Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1884 — CLEVELAND AND HENDRICES. [ARTICLE]

CLEVELAND AND HENDRICES.

Their Letters Accepting the Nominations for President and Vice President. CLEVELAND. Got. Cleveland’s letter formally accepting the Democratic nomination for President of the United States is as follows: ? k* Te recelved yeur communication dated July 28, 1884, informing me of my nomination to the office of President of the United States by the National Democratic Convention lately assembled at Chicago. I accept the nomination with a grateful appreciation of tne supreme honor conferred and a solemn sense of the responsibility which, in its acceptance, I ftssumo. I have carefully considered the platform adopted by the convention, and cordially approve the same. So clain a statement of Democratic faith and principles upon which that party appeals to the suffrages of the people hjadß no supplement nor explanation. It should be remembered that the office of President is essentially executive in its nature. _ The lav< enacted by the legisItisro branch of the Government the Chief Executive is bound faithfully to enforce. And when the wisdom of the political party which selects one of its members as a nominee for that office has outlined its policy and declared its principles, it seems to me that nothing in the character of the office or the necessities ot the case requires more from the candidate accepting such nomination than the suggestion of certain well-known truths so absolutely vital to the safety and welfare ot the nation that they cannot be too often recalled nor too seriously enforced. We proudly call ours a government by the people. It is not such when a class is tolerated which arrogates <» itself the management of public affairs, seeking to control the people instead of representing them. Parties arc the necessary outgrowth of our institutions, but a government is not by the people wuen one party fastens its control upon the country, and perpetuates its power by cajoling and betraying the people instead of serving them; a government is not by the people when a result which should represent the intelligent will of free and thinking men is or can be determined by the shameless perversion of their suffrages. When an election to office shall be the selection by the voters of one of their number to assume for a time a nubile trust, instead of his dedication to the profession ot politics; when the holders of the ballots, quickened by a sense of duty, shall avenge truth betrayed and pledges broken, and when the suffrage shall be altogether free and uncorrupted, the full realization of a government by the people jvill be at hand. And as a means to this end; no one would, in my judgment, be more effective than an amendment to the Constitution disqualifying the President from re-election. When we consider the patronage of this great office, the allurements of power, the temptation to retain public place ones gained, and, more than all. the availability a party finds in an incumbent whom a horde of officeholdeis, with a zeal born of benefits received, and fostered by the hope of favors yet to come, stand ready to aid with money and trained political service, we recognize in the eligibility of the President for reelection a most serious danger to that calm, deliberate, and intelligent political action which must characterize a government by the people. A true American sentiment recognizes the dignity of labor and the fact that honor lies in honest toil. Contented labor is an element of national prosperity. Ability to work constitutes the capital, and the wages of labor the income of a vast number of our population; and this interest should be jealously protected. Our workingmen are not asking unreasonable indulgence; but as intelligent and manly citizens they seek the same consideration which those demand who have otherinterests at stake. They should receive their full share of the care and attention of those who make and execute the laws, to the end that the wantsand needs of the employers and the employed shall alike be subserved, and the prosperity of the country, the common heritage of both, be advanced. As related to this subject, while we would not discourage the emigration of those who come to acknowledge allegiance to our Government and add to our citizen population, yet, as a means of protection to our workingmen, a different rule should prevail concerning those who, if they come or are brought to our land, do not intend to become Americans, but will injuriously compete with those justly entitled to our field of labor. In a letter accepting the nomination to the office of Governor nearly two years ago, I made the following statement, to which I have steadily adhered: ‘The laboring classes constitute the main part of our population. They should be protected in their efforts peaceably to assert their rights when endangered by aggregated capital; and all statutespn this subject should recognize the care of the Slate for honest toil, and be framed with a view of improving the condition of the workingman." A proper regard for the welfare of the workingmen being inseparably connected with the integrity of our institutions, none of our citizens are more interested than they in guarding against any corrupting purposes which seek to pervert the beneficent influences of our Government; and none should be more watchful of the artful machinations of those who allure them to self-lnfiicted Injury. In a free country the curtailment of the absolute rights of the Individual should only be such as is essential to the peace and good order of the community. The limit between the proper subjects of governmental control and those which can be more - fittingly left to the moral sense and self-imposed restraint of the citizen should be carefully kept la view. Thus laws unnecessarily interfering with the habits and customs of any of our people which are not offensive to the moral sentiments of the civilized world, and which are consistent with good citizenship and the public welfare, are unwise and vexatious. The commerce of a nation to a great extent determines its supremacy. Cheap and easy transportation should therefore be liberally fostered. Within the limits of the Constitution, the General Government should so improve and protect its natural waterways as will enable the producers of the country to reach a profitable market. The people pay the wages of the public employes, and they are entitled to the fair and honest work which the money thus paid should command. It is the duty of those intrusted with the management ot their affairs to see that such public service is forthcoming. ' The selection and retention of subordinates in Government employment should depend upon their ascertained fitness and the value of their work, and they should be neither expected nor allowed to do questionable party service. The interests of the people will be better protected ; the estimate of public labor and duty will be Immensely Improved; public employment will be open to all who demonstrate their fitness to enter it. The unseemly scramble for place under the Government, with the consequent importun.ty which embitters official life, will cease,and the public departmentswill not be filled with those who conceive it to be their first duty to aid the party to which they owe their places, instead of rendering patient and honest return to the people. I believe that the public temper is such that the voters of the land are prepared to support the party which gives the best promise of administering the Government in the honest, simple, and plain manner which is consistent with its character and purposes. They have learned that mystery and concealment in the management of their affairs cover tricks and betrayal. The statesmanship they require consists in honesty and a prompt response to the needs of the people as they arise, and the vigilant protection of all their varied interests. If I should be called to the Chief Magistracy of the nation by the suti rages of my fellow-citizens I will assume the duties of that high office with a solemn determination to dedicate every effort to the country’s good, and with a humble reliance upon the favor and snpport of the Supreme Being, who, I believe, will always bless honest human endeavor in the conscientious discharge of public duty. Gboveb Cleveland. To Col. William F. Vilas. Chairman, and D. P. Bestor and Others, members of the Notification Committee of the Democratic National Convention.

HENDMCKS. The following is a copy of ex-Gov. Hendricks’ letter of acceptance of the Democratic nomination for the Vice Presidency: Gentlemen : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication notifying me of my nomination by the Democratic convention at Chicago as a candidate for the office of Vice President of the United States. May I repeat what I said on that occasion, that “it is a nomination which I had neither expected nor desired, and yet 1 recognize and appreciate the high honor done me by the convention.” The choice of such a body, pronounced with such unusual unanimity, and accompanied with so generous an expression of esteem and confidence, ought to outweigh all' merely personal desires and preferences of my own. It is. also, from a deep sense of public* duty that I now accept the nomination, and. shall abide the judgment of my countrymen. I have examined with care the declaration of principles adopted by the convention, a copy of which you submitted to me, and in their num and substance I heartily indorse and appapva the same. - I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant. T. A. Hendbickb. Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 20. To the Hon. William P. Vilas, Chairman; Nicholas M. Bell, Secretary, and others of the notification committee of the National Democratic Covention.