Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1884 — CLEVELAND AND HENDRICKS. [ARTICLE]

CLEVELAND AND HENDRICKS.

The President-Elect Indicates His Policy Toward the Colored Race. The Vice President-Elect’s Views on Civil Service and Revenue Reform. CLEVELAND, His Policy Toward the Colored Race and the Commercial Interests of the Country. Gov. Cleveland was asked by a reporter at Albany, the other day, if he was aware of the delusion among the colored people of the South that a change in administration would unfavorably affect their condition. Gov.. Cleveland replied: “Yes, I have been astonished at the statement that there was an apprehension existing among the colored people that in some way their rights now secured to them under the laws and'Constitution of the United States were in danger from the election of a Democratic President 1 am even told that some of them are led to suppose the result of the recent election means that they may again be made slaves. All this has appeared to me to be absurd, and I have been so sure that the slightest intelligent reflection would dislodge such foolish fears, that I can hardly deem any notice of them necessary. But there is not the slightest objection to calling the attention of all who are In the least uneasy or uncertain upon this subject to the fact that the title of the colored people to freedom and all the rights of citizenship can not be disturbed except by a change In the Constitution, which it would be absolutely impossible to make. Besides, the present condition or statuß of these people has been so fully aooepted by the entire country that no one should have the slightest idea that any attempt would be made to change It if there were any possibility of accomplishing such a thing. So far as the new administration la related to this subject, the whole country can be sure that the lawful power and jurisdiction of the Executive will be so exercised that the rights of all citizens, white or black, nnder the Constitution and the law will be preserved and protected, and all the advantages to which they are entitled by reason of their citizenship will be seenred to them. There need bo no fear that the Democratic party or ita newly elected administration proposes to oppress or enslave any part of our population, nor to destroy the business interests of the oonntry. We hope, on the other hand, to do something to benefit the people. It seems to me that the effort in that direction would be (tided if mischievous croaking and dark imaginings should give place to an earnest endeavor to inspire confidence and to make universal a cheerful hope for the future."

HENDRICKS. He Makes a Speech, Giving Some IntlmaI tion of What Will Take Place In the Next Four Years. Vioe President-eleot Thomas A. Hendricks spoke at considerable length in the Brooklyn Rink, on the occasion of a Democratic julilee, In the coarse of which he said: I do not join you to-night for any purpose of rejoicing over the fall of our opponents. It is enough to know that they have fallen. I join yon to rejoice, not that their flag has been trailed in the dust, but that ours flies in triumph over the land; not that they suffer the pangs of disappointment and defeat, but that we, the representatives of the Democracy, the politics of the people, are successful. But lam also sorry that after the result an attempt has been made to infuse into the minds of our colored people the idea that the success of the Democratic party meant the destruction of the rights and privileges of our colored voters. This is a great wrong. My fellow-citizenß, as a free and independent voter, the colored voter entered the Democratic ranks, and, as a free and independent voter ho will remain under its broad banner and principles. We have been for nearly the last quarter of a century suffering with great patience the rebuffs of the party in power with the statement that we were not fit to be trusted, but on the 4th day of this month millions of our fellow-countrymen declared that we are to bo trusted. I thank the Independent Republican party and those of the ministry, of the bar,.and of the other great professions, who have stood by our side in the hour of trial. The people of the United States have taken up the great question of reform in all and overy department. When the Democratic party took hole] of Cleveland and Hendricks it was likened to the cry of the traveler in the sledge who was followed by the wolves: but Cleveland and Hendricks came out of the battle better than the traveler. I am ashamed to say that the campaign just closed was the most remarkable I ever took part In for calumny and falsehood. But I knew when I heard all this going round that It would not avail, and I did not go out of my way to say one word, but just let matters take their course in Indiana, And so It came out all right. I do not wish to speak In terms of disparage ment of those who must feel the pangs of defeat, bnt I will ask the Republican party who gave them the authority to sit in judgment on the party of the people, and say that it was not safe.to trust the Government in our hands? This, my fellow-citizens, has been answered by the voice of the people of the Empire State, as well as the other States, in no unmistakable terms. Let us be as patient now In the hour of triumph as we have been in the long years of trial. We, they tell us, will be responsible for the future of this great country. Yes, and we accept the great responsibility that will bring peace and good government to the people of the United States. It was God that gave ns the power to set this great lesaon—a lesson that we must abide by, and a lesson that I hope the Republican party will not eoon forget—that the great work commenced and carried out by the peopled! the United States on Nov. 4 last, when the Democratic party was once more placed in power, means nothing more or less than a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Oh, yon will see a very great change after the 4th of next March, when President Grover Cleveland takes his seat at Washington. It has been decided by the people that there shall be a government executive reform, so that all the laws shall receive their just and proper constructing—a construction that shall bring blessings upon the common people, upon labor, as well as upon capital; a construction that will be in accordanoe wlth the true intent and meaning of the legislators; that there shall be administrative refonn, so that there shall be no longer any inability to carry the malls across the country without loss to the pnblic treasury; so that there shall be honesty in all the departments of the Government. Do you ask me If I am In favor of civil-service reform? Of course lam In favor of civll-serv-lce reform. lam not in favor of a continuation Of-so many thlngß that we have seen in some years that are past. The people are tired of it, and they want a,change. Do yap desire to know from me what civil service I have confidence fn? lam very free to eay to you people to-night that 1 am not particularly confident of success After a schoolmaster's examination. But I will tell you what I have confidence in, as It was In the days of Andrew Jackson. Let a true man come tp be President of the States, and let true men be called around him to aid him In the public service, and let these men resolve that the only test of qualification for ofUoe nnder them shall, be honesty and fitness for the service, and yon have clvll-servioe reform. This great contest has established it In this country that there must be revenne refonn. In his message of December, 1882, President Arthur informed Congress and the country that the revenues of the country exceeded by $100,000,600 the wants of the administration economically administered. A slight reform was made the next March thereafter, but after that the Secretary of the Treasury, your defunct Judge Folger —honored be bis name; be is dead now—in hi'* last report to Congress, when he lived, declared that the present revenues exceeded the wants of the Government by $85,000,000 a year, and that la the last record on the subject. Now. my countrymen, you men of Brooklyn, yon merchants, you bnslness men, you laboring mon, you skilled mechanics, I ask you what is the standard by whteh the Government shall be regulated in the taxation of the people? President Arthur expresed it as well as lam able to express It. He said that the only standard should be the needs of the Government economically administered. Bnt Secretarv Folger. -In hjs last report to Congress, said: "The question that now presses upon ns is what leglslatb n will relieve the people of the burden of unnecessary taxation. Ay, it is a burden, and it presses bard when it is $85,006,000 a year. How mnoh spy the oonntry, if taxation were reduced wisely and judiciously, so as to leave it In the pockets of the people and in the channels of trad ', would the $38,000,000 do every year? What Is the position of the Democratic party npon the subject of taxation? I know of no standard of taxation except that taxes shall not exceed the needs of the Government economically administered. At the convention in Chicago the will of the Demo< racy of this great nation was expressed In a resolution on taxation. Of course that resolution related mainly to the tariff law, and now. If you please to give me your attention, I will state what the Democratic party at that convention declared. It is expressed in four propositions: 1. Taxation shall not exoeed the need* of the Government economically administered. 1 Taxation shall only bo for public pnr-

