Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-12-09
CLEVELAND'S SPEECH
AT THE WILLARD DINNER IN NEW
YORK CITY.
Full Report OF His Address-IIe
Talked 20 Those Present as II He
Were n Father Giving Advice to
sis Sons.

Were n Father Giving Advice to
sis sons.
New York World.
The forty distinguished Democrats
aud business men who. as the guests
OF Henry Willard, gathered with
President elect Cleveland about the
banquet board at Sherry's Thursday
night were most enthusiastic yes,er-
day with the superb speech made by
Cleveland. Though the dinner was
intended to be entirely private, those
who listened to him, after cheering to
tho echo, insisted that his address be
given TO the press.
Mr.. Cleveland had prepared only q
few notes, and for the most part the
speech WAS extempore. One of the
guests, however, was an adept at stem
ography, and Mr.. Cleveland's utter
ances were recorded verbatim. There
fore il is possible to present what
those who heard it pronounce the
gem OF all orations that have yet fal.
len from the lips of the President
elect.
/" II was after the coffee, and we had
pushed back our chairs preparatory to
enjoying an informal chat" said one
OF the gentlemen yesterday who was
present. "Then our host arose and
in few words expressed his pleasure
that so many had responded to his in
vitation. Turning to the President
elect he declared him to be the bea-
con light of Democratic principles,
and announced that though it had
not been intended to have any formal
speech-making, still he had prevailed
upon Mr.. Cleveland to say q word or
two.
81 shall never forget how. when he
took the floor, MIR. Cleveland i'm
pressed me. / have known him for
many years, and yet never have seen
him when he seemed to be so over
powered with . sense of the RESPONSE
bility which soon will be thrust upon
him. There was nothing of triumph
about his demeanor or remarks. He
talked to us as if he were o father
giving advice to his sons, or as an
army commander 10 his ieutenants
on the eve Of II desperate battle. The
speech was not prepared, and yet it
seemed as il il had been thought out.
I have heard nearly every address
made b. Mr.. Cleveland since he be-
came known in the political world,
and VIC all agreed that this was the
greatest that ever fell from his lips.
When il had ended and the cheers
had subsided and the visitors crowded
about the President-elect to grasp his
hand. q close friend came near to Mr..
Cleveland and said: "Mr. President,
/ regard your address as the grandest
that either you or any mortal man
has yet delivered"
"Mr. Cleveland's reply was given
with Q look Of affection. He simply
said: If had not known you so in
timately for SO many years should
suspect that you were trying to fatter
me-"
This was Mr.. Cleveland's speech:
find Il impossible to rid myself at
this moment Of the conflicting emo
tions which stir within me. 1 see
here assembled good and staunch
friends who have labored necessarily
and devotedly for the success which
has crowned Democratic effort in the
canvass just closed, and / cannot for
get how greatly these efforts have
been characterized by personal at
tachment and friendship for the can
didate selected to carry the Demo-
cratic banner. This swakens sense
OF gratitude which it is q great pleasure
for me TO thankfully acknowledge. /
confess, too. that l have fully shared
in the partisan satisfaction which our
great victory is calculated to arouse in
every heart no thoroughly Democratic
80 mine.
IL is seldom given any man to con-
template such u splendid campaign,
80 masterly arranged in his behalf by
such good friends, followed by such
s,upendous and complete triumph. /
should not. perhaps, introduce any.
thing sombre on this occasion, but !
know you will forgive me when l say
that every feeling OF jubilation and
even my sense OF gratitude is 80 tenn
pered as 10 be almost entirely oh.
scured by the realization, nearly pain.
iui. OF the responsibility / have as
sumed In the sight Of the American
people. My love of country, my At
sschment TO the principles of true
Democracy, my appreciation OF the
obligation i have entered into with
the best and most confiding people of
the world and consciousness of nv
own weakness and imeerfections, all
conspire 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 concluded,
is but just begun. What shall our
performance be Of the contract we
have made with our countrymen, and
how well shall we justify the trust
they have imposed in US,
II se see nothing in our victory but
. license TO revel in partisan spoils, we
shall fall at every point. II we mere
ly prlless 10 enter upon our work and
II we make our apparent endesvor to
do u cover for seeking partisan ad-
vantage. we shall invite contempt and
disgrace. II We attempt TO discharge