The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-01
The First Cleveland Campaign.

The First Cleveland Campaign.
'"The other presidential campaign in
which 1 took an active part was that
which in 1884 resulted in the nomi-
nation, the election and inauguration
of Grover Cleveland. AS | look back
now upon this campaign l recall that
its one dominating feature was the cry
that the Democratic party could not
be trusted to deal with the business
interests of the country. From every
Republican newspaper in the land
went up that foul stream of personal
abuse which made that canvass a dis
grace to the party that resorted to
these methods.
'"The only excuse for these false
hoods was the fear that the gains of
greedy monopolists would, in some
way, be interfered with, and an at
tempt was made at every turn to rep
resent to the country that these rep
resented it's great business interests.
In spite of this indecency and bitter
ness, in spite of the unlimited ex-
penditure of money in every quarter
the Democrats carried the election.
1t would scarcely become me in speak
ing before an audience of business
men, more than to ask the question
whether or not in their own opinion
every legitimate business interest of
the country was not promoted and
enlarged by the election and the sub
Sequent administration of this man?
He enforced economy he settled great
disputed questions and he administer
ed the government with an honesty
and a courage that which nothing in
all our history could be more positive
or distinctive
1--WE now hear again the same old
parrot cry, that the business inter-
eStS of the country cannot be en-
trusted to the keeping of one-half of
its people. and that their chosen rep
resentative. whoever he may be, is the
enemy of thrift and industry.
And that cry swells up from the
thrOats of those whose interest it is
to preserve untouched the statute
which permit them to collect tribute
from the people or who are interested
IN combinations organized to prevent
competition.
An Equal Chance for AL
You, who as business men, are
here tonight and those whom you rep
resent, have not thus shown an in
terest in politics because you think
there is something in it for you, or
because you are the benefciarieS of
faVorS granted by law, or because you
desire legislation which will turn taxes
from the government treasury in
which they properly belong and put
thefn IN your own pockets.
You do not belong to that order of
business men who levy contributions
In wall street, upon timid or grasp
ing industries. You are not compell-
ed, on the other hand, to purchase
immunity for some wrong doing,
either actual or prospective, or TO
compound some offenSe committed in
the past, or contemplated in the fu-
ture. Nor do you belong to those
who hope further to enrich themselves
at the expense of the investing public
and of the people and their govern
ment by contributing illegally from
FUNDS, entrusted to you what voI,
know will be expended to corrupt the
suffrage of your countrymen On
the contrary you are interested as all
TlSnt minded men are, in the en-
couragement of theft, the accumula
ton of property, the up building of all
our industries, the development of
every part of our great country. and
the perpetuatlon OF government on
lines laid down by our fathers.
And you know that an e~,,al chance
for all men is absolutely essential r,
that healthful - which ALI
patriotic men most desire for our be-
loved country.
Foreign Trade. How No. to Win.
I'VE stand as country upon the
threshold of great foreign trade. Our
natural resources, the industry. the
enterprise and the genuity of our peo-
pie. our ability to command efficient
labor from every quarter of the globe.
and the strength and flexibility of the
founded for us on strong
and right lines. all combine to fit for
supplying an almost infinitely increas-
ed demand for Ou~ products.
But foreign trade cannot be woa
by a people which consents to put
itself into the leading strings of secon.i
childhood. 1t cannot become the
heritage of manufacturers who must
be paid bounty. in order that they
may mulct their own countrymen.
(Continued on Second Page.)