Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-28
CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
lhe Ex-President on the
Democratic Party.
HE FORMULATES ITS FUTURE,
And Predicts brilliant Career
for the Party of Genuine
Patriotism.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
New YORK, May 27.-The Young
Mems Democratic Club, of this city, en-
tered into a banquet of welcome to be
extended to ex-President Cleveland at
the Fifth-avenue Hotel this evening.
Nearly 500 of the leaders Of the Dem
cratic party were present. The cheers
were long and loud when the ex-Presi-
dent entered the banquet hail. He sub
mitted to the hand-sha king of the many
guests for an hour before taking his seat
at the table. Cleveland was dressed
in sombre attire. There was more
of the glow of health in his face than at
the time he retired from the Presiden-
tial chair. He appeared in the best OF
spirits. ALI factions of the Democracy
were represented at the banquet, Tam
many, County Democracy, officers of the
Reform Club, and of the various other
Democratic clubs of this city and Brook
lyn. The march into the ban
quet hall was led by President
Arnold alone. He was followed
by ex-President Cleveland, Governor
Hill and Mayor Grant in the order
named, each escorted by member of
the club, under whose auspices the BAN
the guest of the evening, on the right of
Club President Arnold. The others in
places of honor were Governor Hill,
Mayor Grant, ex-Minister to Eng
land Phelps, W. L. Scott, Q.
F. Black, ex.Secretary Fairchild
ex- Governor Hoadley, of Ohio, add P. A.
Collins. About seven long tables we're
laid at right angles to the guests table, at
| which were gathered several hundred
other banqueters. Before the guests took
their seats, Cleveland was rendered an
| impromptu ovation.
When the dinner had been fairly
started, the orchestra began re ldition
of selections of music, which continued
at intervals during the banquet.
| When the presiding officer introduced
Mr.. Cleveland, there was furore of ap-
plause which threatened to overstep all
bounds. When quiet was finally re.
stored, Mr.. Cleveland began his speech.
He said:
| "Many incidents OF my short residence
in this good city have served to fill my
cup of gratitude and to arouse my appre
citation of the kindness and consideration
of those with whom l have made my
home. The hospitality for which the
citizens of New York have long been
distinguished, has outdone itself in my
welcome, and yet l can truly say that
none of these things will be more vividiy
or gratefully remembered than the oppor-
tunity offered me by this occasion to the
political friends l see about me. While
l believe no one is more susceptible than
l of every personal kindness, and, while
1 am sure no one values more his per-
sonal friendships. it certainly should
cause no surprise when say these things
are not more cherished than my attach
ment and loyalty to the true Democratic
faith, and my obligations to the cardinal
principles of its party organization.
have been honored by the party
far beyond my deserts. Indeed, NO
man can deserve its highest honors.
After six years af public service l return
to you, my party, my friends. Six years
have stood as your representative in
State and Nation and now l take my
place again in the ranks, more con-
vinced than ever that the cause of the
true Democracy is the cause of the
people, their safeguard and their hope
come to you with no excuses or apollo
gies and with no confession of disloyalty
1t is not given to man to meet all various
and conflicting laws and views of party
duty and policy which prevail in organi
cations where individual opinion is sc
freely tolerated as in the Democratic
party, and yet, when they honestly are
held and advocated they should provoke
no bitterness or condemnation but when
they are dishonesty proclaimed, under
cover and pretext for personal resent
ment and disappointment, they should
be met by the exposure and the con.
tempt which they deserve. No man can
lay down a trust which he has held in
behalf of generous and confiding people
and feel that at all times he has met in
the best possible way the require
ments of his trust, but he is
not derelict in duty if he has
conscientiously devoted his efforts and
his judgment to the peoples service. 1
have deliberately placed, in close connec-
ton, loyalty to Democratic principles
and devotion to the interests of the
people, tor, in my view, they belong to-
gether, and should mean the same
thing; but, in this day of partisan feel
ing and attachment, it is we'll for us to
pause and recall the truth that the only
justification for the existence of any
party is the claim that, in principle and
performance, its object and purposes are
the promotion of the public good and
the advancement of the welfare and
prosperity of the entire country. There
never was party platform or decara.
ton of principles which did not profess
these things, and make them the founda-
tions of party creed, and any body of
men who should openly proclaim that
they were associated together for the ex.
press purpose of gaining supremacy in
the Government, with the sentiment of
distributing Offices and the spoils of vic
tory among associates, would be treated
with ridicule and scorn. Thus are we
brought face to face with the proposition
that parties should, no more than indi-
viduals, be untruthful and dishonest.
Of course in the supremacy 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, md the benefit of office
holding and personal self-seeking are all
that remain to inspire party activity, not
only is the confidence of those relied on
for patriotic support forfeited, but the
elements of cohesion and of effective and
lasting political strength are gone. Hon
est differences of opinion that must al
ways exist upon question of principle
and public policy should furnish abun-
dant occasion for the existence of parties,