The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-27
He Addresses the Members of the
Bufalonian Club.
HIS EARLY POLITICAL DAYS.
His Devotion tn the Principles of Demo-
cracy Enlarged Upon to Men who
Know His History. aud Must Have
Smiled Broadly To Have Him Talk.

lands arrival was the occasion OF much
applause and all those present remained
standing until the speeches, which lasted
for almost an hour, were over. Among
those present were T.. &. Benedict, presi-
dent OF the club; Lieutenant Governor
Sheehan and Mayor Bishop of Buffalo.
Mr.. Benedict, in a brief speech, intro
duced Mr.. Cleveland, who spoke as fol-
lows:
hope II is not necessary for me to tell
you how much enjoy being with you,
and how exceedingly gratifying Is every
reflection suggested by this occasion.
Its best and most pleasant feature is, OF
course, the presence here OF many-old-
Buffalo friends, which recalls to my
mind incidents and associations which
have been and will always continue to be
the things most carefully kept by memo
ry for my delight.
You have among you one at least, who
thirty two years ago, belonged with me
to a Democratic club which had in hand
the task OF electing Stephen A. Douglas
to the presidency. Many a night We
marched side by side, la yellow caps and
bearing torches. i do not believe that
either of us supposed for moment that
our candidates would be defeated, pro-
vided we marched far enough and made
noise enough, and had enough of kero-
sene oil running from our torches down
our backs. am thus reminded of time
when my participation in the activities
of politics meant enth us iasm for q man
or a cause, a great deal OF excitement and
noise, plenty of hope and confidence, gen
orally followed by bitter disappointment
soon forgotten.
hardly think you will be surprised to
know that in 1892, when my relation 10
politics has a rather more sober complex
tAr. 49,
1860 and all i.s work and disappointment
with comparative pleasure. Others do
the marching and shouting now, but l
believe they are enjoying the campaign
more than / am. Somehow the thing
looks more serious to me now, and can
not help thinking that i am rather more
closely related to the present campaign
than, was when Douglas ran for Presi-
dent.
Another of your members was a student
I'm my Buffalo office. This reminds me OF
the days when in the city OF Buffalo i at
tempted by the practice of law to obtain
as honest living AS was possible in that
business. Those were pleasant days, and
do not mind confessing that they were
badly exchanged, so far as my personal
comfort and enjoyment are concerned.
for the perplexities and troubles OF pub
lie life. / must not neglect to mention
the further gratifying circumstance that
the appearance of the name of this MEM
ber upon your rolls in icates the proba-
bility that his politics has improved a.
we'll as his knowledge OF law since he
was associated with me in Buffalo.
knew another young man when ]
lived in Buffalo, who was jolly, pleas
ant fellow, but who from a Democratic
and especially from the
OF Democratic defeat, was one
Of the most good natured, agsravating
Republicans in the city. l want to en-
pnasize the dominance of his good ma
ture and good heartedness over his for
mer partisanship by mentioning the fact
nat have lately received from him "a
your secretary, an invitation to join this
organ zation, which. understand TO b.
pledged TO the support of Democratic
candidate for the Presidency.
At the head of your club find q com
psratively new acquaintance, whose gen.
'rosity as friend. and whose success in
business was fully explained to me when
found that he had formally resided in
Buffalo, and had been educated in her
pu blic schools.
/ will not refer to the other members
of your organization whose presence
here brings to mind pleasing incidents
,f former days, but will do myself the
ustice to say that my sensations are
uch at this moment, and in the atmos-
ohere OF personal friendliness that per-
'ades this occasion, that / nearly forgot
hat this organization has political plans
md purposes. am glad, however, that,
when these plans and purposes occur to
NY mind, they merely add to my grate-
ul appreciation OF your personal kind
ness. You encourage me to believe that
hough you have ssoc lated together in
support of certain political principles,
he fact that an old Buffalo friend is In
rouble on account OF his political opin-
ons and needs your help, has something
20 do with your organized political act
witty,
Therefore, while my heart is full OF
gratitude to the friends / see about me,
,annot- -forbear the suggestion OF my be-
lef that your organization not only de-
your personal friendship for
In old townsman, but IL also indicates
hat you are fully alive to your duty as
sood citizens. You know how devoted I
I'm to the principles Of the Democratic
party, and your knowledge OF me will, I
I'm sure, acquit me of insincerity when I
'xpress the opinion that the result Of
he pending political struggle means
more TO our country and our people than
my in which you or / have ever been
engaged.
On one side the claim is defiantly and
announced that the functions
)f our government may be used directly
Tor the benefit OF certain special inter-
ssts, with at best a very remote regard to
he welfare of the masses OF the people.
In opposition TO this an appeal is made
10 our fellow citizens to hold fast to the
foctrine that their government should
II all times be Administered directly for
hem and that they should not be
obliged TO receive as their share of the
blessings OF the free government they
maintain, the small portion which may
liter through TO them in the process of
making special bensficiaries rich. In
Ither words, the Democratic party is in
'isting upon the honest application OF
he rule that government by the people
should be a government for the people.
IL is as needless as IL is foreign to my
purpose to discuss in detail, before those |
70 thoughtful and intelligent as my Buff
alo friends, the differences between ths
political principles and purposes present. |
ID to our people for their approval. It
,nly remains for me to say that, what |
'ver may Toe the result of the pending
l shall always remem Der as its !
most pleasing incident, this occasion and |
he evidence IL furnishes of the consider |
,tion and devotion OF the Buffalo friends |
see here about me.
Lieutenant Governor Sheehan then
made speech, predicting that Cleveland !
Ind Stevenson would carry New York /