Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1889 — PATRIOTIC and STATESMANLIKE. [ARTICLE]

PATRIOTIC and STATESMANLIKE.

On the 27th of May the Young Men's Democratic Club of New York City extended to ex-Presi-dent Cleveland a banquet of welcome. When the presiding officer introduced Mr. Cleveland he was received with a furore oi applause to which he responded in words of true Demoeracy, tru a Patriotism and true Statesmanship. He said:

“Many incidents of my short residence in this good city have served to fill my cup of gratitude and t( arouse my appreciation of the kindness and consideration of those with whom 1 have made my home. The hospitality for which the citizens of New York have been distinguished has outdone itself in my velconae. The members of my profession have, upon my return to its activities, i eeeived me with fraternal greetings, and personal friends have not permitted me to feel like a stranger in a strange city. And yet I can truly sav that none of these things wiil be more vividly or gratefully remembered than the opportunity afforded me by this occasion to greet the political friends 1 see about me. While I believe that no one is more susceptible than I of every personal kindness, and while I am sure that no one values more his personal friendship, it certainly should cause no surprise when I say that these things are not more ch wished than my attachment and loyalty to true democratic faith and my obligations to the cardinal principles of its party organization.

“I have been honored by m 7 party far beyond my deserts.* Indeed, no man can deserve its hon - ora. After six years of public service, I return to you, my party friends. Six years have I stood as your representative in the state and nation, and now I take my place again in the ranks, more convinced than ever that the cause of true democracy is the cause of the people—their safeguard and t' eir hope. I came to you with no excuses or apologies and with no cenfession'of dislo . aity. Ic is not given to man to meet all the various a)id conflicting views of party duty aud policy which prevail in an organization where individual opinion is so freely tolerated as in the domocratic party. Because t ; esc views are various ai d cglM ai. g some of them must be v* rong. And yet when they are honestly held and advocated, they should provoke r.o bitterness nor eondenmaii. • ; but when they are dishonestly proclaimed as a me -e cover and pretext for personal resentment rd disappointment, they should be met by the exposure and contempt which they deserve. ,l ~! with sincere design and in-j Stmib one charged with par + y representation has kept the party faith, that must answer his party obligation. No man can lay down the trust which he has held in behalf of a generous and confiding peo pie and feel that at all times he has met in the best possible way the requirements of his trust; but he is not derelict in duty if he has 1 conscientiously devoted his efforts and bis judgment to the people’s service. I have deliberately placed m close connection loyalty to democratic principles and devotion to the interests of the people —for in my view'thej belong together and should mean the same thing. “But in this day of partisan feeling and attachment, it is well for us to pause and recall the truth, that the only justification for the existence of any party is the claim that in principle and performance its object and purposes are the promotion of the public good aud the auvancement of the welfare and prosperity of our entire country. There never was a party platform or declaration of princi-

pies which did not profess these things and make them the foundations of party creed; and any body of men who should openly proclaim that they were associated together for the express purpose of gaining supremacy in the government with the sole intention of distributing offices and the spoils of victoiy among their associates, would be treated with ridicule and scorn. Thus are wo brought face to face with the proposition that parties should, no more than individuals, bo untruthful and dishonest. Of course, in ihe supremacy of party there are advantages to its members—and this is not amiss. Hut when high party aims and professions are lost sight of or abandonee’, and the benefit of office bolding and personal pelf are all that remain to inspire party activity, not only is the confidence of those relied on for patriotic support forfeited,*but the elements of cohesion and of effective and lasting political strength are gone. The honest differences of opinion bat must always exist upon ques*. tions of principle and public policy should furnish abundant occasion

for the existence of parties, and point out their field of usefulness. The study and discussion of these questions cannot f il to result in more valuable citizenship and more intelligent and better equipped partisans. “When we Seek for the cause ot the perpetuity of the democratic party and its survival through every crisis and emergency, and in the face of all opposition, we find it in the fact that its corner-stone is laid in devotion to the rights of the people and sympathy with all things which tend to the advancements their welfare and happiness. Though heresy raav sometimes have orept into its organization, and though party conduct may at times have been influenced by the shiftiness which is the habitual device of its opponents, there has always remained deeply imbedded in its nature and character, that spirit of true Americanism and that love of popular right which has made it indestructible in disaster and defeat, and has constituted it a boon to the country in its time of triumph and supremacy.

“The great founder of our party, as he consecrated himself by a solemn oath to a faithful performance of the duties of the presi iential office, and pledged himself to the preservation, protection and defense of the constipation, aft presenting to his assembled fellowcountryman the causes of congratulation found in the condition of our country and ti*e character of our people impressive ly added: “With all these blessings what more is necessary to make us a happy and p,rospfrous people? Still one thing more, fellow citizens. A wise and frugal govern ment, which shall restrain men from injuring one another—shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement—and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities 9 “In the lexicon of true democracy these words are not obsolete, but they still furnish the inspiration of our efforts and interpretation of our political faith. Happily, the party creed which we firofess is not within such narrow ines as that obedience does not permit ns to move abreast with the advanced thought of the country and to meet and test every question and apply a principle to every situation True, democracy, stanch in its adhesion to fundamental doctrine, is at the same time, in a proper sense progressive. It recognized our growth and expansion and the birth of new thought and sentiment. It will judge them all by safe standards, and in all phases of national development it will be prepared to answer, Si they arise, every need of the people and every popular want “True democracy honestly sdvs-

cates national brotherhood to the end that all our fellow countrymen may aid m the a hievementof the grand destiny which awaits us as a nation, and it condemns that pretext of liberality and harmony u Inch, when partisan advantage is to be gained, give way foi inflammatory appeals to sectional hate and passion. It insists upon that iquaiity be fore the law which concedes tlm care and protection of the government to simple manhood and citizenship. It does not fav ;r the multiplication cf offices and salaries merely to make partisans, nor use thefpromise or bestowal of place for the purpose of stifling the press and bribing the people. It seeks to lighten the burden of life in every home, and to take from the citizen for the cost of the government the lowest possible tri!> ute.

“W 3 know that we have espoused the cause of right and justice. We know that wo have not permit ted .uty to country to wait upon expediency. We know that we have not trafficked our principles for success We know that we have not deceived the people with promises and oretensoe; aad wo know that we have not corrupted nor betrayed the poo- with the money of the rich. Who shall say that these things promise no reward, and that triumph shall not follow the enlightened judgment and the sober, second-thought of o ir countrymen. "There are to-day no weak, weary and despondent members of the ante democracy—and there shou.d le none. Thoughtful attention to political topics is tho o’ly aroused. Events are day by day leading men ;o review the rea-ons for their party affiliations and the supporters of he principles we profess are constantly recruited by intelligent, young and sturdy adherents. “Let us deserve their confidence and, shunning all ignoble practices, et us remain steadfast to democratic faith and to the cause of our country. If we are true and loyal ;o those, the day of our triumph will surely and quickly come and our victory shall be fairly, nobly won through the invincible spirit of true democracy.”

Stye jPrinocrattt Sentinel RENSSELAER, INDIANA. t. W. McEWEN, ... Publish**,