The Portland daily press., 1892-11-02
Cleveland Getting Ready to Let Him
self Down Easy.
SAYS THE REPUBLICANS MAY BUY
UP THE ELECTION,
And All Because the Ubiquitous Tariff Has
Made Business Men the Paid Tools of
Party Willing to Buy Others-This
Startling Announcement Was Made to
Club of Gotham's Democratic Mer-
chants Last Evening.

Club of Gotham's Democratic Mer-
chants Last Evening.
New YORK, November 1.-Grover
Cleveland spoke before the Business
Mems Democratic Association tonight in
the Lenox Lyceum. The audience num-
bered about 2500 The hall was hand
somely draped and Cappa's Seventh Reg
iment Band furnished music. When
Joseph J. O'Donohue escorted the ex-
President to the platform Mr.. Cleveland
was enthusiastically cheered again and
again. Mr.. Cleveland and Congressman
W. G. P. Breckenridge made speeches.
Mr.. Cleveland said:
s'Fellow Citizens-We have nearly
reached the last hours of discussion in
campaign characterized by many un-
usual features and incidents. I venture
the assertion that never in the recollec-
ton of any one here present has Presi-
dental canvass been carried on with
such lack of noise and excitement, in
such an apparent atmosphere of popular
thoughtfulness. If this is actually the
condition, if our voters are really
thoughtful, it should be the cause OF
congratulation ON the part of every
American citizen. That there must be
sober deliberation in the exercise of the
right of suffrage is the foundation of our
hope for national perpetuity. None of
us can complain of political result
which represents the conscientious and
clear convictions of the majority of
our people. When these convictions
prevail, it is the misfortune or fault OF a
party If it be defeated because the prinr
ciples it advocates are not understood
by our voters, OF, if understood, are not
accepted. If we assume that the, quiet
OF this campaign is attributable to
thoughtfullness among our people, and q
deliberate sense of patriotic duty in1 he
exercise of their suifrages, there would
seem to be no lace for fear or misgiying
as to the result on the part of those who
support Democratic principles. In ex-
actly the form they are involve
in the present campaign. these
principles were presented two years ago
to the voters of the country and re-
ceived their endorsement by
tremendous majority. Since then
The Drift of Public Opinion
has been in our direction and the doc
trines opposed to ours have been more
than ever discredited. 1t must be con-
ceded that the intelligent and disinter-
ested men who have left the ranks of
our opponents and joined our STAN
dard are exceptionally numerous and in
fuential.
1.-THE fact that with all these things in
our favor we are still not absolutely sure
of success, would be startling if we did
not knon the desperate and disreputable
methods which confront us. Our oppon-
ents, vanq .ished in every argument wor-
thy of presentation to the reason of our
countrymen, have appealed to their pas
sions and prejudices through the distri-
button of the most impudent lies con-
cerning the record and action of our par
ty and its candidates.
'sThis is not their main reliance, nor is
it our greatest danger. 1t is confession
most humilating 10 American citizen
ship, that with a cause so thoroughly
entrenched in reason, commenting it
self so clearly to the intelligence of
patriotic Americans, we daily hear pre-
dictions of Republican success, based
upon the ability of that party
To Purchase the Votes of the People.
A little reflection, it seems to me, cannot
fail to arouse the American conscience
to the wickedness as well as the peril of
a debauched suffrage.
1.-THE time has surely come when those
who see the beginning of corruption
should look beyond it and beneath it, in
an endeavor to discover the source of
our danger and the forces which give it
deadly strength. 1t has its sourc in the
perversion of our government to the fur
therance of limite and special interests,
and in the invitation thus ex ended to
anticipate the continuance of govern
mental favor in compensation for parti-
san support. The forces behind it are
greed and selfshness, willing to prosti-
tute the suffrage of the pc pie to pecu-
mary gain. In the light of these
considerations, there is nothing
the pending canvass. When our country
men yield to temptation and turn their
backs upon the broad and disinterested
| patriotism that should characterize their
! citizenship, and when they reach point
where they are willing to subordinate
political duty to business gain it is a
short step to active participation in
schemes of corruption having for their
object the retention in power of party
by which unearned business profits are
| promised. The movement begins with
the corruption, by means of these
promises, of the beneficiaries them
selves. They are thereafter the willing
instruments for the corruption of others,
instigated to activity by obliga-
ton to aid the party which
| favored them, and stimulated
by the expectation of further especial
| benefits. This deal between a political
| party and private enterprise, by which
governmental aid is promised in ex.
| change for partisan support, is covered
by the pretext of care for the business
| interests of the country. Since, there
| fore, the fair name of our business inter-
| ests has thus been used in disreputable
service, have deemed it appropriate to
call attention to these things in an as
semblage gathered together under the
auspices Of a business mems club"