poaes and not for private gain and speculation. 3. In the adjustment of the taxes care shall be taken not to hurt labor nor to harm capital. 4. Taxation shall be heaviest upon articles of luxury and lightest upon artioles of necessity. These four propositions express the entire Democratic doctrine on the subject of taxation, and when that groat convention at Chicago adopted that platform it wrote it in letters of silver brightness upon its banner, and that banner it handed (1 rover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks, and they said this lathe banner, carry it out before the people and stand or fall by the banner. That banner has been carried before the Indomitable Democracy of Indiana. They say the tariff is a very difficult thing to understand. I think it is difficult for those who wish to make it difficult, and to impose somewhat upon the country. To me it is very plain, for it is written in these four sentences. Is it possible that a convention of the people, consisting of so many delegates, has been able to pass upon that difficult question of the tariff, and to express itself so .that every man, woman and child in so large and intelligent an audience as this is compelled to say that's right?" It is an uncommon.lndorsement of a convention, and after this you won't b ame me much for being a whole-soul'd Democrat, will you? If a party is so clearly right upon the subject of taxation, one of the highest powers of government, it cannot b) wrong much upon anything else. Taxation comes to a man's home and takts that for the public use which was his, is his no longer, like the law of eminent domain, that takes private property for publio use: like the law of the Government, that says to the young man in the bosom of the family, "War has come and you must serve in the army," this power of taxation is one of the most tremendous that the Government compasses or exercises; and now, while I have submitted it, sentenoe by sentence, and in detail, to this great audience, the sentiment is that for onoe, anyhow, the Democracy may be trnsted. So next spring, if Gov. Cleveland shall call Congress together, the machinery will somewhat commence, not to destroy, but to remove objections. Did you know that the Republican Chicago platform on the tariff subject pledged Itself to reform in the tariff so as to remove its inequalities and reform its excess? They pledged themselves to reform their own, work. Since the war there has been no Democratic) Secretary of the Treaanry, all being in the ooutrol of the Republicans, and now, at the end of twenty years, they say to their countrymen, "Our legislation taxing you Is not equal; it produces excess of revenue, and we pledge you to reform it" It is too lato now. The time for repentance is not passed, but the time for good work to make repentance good is now passed. How is it that upon the subject of taxation the Republican party has dared to come before the great elements of power in this country, New York Ciry, Brooklyn City, and admit the taxation is unequal? But we must have the equality of taxation, and the man is going in that's going to have it that way.