The record-union., 1892-12-12
DUTY OF THE DEMOCRACY.
PRESIDENT-ELECT CLEVELAND'S
TALK ON REFORM.
Rights of the People in Every Condi-
ton of Life Must be Placed Upon
a More Equal Footing.
Special to the RECoRD-UNION.


NEW YORK, Dec. 11.-Over five hum
dred statesmen from all sections of the
country gathered in tue concert hall of
Madison Square Garden last night The
occasion was the Reform Clubs dinner to
President-elect Grover Cleveland.
1t was almost o'clock when the Presi-
dent of the club, Ellery Anderson, raped
for order. The divine blessing was then
invoked and dinner served. While the
dinner was in progress the boxes and
galleries gradually filled, and when the
courses were finished there was not a va
cant seat in the house.
Dinner over, President Anderson arose
and made a brief eulogistic speech OF the
guest of the evening. He then introduced
Cleveland, and the applause became al
most deatening. When quiet was at
length restored Cleveland spoke as fol-
lows:
1--WE can contemplate nothing more
gratifying in connection with this assem-
blage than the proof it affords that the
American people can be trusted to man
age the Government given into their
keeping. If there are those who have
been disappointed and dIsheartened by
the extent to which our people have been
deceived and misled, or who with fear
have seen heedlessness OF the duty of
citizenship open wide the door to corrIIpt-
ing influences, or who, with sad forbod-
ings, beheld popular rule nearing the ia
tai rocks of a debauche1 suffrage, or who
mourned because appeals to seltishness
and promises OF unequal advantages were
apparently undermining the patriotism
which alone justities our hope of national
perpetulty, let this occasion and the events
which lead to 1t reinState faith and conf
dence in our cOuntrymen.
If we have learned that an appeal to
the patriotism of our countrymen and the
honest presentation of political principles
10 their Intelligence and judgment are not
IN vain the thought must not escape us
that, while our people will in the END re-
pay with their support the political party
which addresses their understanding and
reason instead Of their prejudlces and sell
fish interests, they viii surely revenge
themselves upon those who deceive or
Detray them.
while the National Democracy and its
allies in political principles rejoice over
the victory won, the fate of the defeated
party is full OF instruction and warning.
Ii we redeem the promises we have made
to the voters of our land the difficulty of
our task can hardly be exaggerated
Conditions involving the most important
interests must be reviewed and modified,
safety must be settled. Above all. and
the ultimate object ofall we do, the rights
and welfare of our people in every con-
dition OF life must be placed uDon more
equal plan of opportunity and advantage.
We should not enter upon our work in
the least feeling Of resentment nor in the
needless disregard of the welfare OF anv
portion of our citizens. The mission Of
our party and the reforms we contem-
plate do not involve the encouragement
OF Jealous animosities nor discrimination
between American interests.
''In order that we may begin with free
hands we should vigorously oppose ali
delusiOns which have their origin in un-
democratic teachings or in demagOL-ic at
tempts to deceive the people. We should
strive to rid ourselves and our country
men of the idea that there is anvthino
shabby or distasteful in economy, whether
in public or private life. If extravaganza
in public expenditure has prevailed in
the past it affords no excuse for its con-
tinuance, and there is no breach Of duty
SO alpabie as waste of the money held
by public servants for the peoples uses.
The cultivation of such a sentiment is not
only a high duty, but an absolute uaces-
sity to the consummatlOn of the reforms
we enter upon. We shall utterly and dis
gracefully fail if we attempt these reforms
under the influence of petty partisan
ScnemlnS OF lear tne JeopafulAng OF per-
sonal political fortunes. They can only
be accomplished when unseltish patriot
ism guides the aspirations of our people
and regulates the action of their chosen
servants We, who are to be charged
with the responsibility Of making and
executing the laws, should begin our
preparation for the task by rigid self
examination and by self-purgation from
all ignoble and unworthy tendencies
threatening to enter into our motives and
designs"