The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-29
CLEVELAND TALKS
AN ADDRESS FULL OF SOUND SENSE
TO THE BUSINESS MEN.
He Believes in Business Men Taking g
More Active Part in Politics and in
Running Government Affairs on
Business Basis.

New YORK, Oct. 27.-Ex-P President
Cleveland delivered the following ad-
dress at the business mems mass
meeting tonight:
| Gentlemen
1t must be confessed that both here
and in other parts of the country
those engaged in business pursuits
have kept too much aloof from public
affairs and have too generally
acted upon the theory that neither
their duty as citizens nor their per-
sonal interests require of them any
habitual participation in political
movements. This indifference and in
activity has resulted in loss to our
public service. am firmly of the be-
lief that if a few business men could
be substituted for professional men in
official places, the people would posi-
lively gain by the exchange. And it
is strange to me that our business men
have not been quicker to see that their
neglect Of political duty is constant
danger to their personal and
| especial interests. They may labor
and plan in their counting houses or
| in their exchanges, but in the mean
time laws may be passed by those
ignorant of their business bearings,
which in their operation will counter
act all this labor and defeat all this
| planning. The city of New York, as
the center of all that makes our En-
pire State and as the great heart from
which the life-giving current flows to
| all parts of the country, cannot be in
| different to the questions, both state
| and national, which have relation
to the state campaign now nearly
| closed.
Much has been said about the topics
which should be discussed i'm the pros
ecution of this campaign. IL has been
| cOntended that the canvass should he
confined to state issues and il has been
claimed that national issues should he
most prominently considered. | con-
| ceive the truth to be that both are
proper subjects for discussion at this
time and, in presence of this assem-
! blage, called together to consider the
business features of the contest, am
| impressed with the fact that the best
test to employ by way of discovering
the legitimacy of any topic, in the
pending campaign, is to inquire
whether it is connected with the good
of the country and with the business
of the city and state and whether it
will be at all influenced by the re-
suits of the canvass. Can any one
doubt that the political verdict which
the people of New York will give in
| November next, will affect her posi-
tion in the general national engage
ment which will take place one year
hence. In this view, the proper adj
justment of the tariff, which concerns
not on ly our 14t, IN
merc9 andb liil,ss o
city, should be discussed. This and
the question of sound currency can.
not be separated from the business in
terests of our state, and they should
be put before our people now for the
purpose of inviting their thought and
setting their opinions Applying this
same test, it is entirely plain that the
economical administration of state af-
fairs and the numerous other objects
having reference to a just, honest and
benlficent state government is in u
business sense important and legiti-
mate. On all these questions the
New York democracy is right and we
are willing and anxious to discuss
them in any place and at any time.
But our opponents, apparently.
seeking to avoid the discussion of sub.
"a a tn
affecting the business of our city and
state and exhibiting such weakness
and fear as certainly ought not to es-
cape notice, are shrieking throughout
the State the demerits and dangerous
proclivities of certain political or
ganization whose members support
the principles and candidates of the
Democratic party. 1t would be quite
easy to show that even if all they al
lege against this organization were
true the perils our opponents present
to the people are baseless and absurd.
But it seems to me the argument of
such question belittles the import
ant situation.
Every man knows, or ought to
satisfy himself whether the prin-
ciples and policy presented to the
people by the Democratic party are
such as he approves. IF they are,
certainly his duty as a citizen obliges
him to indorse them. Every man
ought to satisfy himself whether the
candidates of the Democratic party
are men Of such character and ability
that he is willing to trust them in the
administration of his state govern
menu. If he believes they are,
he should not withhold his support
from them upon any friN olons
and irrelevant pretext. The ex.
ercise of the right of suffrage
is serious business. and q
mans vote ought to express his opin-
ion on the questions at issue. This it