Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-11-21
Grover CleVelald's Speech
Al The Banquet to Allen G. Thurman.

At the grand banquet given Allen g.
Thurman at Columbus, Ohio. OH his 18th
birth day, ex-President Cleveland WAS pres
ent and spoke AS follows:
Mr.. President and Gentten.en
Il follow the promptings Of heart full of
deVotlOh and veneration, as l tender from the
Democracy of the great State of New York.
her tribute OF affection for the man whom we
honor tonight l am commissioned to claim
tor my State her full share of the glory which
mas been shed upon the American name and
character, by one whose career and example
cannot be pre-empted and whose renown can
not be limited in ownership to the neighbOrs
and friends OF any locality. We contest every
exclusive pretension to his fame and great
ness, because he is neighbor to all the peo-
PIE OF the land: because he is a friend Of all
who love their country; because his career
Splendidly illustrates the best and strongest
elements OF our national character; and be-
cause his example belongs to all his country
men. 1t is fitting that those who have faith
ID our destiny as a nation who believe that
there are noble things which belong distinc-
lively to our character as a people and who
prize at Its true worth pure American citizen
snip, should gather here tonight. 1t is given
us to contemplate the highest craftsmanship,
Inc most unl lelding and disinterested devO-
ton to the interests of the people, and the
most valuable achievements in the cause Of
our country's welfare, all Of which have been
stimulated and accomplished through the in
huence and impulse OF true, unperverted,
sturdy Americanism. We rejoice in the ex-
ample afforded on this occasion of genuine
American citizenship, revealed to us as a safe
and infallible interpreter Of duty in all the
emergencies OF long and honorable public
career, and as all unfailing guide to useful
Hess and fame.
In this presence and in the atmosphere OF
these reflections, We should not miss the les
n n Ysr fol
appreciation of the value of this citizenship,
ana revive our apprehension OF the sentiments
and conditions i'll which it has its rise and
growth. And first OF all we should be pro-
fOundly grateful that the elements which
make up the strength and vigor of American
citizenship, are SO naturally related to our
situation and are SO simple. The intrigues
eli monarchy which faint the individual char
acter OF the subject; the splendOr which daz-
lies the popular eye and abstracts the atten-
tion from abuses and STILES discomfort, the
schemes OF conquest and selfish aggrandize-
ment which make selfish people, have no
legitimate place in our national life. Here
the plain people of the land are the. rulers.
their inveStiture OF power is only accOmpa.
MED with the conditions that they should love
their country, that they should jealously
guard and protect its interests and their fame,
and that all the intelligence with which they
are endowed should be devoted to an under
standing OF its needs and the promotion of its
welfare, These are the elements of Amer-
can citizenship, and these are the conditions
npOn which our free institutions We're entrus-
ted to our people, in full reliance, at the be-
ginning and for all time to come, upon Ame-
rican manhood consecrated by the highest
and pureSt patriotism.
"A country broad and new to be subdued
to the purposes of mans existence, and prom
ising vast and independent resources, and a
people intelligently understanding the value
of a free nation and holding fast to an intense
affection for its history and its heroes, have
to- do Nuif Arn<a
character and giving it hardihoOd and vigor.
But it should never he forgotten that the in
tiuence which, more than all other things, has
made our people safe dtpOsitaries of govern
>urest guaranty of the strength and perpetuity
OF the Republic. has its source in the Ameri-
can home. Here our patriotism is born and
rntwines itself with the growth of ilial love.
md here our children are taught the story Of
our freedom and independence. But above
all, here in the bracing and wholesome at
mosphere OF accomplishing frugality and
economy, the mental and moral attributes OF
rated Never could it be said of any country
80 truly as of ours, that the pernfanency Of its
institutions depends upon its homes.
II have spoken Of frugality and economy as
important factors in American life. find no
fault with the accumulation Of wealth, and
am glad to see energy and enterprise receive
their fair reward. But believe that our gov
eminent in its natural integrity, is exactly
suited to frugal and economical people; and
believe it is safest in the hands of those who
have been made strong and self-reliant in
their citizenship, by self-denial and by the
surroundings Of an enforced economy. Thrift
and careful watchfulness OF expenditure
among the people tend to secure a thrifty gov
eminent; and cheap and careful living on the
part Of individuals ought to enforce economy
In the public expenditures. When, therefore,
men in high places Of trust, charged with the
responsibility OF making and executing our
laws. not only condemn but fippantly deride
cheapness and economy within the homes of
our people, and when the expenditures Of the
government are reckless and wasteful we
NAV he sure that something is wrong with us,
and that a condition exists which calls for
VIGOROUS and resentful defence Of American
ism. by every man worthy to be called an
american citizen" When the promoter Of
PARTY measure which invades every home in
the land with higher prices declares that
..chean and nasty 90 together. and this whole
system of cheap things is badge OF poverty,
f1r cheap merchandise means cheap men, and
cheap men mean cheap country" we indig-
uantfy repudiate such an Interpretation OF
American sentiment. What was the occasion
nf these cOndemnatiOns of cheapness and
what had honest American men and women
done. or what were they likely to do, that
they should be threatened with the epithets
sscheaD. - nasty and "un-American?" 1t is
hard to speak patiently as we answer these
.sStep by step vast number of our people
had been led on, following blindly in the
path of party. They had been filled with hate
and sectional prejudice; they had been cajoled
with Misrepresentation and false promises;
they had been corrupted with money and by
80 %t,A;r calficl,uaSc 4 n these things