The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-05
from disaster and preserve our national
glory and prosperitv.

EARNESTLY nope tnat tne celebration
contemplated by your organization will
STIMULATE those who are within its in
huenoe to do valiant deeds in the polit-
ioal field, and said present. perplexi lies
to teach by example and declaration
the potency of adherence to sound and
consistent principles and the safety of
reliance on the honor and patriotism
OF our countrymen when impending
danger arouses them to activity. Yours
very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND"
Senator Hill in the course OF his letter
said: 1.-The present Is indeed Q fitting
time for The revival Of revolutionary
memories and the promotion of the best
interests of our common country. It
1t is useless to disguise the fact that
the spirit OF soctaliam is unfortunately
abroad in the land demanding, among
other things, more liberal construc-
tion OF the federal constitution than our
fathers were ever willing to sanction;
insisting upon odious schemes Of tax
alton, foreign TO the genius of our free
institutions; proposing to ignore or be-
little the reserved rights OF the States:
seeking an extension of the functions or
jurisdictions OF the federal judiciary BY
tho gradual and insiduous assum ption
of the exercise of powers heretofore no,
invoked in violation OF the spirit, II not
the letter, OF the constitution; persist
emily insisting upon special legislation
for the benefit of private interests and
chques rather than for che general well
fare and for public purposes; clamoring
Tor nat or deprecated currency in the
place OF coined money; for legislation
fnsurinR the assumption on the part of
the state Of the actual management of
nearly all corporate interests OF public
character, rather than q reasonable con-
troll and regulation by law, and desiring
to inhict upon us the enactment or
arbitrary enforcement OF unjust, vex-
atious and puritanicsl sumptuary laws,
which needlessly interfere with the
harmless habits and customs Of large
portions of our people.
I'm other directions there are indica-
tions OF efforts TO change the nature of
our government by transferring 1t from
simple republic OF States to q strong
centralized government with vastly
augmented powers; of endeavors to
maintain an immense standing army
and powerful sea-going navy, not for
tho purpose OF defense, but in readiness
for conquest, in furtherance of such
schemes for national ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or
the illegitimate use of intimid ton; of
tendencies towards plutocracy and for
the exclusion of the rule OF the plain
people and of attempts to prescribe
citizens from political preferment on
account OF their nationality, religion,
occupation or social status.
"These are some of the evils or
dangers which threaten the people, and
patriotism, SO we'll as good policy, re-
quire shonld be stoutly and earnestly
resisted"
Secretary Herbert, after expressing
his regrets, that he could not be pres
ent. said: THE Democratic party came
into power at the beginning of o fnan-
cial crisis which was the logical outcome
OF many years OF Republican Legislation.
For time there WAS disposition TO
hold us responsible for existing con-
ditions. Notwithstanding the fact that
for thirty-two years the Democracy had
never been for single hour able to leg.
islate at Washington. 1t Is peculiarly
unfortunate that when we did get into
power we were notunited; but in spite
OF fractional differences among ourselves,
we have upheld the honor of the country
at home and abroad; we have by the re-
peal OF the Sherman law and by stop
ping the outflow OF gold. maintained the
credit OF the government which we found
in great peril, and we have reformed
the tariff laws
prosperity Is returning and voters
are beginning TO take that sober second
thought which 30 invariably leads the
American people to correct conclusions.
II we would put the Democracy in
power again at the coming presidentia
election, we have only to forget our
factionsl quarrels, come together for
sound money as our fathers did in the
days Of Jackson, stand together against
the robberies OF high tariff, as we our
selves did In 1892, and continue to adj
here to those vital principles that have
made the Democracy q living force
whether in or out Of power since the
days of Jefferson"