The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-30

sfderatf6ns alone are sufficient justification
for an honest adherence to the letter and
spirit OF civil service reform. There ara,
however, other features of this plan which
abundantly commend 1t. Through It's OPP
Grafton worthier merit in every station and
condition of American life is recognized i'll
the distribution OF public employment,
while its application tends to raise the
standard of political activity from spoils-
hunting and unthinking party utilization
to the advocacy of party principles by
reason and argument.
The American people are generous and
grateful; they have impressed these char
acteriStics upon their government There
fore all patriotic and just citizens must
commend liberal consideration for our
worthy veterans soldiers and for the fam
lilies Of those who died. No complaint
should be made of the amount of public
money paid to those actually disabled or
made dependent by army service. But our
pension roll should be roll ofh0nor, UNI
contaminated by i'll desert and unviJiated
by demagogic use. This is due to those whose
worthy names adOrn the roll, and To all
our people who delight TO honor the brave
and the true. Il is also due to those who
in years to come should be allowed to hear,
reYerently and lovingly, the story OF Ameri-
can patriotism and fortitude, illustrated by
our pension roll. The preferences accorded
to veteran soldier in public employment
should De secured to them honestly and
without evasion, and when capable and
worthy, their claim to the helpful regard
and gratitud- of their countiYmen should
be ungrudgingly acknowledged.
The assurance to the people OF the ut
most individual liberty consistent with
peace and good order is u cardinal princi
pie of our government This gives no
sanction to TeSatiouS Sumptuary laws
which unnecessarily interfere with such
habits and customs of our people as are
not offensive to just moral sense and are
not inconsistent with good citizenship and
the public welfare The same principle re-
quires that the line between the subjects
which are properly within governmental
control and those which are more fittingly
left to parental regulation should be care
fully kept in view. An enforced education,
wisely deemed proper preparation for
citizenship, should not involve The impair
ment of wholesale parental authority nor
do violence to the household conscience.
Paternalism in government finds no APP
proval In the creed of Democracy. 1t is a
symptom of misrule, whether it Is mani
tested in Unauthorized gifts or by unwar-
raated control ofpersonal and family affair.
Our people, sill cherishing the feeling
OF human Fellowship which belonged TO our
beginning as a nation, require their gov
ernmeut to express for them their sympa
thy with all those who are oppressed under
any rule less free than ours.
A generous hospitality, which is one of
the most prominent of our national char
acteriStiCS prompts US to welcome the
worthy and industrious of all lands to
homes and citizenship among us. This
hospitable sentiment is not violated, how
ever, by careful and reasonable regulations
for the protection OF public health, nor does
it Justify the reception of immigrants who
have no appreciation of our institutions
and whose presence among us Is menace
| to peace and good order.
The importance of the Nicaragua ship
| canal as means of promoting commerce
| between our states and with foreign coUn-
| tries. and also as a contribution by Ameri-
cans to the enterprises which advance the
! interests of civilization, should commend
| the project to government approval and
| endorsement
Our .countrymen not only expect from
| those who represent them in public places
| q sedulous care for the things which are
! directly and palpably related to Their
! material interests but they also fully ap-
preciate the value of cultivatlnS our ma
| tional pride and maintaining our national
honor Both their material interests and
| their national pride and honor are involved
! In the success of the Columbian eXposi-
| ton; and they viii not be inclined to con
| done any neglect of effort on the part OF
! their government to insure in the grandeur
of this event q fitting exhibit of American
| growth and greatness, and splendid
| demonstration of American patriotism.
In an imperfect and incomplete letter l
! have thus endeavored TO state some OF the
| things which accord with the views and
| intentions of the party to which l have
| given my lifelong allegiance. My attempt
! has not been to instruct my countrymen
| Qo= EIS Eartss but to remind both that
Democratic doctrine lies near the princi-
| pies of our government and tends to pro-
! mote the peoples good l am willing to
| be accused of addressing my countrylnen
upon trite topics and in hOmely fashion,
! for l believe that important truths are
! found on the surface of thought, and that
| they should be stated in direct and simple
terms Though much is left unwritten,
my record as a public servant leaves no
excuse for misunderstanding my belief
and position or the questions which are
! now presented to the voters of the land for
| their decision.
Called for the third time to represent the
party of my choice i'll a contest for the
! supremacy Of Democratic principles my
grateful appreciation Of its confidence, less
than ever effaces the solemn sense of my
responsibility.
II the action of the convention you rep,
resent shall be endorsed by the sutfrages OF
| nv countrymen. / will assume the duties
of the great office for which l have been
nominated, knowing full well its labors and
| perpleXities and with humble reliance
upon the Divine Being, infinite in power
to aid and constant in watchful care over
| our favored nation. Yours, very truly,
| GROVER CLEVELAND.
GRAY GABLES. Sept %, 1892.