotel Vendome
at Boston, on the evening of December
18th, on the occasion of the annual banquet
of the Boston Merchants Association.
From to o'clock a reception was held in
the hotel parlors, at which many OF the
members of the association were introduce
ed to the special guests of the evening-eX-
President Cleveland, Andrew Carnegie,
Henry W. Grady, and Col. w. l.. Putnam
of Maine
The following guests of Henry W. Gra-
DIV were also present at the banquet: Ex-
Governor Bullock, DR.. J. W. Rankin,
Clarence Knowles, S. M. Inman, DR.. r.
D. Spaulding, Col. E. P. Howell, Thomas
D. Meador, ] R. Halliday, ". A. Hemp
hill and Judge George Hillyer, all OF
Georgia; John II. Inman, of New York;
President Norton, of the Louisville d
Nashville railroad; Marion Vorfery, jour
nalist; Hon. Patrick Calhoun and q. y.
Nichols, of the Atlanta Constitution. The
banquet over, President Lane in very
few words introduced eX-President Cleve-
land as one who, strong in his personality,
would speak strong words tonight which
would be heard all over the land ana
across the sea in behalf of pure politics
and the reforms which are now sweeping all
parties before them. MI. Cleveland was
received with long continued applause,
shouts and cheers, the entire assemblagee
cheering again and again. MI; cleveland
spoke in Strong, we'll rOdulated voice
and was easily heard by all. His address
was as follows:
Political selfshness cheapens in the
minds of the people their apprehension OF
the character and functions OF the govern
ment; it distOrts every conception OF the
duty of good citizenship and creates an at,
mosphere in which Ubiquitous purposes and
designs lose their odious features. 1t begins
when perverted judgement is won to the
theory that political action may be USED
solely for private gain and advantage, ana
when a tender conscience is quoted by the
ingenious argument that such gain and ad-
vantage are identical with the public well
fare, This stage having been reached ana
self-interest being now fully reused, agen-
ces are used and practices permitted IN
the accomplishment of its purposes, winch
seen in the pure light of diSlntereSted pa
triotism, are viewed with fear and hatred.
The Independent thought and free political
preference of those whom Fate has made
dependent upon daily toll for hard earned
bread, are strangled and destroyed by IN
timidation and the fear of loss OF employ
ment Vile unsavory forms rise 10 tne
and gleefully anticipate i'll the anxiety OF
selfish interest, their opportunity TO Tatten
upon corrupted and debauched suffrage,
This train of thought leads us to consider
the imminent danger which threatens us
from the intimidation and corruption OF
our voters.
1t is too late to temporize with these
evils OF to speak of them otherwise than IN
the plainest terms. We are spared the
labor of proving their existence, for all ad-
nit it. That they are terribly on the increase
all must cOncede. -.
Manifestly if the motives of all our citi-
Zens were unSelfiSh and patriotic, and II
ba1- I'M n1itiPa1 action OOlV Their
share of the advantage accruing from the
advance of our country at all points To-
wards her grand destiny, there would be no
place OF occasion for the perverslon OF our
Suffrage Thus the Inauguration OF the IN
timidation and corruption OF our voters
may be justly charged to se!hsh schemes
seeking success through political action.
But these evils have been neglected by
honest men disguised with all political
endeavOr; they have been tolerated by re-
respectable men who, in weakness OF pa
tri0tic sentiment, have regarded them as
only phases of shrewd political manage
ment, and they have been actually encour-
aged by the honors which have been be-
slowed upon those who boast OF their use
of such agencies in aid of party supremacy.
Many Of us, therefore, may take to our
selves share of blame, when we find con-
fronting us these perils which threaten the
existence of our free institutions, the pres
GINdulOl VI Jul udulOudl lollOl oliet oliS PSA
petuity of our country. The condition an
nexed to the founding of our government
upon the suffrage of the people, was that
the suffrage should be free and pure. We
consented to abide by the honest prepon-
derance of political opinion, but we did
not consent that free vote expressing the
intelligent and thoughtful sentiment OF
the voter, should be balanced by vote of
intimidation and fear, or by an unclean,
corrupt vote disgracefully bought and
treacherously sold. y
Let US look with degree of pity and
charity upon those who yield to fear and
intimidation in the exercise OF their right
of suffrage. Though they ought not thus
to Weld, we cannot forget that as against
their free ballot, they see in the scale, their
continued employment, the comforts of
their homes and the maintenance OF their
families. We need not stifie our scOrn and
contempt for the wretch who basely sells
his vote, and who for bride betrays his
trust of citizenship. And yet the thought
low and vulgar fashion, the example of
those who proceed upon the theories that
political action may be turned to private
gain.
But whether we pity OF whether we hate,
our betrayal is none the less complete; nor
will either pity Or hate restore our birth;
right But we know that when political
selfishness is destroyed our dangers will
disappear; and though the way to its
stronghold may be long and weary, we will
follow it-fghting as we go. There Will be
no surrender, nor will there be assertions
from our ranks. Selfishness and corruption
have not yet achieved lasting triumph
and their bold defiance will but hasten the
day of their destruction,
AS we struggle on and confidently invite
a direct conflict with these entrenched foes
of our political safety, we have not failed
to see another hope which has manifested
itself to all the honest people OF the land.
Immediately destroy at their source the
evils which may afflict them, they may
check their malign influence and guard
themselves against their baneful results.
1t assures them that if political virtue and
rectitude can not at once be thoroughly re-
elements may be discouraged. 1t inspires
them with vigilant watchfulpess and de-
termination to prevent as far as possible
their treacherouS betrayal by those who are
false to their obligations of citizenship.
This hope, risen like the star in the East,
has fixed the gaze of our patriotic fellow
cOuntrymen; and everyWhere-in our busy
marts of trade and OH our farms-in our
cities and in our villages-in the dwell
ings of the rich and in the homes of the
poor--in our universities and in our work
shops-in our banking houses and in the
ranks OF lQeA0rdple TOLL Glley greet With
enthusiastic acclaim the advent of ballot
reform.
There are no leaders in this cause Those
who seem to lead the movement are but
swept to the front by the surging force of
patriotic sentiment. 1t rises far above par
tizanship and only the needless, the sordid
and the depraved refuse to join in the cru
SADIE
This reform is nredicated upon the cool
deliberation of political selfshness in its
endeayer to prostitute our suffrage to the
purposes of private gain. 1t is rightly sup
posed that corruption of the voter is enter
ed upon with such business calculation
that the corruptor will only pay a bride
when he has ocular proof that the suf-
frage he has bargained for is cast in his
interest. So too it is reasonably expected
that II the employee or laborer: Is at the
time Of casting his ballot removed from
the immediate control Of his employer the
futility of fear and intimidation will lead
to their abandonment,
Tie Change demanded by this reform in
the formalities surrounding the exercises of
the privilege of suffrage has given rise tO