The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-07-28

| S1AoI "AotSSSl 6OSSA AAAiSAlS aLu law
can do for people must be done fol
all the people, without precedence o.
section or grades of citizenship Mr.
Wilson then spoke at length on the
duty of the Democratic party and
the issues of the campaign. In
conclusion he said: CHOW, sir, we
put into your hands the commission
of which We are bearers. 1t is the
highest honor your party can bestow.
1t is the gravest call to duty your fel-
low Democrats can make. But we
believe we can assure you that there
are no "weak, weary or respondent
Democrats" in the ranks of our party
to-day, and that with the peoples
cause as Our cause we doubt not you
will lead US to victory in which the
principles of the party shall gloriously
triumph, and the welfare of our coun-
try shall be righteously promoted"
MR. CLEvELAND's REPLY.
Mr.. Cleveland responded as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen:-
The message you delivered from the
National Democracy arouses within
me emotions which would be we'll
nigh overwhelming, if did not rec
ognize here assembled the representa-
tives of great party who must share
with me the responsibility your mis-
sion invites. l find much relief in the
reflection that l have been selected
merely to stand for the principles and
purposes to which my party is pledged,
and for the enforcement and suprem-
acy of which, all who have any right
to claim Democratic fellowship, must
constantly and persistently toll. Our
party responsibility is indeed great.
We assume momentous obligation to
our countrymen when, in return for
their trust and confidence, we promise
them a rectifcation of their wrongs and
better realization of the advantages
which are due to them under our free
and benefcent instructions. But if
our responsibility is great, our party is
strong. 1t is strong in its sympathy
with the needs of the people, in its
insistance upon the exercise of govern
mental powers strictly within the con-
sttutional permission the people
granted, and its willingness to risk its
life and hope in the peoples intelli-
gence and patriotism. Never has
great party, intent upon the promo
ton Of right and justice, had better
incentive for effort than is now pre-
sented to US. Turning our eyes to the
plain people of the land, we see them
burdened as consumers with tariff
system that unjustly and licentiously
draws from them in their purchase
of the necessaries Of life an amount
scarcely met by the wages of hard and
steady toll, while the exactions thus
wrung from them, build up and in
crease the fortunes of those for whose
benefit this injustice is perpetrated.
We see the farmer listen to delusive
story that fills his mind with visions
of advantage, while his pocket is rob-
bed by the stealthy hand of high pro-
lection. Our working men are still
told the tale, oft repeated, in spite
of this demonstrated falsity, that the
existing protective tariff is boon to
them, and that under its benefcent
operations their wages must increase
while, as they listen, scenes are
enacted in the very abiding
place of high protection, that mock
the hopes of toll and attest the tender
mercy the working man receives from
those made selfish and sordid by unjust
governmental favoritism. We oppose
earnestly and stubbornly the theory
upon which our opponents seek to
justify and uphold existing tariff laws.
We need not base our attack upon
questions OF constitutional permission
or legislative power. We denounce
this theory upon the highest possible
grounds when we contend that in pres
ent conditions, its operation is unjust
and that laws enacted in accordance
with it are inequitable and unfair.
Ours is not a destructive party. We
are not at enmity with the rights of
any of our citizens. All are our
countrymen. We are not recklessly
needless Of any American interests,
nor will we abandon our regard for
them; but invoking the love and fair
ness and Justice which belongs to true
Americanism, and upon which our
constitution rests, we insist that no
plan of tariff legislation shall be toll
Grated which has for its object and
purpose a forced contribution from,
the earnings and income of the mass
of our citizens, to swell directly the
accumulations of favored few; nor
will we permit pretended solicitude
for American labor, or any other pre-
text of benevolent care for others, to
blind the eyes of the people to the
selfish laws, to gain unearned and un-
reasonable advantages at the expense
of their fellows. We have also as
sumed in our covenant with those
whose support we invite, the duty O
opposing to the death another avoweo
scheme of our adnersaries, which
under the guise of protecting the suf
!. frage, covers but does not conceal {
design thereby to perpetuate the powel
:: of party afraid to trust its continu
ance to the untrammeled and intelli
. gent votes of the American people
We are pledged to resist the legisla
t ton intended to complete this scheme
, because we have not forgotten tn
. saturnalia of theft and brutal contro
which followed another Federal regu
: lation of State suffrage; because W
f know that the managers of part
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