The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-11-24
MR.. CLEVELAND'S GRATITUDE.
His First Public Utterance On The
Result of the Election.

New YORK, Nov. 2l.-The speech
which Grover Cleveland made at the
private dinner rendered by Henry
Willard last evening was this afternoon
made public. This is what Mr.. Cleye-
land said -
"Mr. Willard and Gentlemen:
find it impossible to rid myself at this
moment of the conflicting emotions
which stir within me. / see here as
sembled good and stanch friends who
have lsbored necessarily and devoted
ly Tor the success which has crowned
Democratic effort in the canvass just
closed and | cannot forger how great
ly these efforts have been characteriz-
ed by personal attachment and friend
ship for the candidate selected to car
ry the Democratic banner. This
awakens sense of gratitude which is
a great pleasure for me to thankfully
acknowledge. | confess that ! have
fully shared in the partisan satisfac-
ton which our great victory is calcula-
ted to arouse in every heart so thor
oughly Democratic as mine. 1t is
seldom given to any man to contem.
plate such a splendid campaign, SO
masterfully arranged in his behalf by
such q stupendous ana complete tri-
umph.
81 should not, perhaps, introduce
anything sombre on this occasion, but
| know you will forgive me when | say
that every feeling Of jubilation and
even my sense of qualification is so
tempered as to be almost entirely OBJ
scured by a realization, nearly pain
full, of the responsibility ! have assum-
ed in the sight OF the American peo-
pie. My love of country, my attach
ment to the principles OF true Democ-
racy, my appreciation of the obliga-
ton | have entered into with the best
and most confding people in the
world, and consciousness of my own
weakness and imperfectious, all con-
spire to fill my mind with sober and
expressing reflection.
"When consider all that we have
to do as a party charged with the con-
troll of the Government, | feel that
our campaign, instead of being con-
cluded, is but just begun. What shall
our performance be OF the contract we
have made with our count1ymen, and
how well shall we justify the trust
they have imposed on IFS? If we see
nothing in our victory but license
to revel in partisan spoils, we shall
fail at every point. Il we merely pro-
Tess to enter upon our work, and if
we make no apparent endeavor to do
it, but make it cover for seeking par
tisan advantage, we shalt invite con-
tempt and disgrace. If we attempt to
discharge our duty To the people with
out complete party and patriotic ac-
tion, we shall demonstrate Jour incom-
potency. "
I thank God that, for above all
doubts aud misgivings. and away be-
yond all difficulties, we may constant.
ly see the lights of hope and safety.
The light we see is the illumination
from the principles Of true, honest
and pure Democracy showing. the
way in all times of anger and leading
us to the fulfillment Of political duty
and the redemption of all our pledges
This light is kindled in the love oI
ljustice and il devotion to the peoples
rights. 1t is bright in u constant pa
triotism and in q nations promise
Let us not be misled to our undoins
by other lights OF false Democracy
which may be kindled in broken faith
and which, shining in hypocrisy, will
! if followed, lure us to the rocks OF fail
ure aud disgrace. If we see stern la
Dor ahead of us, and il difficulties loon
up on our horizon, let US remembe
that in thickest weather the marine
watches most anxiously for his tru
light.
"Who in our party charged with an
! responsibility to the people has nc
y pledged his devotiogs to the prime
pies of true Democracy, and VIII
among us has made pledges with il
tent to deceive? I-hve faith in til
!, manlinesa and tru hfulness of IL
Democratic ptTsy. My belief in oil
principles and my faith in our part
constitute aly trust that wo shall al
swer the expec Aa5ions Of our countr
men. md haii raise high alolt IL
standard q n tptA DnupDrracV to fix tl