Fair play., 1889-06-08
Ex.PRESlDENT CLEVELAND.
Hls Magnificent Address on the Principles
and Aims of True Democracy.

York to Grover Cleveland. ex-President
of the United States. at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. was attended by about
four hundred guests, comprising a
good representation Of all factions OF
the Democracy. At the head table
with John Il V. Arnold, president of
the club. sat ex-President Cleveland,
Governor Hill, Mayor Grant, Comp
troller Lowe, jefferson NJ Levy, ex-
Mayor Grace, William Bourke Cock
ran, Ashbel =. Fitch, W. {. z Breck-
inrldge, W. ID. Garrison and other in
vited guests. When the presiding
officer introduced Mr.. Cleveland there
was Juror of applause, and when Mr..
Cleveland himself arose the enthusi-
asm of the assembled Democracy
threatened to overstep all bounds.
Men stood on the tops of the tables.
Cheers became yells of delight. and a
one round Of applause seemed about
to subside some one else would pro-
pose three more cheers for Grover
Cleveland, and ere these had ceased
to echo another call would be made,
until the tumult ceased for lack OF
force Mr. Cleveland stood calmly
| awaiting the pleasure of his friends.
His imperturbility was remarked by
ell who watched his face. He began
his speech IN II clear ringing tone.
and kept it up till he finished. He
said:
MANY incidents of my short residence in
III good city have served 10 nj my cup ot
gratitude and to arouse my appreciation of the
kindness and consideration OF those with
whom have made my home. The hosp Ia tg
for which the citizeus OF New YORK have long
been stingu shed has outdone itself in my
welcome. The members of my profession have.
upon MY return TO Its activities. rcce vrt
with traterLal greet ngs, and personal friends
have not permitted me TO feel like stranger
IN a strange city. Aud yet can truly say that
none CT these things will be more vIy!dIy or
gratefully remembered than the opportunity
afforded me by this occasion To greet the pOlIt-
ical friends see about me, while | believe
that no one is more susceptible than To every
personal kindness. and while am sure that no
one values more his personal fr end>hip- il
certainly should cause no surprise whan l say
that these things are not more cherished than
my attachment and loyalty 10 true Democratic
faith and my Obligations TO the cardinal pr II
ciples Of its party organization. | have been
honored by my party far beyond my deserts.
Indeed, no man can deserve its highest ncaors.
After SIX years of public service return 10 you,
my party friends. Six years have stood a,
your representative in the State and Nation
and now take my place again IN the rnnas.
more convinced than ever that the cause o:
true Democracy Is the cause OF the people,
their safeguard and their hope
Il come to you W tn no excuses nor anoIog cs
ard with no confession of disloyalty. II is no
given to man TO meet all the varIou, and coz
hcting views OF party duty and pol cY which
prevail in organization where ind v.GuaI
opinion is SO freely tolerated as IN the Demo
cratic party Because these views are various
and conflicting some OF them must be wToEg.
And yet when they are honestly held and ad-
yocated they should provoke 10 bitterness nor
condemnation, but when they dishonesty
procla med as Il mere cover anu prci'xt for
personal resentment and disappointment they
should be met by the exposure and contempt
which they deserve. II W tn sincere dcs IN
and intent one c.! arged with party representa-
tion has kept the party faith, tina, must answer
his party obligation No man Can lay down
the trust which be has held in behalf cf gen
erous and confdinG people and feel that at all
times he has met N the best possible way the
requ rements Of his trust. hut he Is not derelict
in duty # he has conscieatously devoted his
efforts and his judgment to the peoples scrv-
ice.
Il have deli berately placed in c'ose con
nection loyalty 10 Democratic prime pics and
devotion TO the interests OF the people. for in
my view they belong together ana should
mean the same thing. But in this day o:
partisan feeling and attachment IT IS well for
US to pause and recall the truth, that the only
justification for the existence OF any party Is
the claim that in priEciple and performance
its object and purposes are the promotion OF
the public good and the advancement of thu
welfare and pros perity Of our entire country
There never was party platform dcclara
ton OF pr !nciples which did not profess these
things and make them the foundations OF party
creed: and any body OF men who should openly
proclaim that they were assoc ated together
for the express purpose Of gaming su upremacy
in the Government with tho sent ment OF d -
triDutng offices and the spolls OF victory among
the associates would be treated with rldlcu!e
and scorn. Thus are we brought face Ic face
with the proposit on that parties should.
no more than ind viduals, be untruth-
full and dishonest. or course IN the su-
premacy of party there are advantages to its
members, and this is not amiss. But when
high party aims and professions are lost sight
OF or abandoned. and the benefit of Office
holding and personal pelf are all that remain
To inspire party activity, not only is the con-
fidence OF those relied on for patriotic support
forfeited. but the element of cohes and o.
effective anu lasting political strength
gone. TIE honest d ffereIcc> OF opinion thar
must always exist upon quest CnS of pr ncae
and public rolicy should furnish abundant
occasion for the existence OF parties and 20 NJ
ont their field OF usefulness. The study ana
discussion of these questions can not fall TO
result in more valuable citlzenshIp and more
intelligent and better equipped part'sans.
"When We seek for the cause OF the per-
petuty of the Democratic party and lis
vIval through every crisis and emergency, ard.
in the face Of all OBJ ostion, We tind il IN the
fact that the corner stone is laid in devotion to
the rights Of IFS people and sympathy with all
things which tend to the advancement: OF ther
welfare and happiness. Though heresy may
sometimes have crept into Ills organization.
and though party conduct may at times have
been Influenced By the sh!ftiness which is the
habitual dev ce Of its opponents. there has al
ways renamed deeply i'm bedded in It's nature
and character that sp r.; o. true Ar-erIcaGisrn
and that love OF popular rights which has
made II indestructibe IN disaster and defeat.
and has constituted il a boon 10 its country Il!
its time OF triumph and supremacy. The
great founder Of the party, as he cousecrated
himself by q solemn oath 10 the faithful per-
formance OF the dat es OF the Presidential
Office, and pledged himself 10 the preserva-
ton, protection and defense OF the coIsttC-
ton after presenting 10 h.s assembled fellow
coun;rymea the causes of coEgratulatlo1
found IN the condition OF our country ana the
character of our people. inpresslveiy added:
With all these blessings what more 5 neces-
sary 10 make US happy and prosperous peo-
pie? Still one thing more. fellow-cit.zens-a
wise and frugal government which shall re
strain men from laluring one another, shall
leave them otherwise free 10 regulate tRci-
own pursuits OF industry and improvement.
and shall not exc from the mouth of labor tne
bread il has earned. This is the sum Of good
government. and this IS necessary 10 close the
circle OF our felicites.'
IN the lexicon OF true Democracy these
words are not obsolete, but they still furnish
the IuSpirat OF 0. our efforts and Al lCterpre
tation Of our political faith. Happily the party