Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-07-28

| ocrats to regard with the same pleasurable
| pride your future career as president of this
| great republic that they now enjoy in the re-
membrance of your former administration
| At the close of the formal letter Mr..
| Cleveland faced Chairman Wilson and
said:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen: The message
you deliver from the national democracy
arouses within emotions which would be
| well nigh overwhelming if I did not recognize
here assembled the representatives. of a great
party who must share with me the response
| bility your mission invites. 1 find much relief
| in the reflection that I have heen selected
| merely to stand for the principles and purposes
| to which my party is pledged and for the en-
| forcemert- and supremacy of which all who
| have any right to claim democratic fellowship
must constantly and persistently labor
Our party responsibility is indeed great We
assume momentous obligation to our country
men. In return for their trust and confidence
we promise them arectification of their wrongs
and better realization of the advantages which
are due TO them under our free and benehcent
institutions
But IL our responsibility is great our party is
strong. 1t is strong in its sympathy with the
needs of the people: in its insistenc upon the
exercise of governmental powers strictly with
in the constitutional permission the people have
granted and in it's willingness to risk it's life
and hope upon the peoples intelligence and pa
triotism.
Never has great party intent upon the pro-
motion of right and justice. had better incentive
for effort than is now presented to u.s.
Turning our eyes to the plain people of the
land. we see them burdened consumers with
a tariff system that uniuStly and relentleSsly
demand from them in the purchase Of the nee
essaries and comforts of life. an amount scarce
ly met by the wages of hard and steady toll
while exactions thus wrung from them build
and increase the fortunes of those for whose
benefit great injury is perpetrated. We see the
farmer listening to delusive story that fills
his mind with visions OF advantage while his
pocket is robbed by the Stealthy hand of high
protection. Our workingmen are still told the
tale oft repeated. in spite of it's demons trated
falsfty, that the existing protective tariff is a
boon to them and that under its ben
ehcent operation their wages must be in
creased. Whilst they reason scenes are en-
acted in the very abiding place of high protec-
ton that mocks the hopes of toll and attest the
tender mercy the workingman receives from
those made selfish and sordid by unjust gov
ernmental favoritism. We oppose earnestly
and stubbornly the theory upon which op-
ponents seek to justify and uphold existing
tariff laws. We do not base our argument
questions Of constitutional permission or legiS-
lative power We denounce this theory upon
the highest possible grounds, when contend
that in present conditions its operation is
just and that laws enacted in accordance with
it are inequitable and unfair.
Ours is not destructive party. We not
at ennity with the rights of any of our citizens.
All are our countryr1en We are not reCk leSsly
needless of any American interests. nor will
abandon our regard for them but invoking the
love of fairness and justice which belong to
AmericaniSin upon which our constitution rests,
We insist that no plan of tariff legislation
shall be tolerated which has for its OBJ
ject and purpose forced contribution
from the earnings and income of the
mass of our citizens to swell directly the &C
cumula lions of a favored few: will we per-
nit pretended solfcitude for American labor,
any other specious preteXt of benevolent
care for others to blind the eyes of the people
yalt Ash
the aid of unequal tariff laws to gain unearned
and unreasonable advantages at the expense of
their fellows.
We have also assumed in our covenant with
those whose support we invite the duty of OPP
posing to the dea tn another avowed scheme of
our adversaries. which. under the guise OF pro-
tecting the suffrage, covers but does not conceal
design 10 thereby perpetuate the power of a
party afraid to trust it's continuance to the I'M
trammeled and intelligent votes of the Ameri-
can people. We are pledged to resist the legis-
lation intended to compile tie this scheme because
we have not forgotten the Saturnalia of thefts
and brutal control which followed another fed
eral regulation of the state suffrage, because
we know that the managers of a party which
did not scruple to rob the people Of president
would not hesitate TO use the machinery
ated by such legislation to revive corrupt in
strumentalitieS for partisan purposes; because
an attempt to enforce such legislation would re-
kindle animosities where peace and hopeful
ness now prevail: because such an attem pit
couragenent and dread throughout O large sec
ton of country and would menace every
where in the land the rights reserved to the
states and to the people which underlie the
safeguards of American liberty.
1 shall not attempt to specify at this time
other objects and aims of democra tic endeavor
which adds inspiration to our mission. True to
it's history and its creed, party will respond
to the demands of the people within safe lines
and guided by enlightened craftsmanship To
the troubled and patient within our membership
we commend continued, answering allegiance
to the party whose principles in all times past
have been found sufficient for them and whose
aggregate wisdom and patriotism experience
teaches can always be trusted
In q tone of artiSanShip which BELTS the oc-
casion let US say to you as equal partners in the
campaign upon which we TO-DAY enter that the
personal efforts of those to whom you have in
trusted your banners are only important as
they are related to the fate of the principles
they represent and to the party which they
lead
cannot therefore forbear reminding you and
all those attached to the democratic party or
supporting the principles which We profess that
defeat in the pending campaign followed by the
contamination of the legislative schemes our
opponents contemplat e, ana accompanied by
such other incidents of their success as might
more firmly fix this power would present most
distressing outlook for future democratic supre-
macy and for the accomplishment of the objects
we have at heart Moreover, every sincere
democrat must believe that the interests of his
country arc deeply involved the victory of
party in the struggle that awaits us Thus
patriotic solicitude exaitS the hope of partisan
ship and should intensity our determination to
win success.
This success can only be achieved BY system
attic and intelligent effort the part of all en-
listed in cause Let us tell the people
plainly and honestly what we believe and how
we propose to serve the interests OF the entire
country. and let us. after the manner of true
democracy. rely upon the thoughtfulness and
patriotism of our fellow countrymen-
1t only remains for to say to you in adj
vance of more formal response to your mes
sage that obey the command of my party and
confidently anticipate that an intelligent and
earnest presentation of our cause viii insure a
popular Endorsement of the action of the body
you represent
Notifying the Vice President.
Immediately after Mr.. Cleveland had
resumed his seat Hon. Stephen v. White.
of California, addressed Gen. Adlai E.