Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — BANQUET TO MR. CLEVELAND. [ARTICLE]

BANQUET TO MR. CLEVELAND.

Annual Feast of the Reform Club Held at New York City. At the annual banquet of the Reform Club at Madison Square Garden, in New York, the President-elect was the bright particular star and most honored guest He occupied the post of honor at the right hand of E. Ellery Anderson, President of the club. After all the guests had been seated, Mr. Anderson, who presided, arose an'd delivered the welcoming address. Among other things he said: We meet to-night to celebrate the personal triumph of the man who, knowing the truth? dared proclaim it, and wnoee courageous coarse pointed out to .the party the path to victory. You, sir, have received the enthusiastic and universal support of the party because your cause was their cause; because your beliefs were their beliefs. We have high authoritytor saying that Mr. Cleveland is a popular man. an extraordinarily popular man, on every day of the year except election day; and we have still higher authority for declaring that on election day he is irresistible. We all understand and appreciate that the path which confronts you contains perhaps as many thorns as roses. The duties assumed are weighty; the difficulties to be overcome are many; but the great Democratic party *fll always be.with you. will always support’ yon. because it has implicit faith in you. This support will not bo given for hope of reward. Fellow Democrats here assembled, it is mv high privilege and honor to ask you to unite with me in proposing ttie health and prosperous administration of our President-elect, (irover Cleveland. V Mr. Cleveland's Speech.. v Prpsldent-elect Cleveland was tfle mexU speaker. Ho was received most onnfnsiastically, and throe, cheers wore given befoße.frp. to proceed. The pooplo in the boxos rose with one accord. Even the ladles in tho gallery choerod. while Mrs. Cleveland looked placidly on, ~When the enthusiasm subsided Mr. Cleveland said: .Mu. I’HKHI DENT AND LADIES ANll Oentlemen: I have nothing now or startling to say to you, and I hope to do little more than remind you us the megnlug and Hignlflcanoe of this occasion. As we arc hero gathered together, wo represent thoso who have been willing to risk all consequences In a battlo for principles which are grounded In purest patriotism, because they accord with the purposes and objects of our free Institution*. A plain feature of this gathering, which I am sure warms the hearts of all of us, Is our celebration of one of the grandest and most complete victories over achieved in the struggle for right and justice; and our glad greeting of the brightest light of triumph our generation! has seen, bursting from the clouds of defeat and discouragement. Let mo suggest to you, however, that we can contemplate nothing more gratifying In connection with tills assemblage than tho proof it affords that the Arnorlcan peoplo oan he trusted to manage the government which has been given Into their keeping. If there are those who have been disappointed and disheartened by the extent to which our people have been deceived and misled, or who, with fenr, have seen heodlessness of tho duty of citizenship open wide the door of corrupting Influences, or who. with s»d forebodings, have beheld popular rulo nearing the fatal rooks of a debauched suffrage, or who have mourned bcuauso appeals to selfishness and promises of unequal advantages were apparently undermining that patriotism which alone justifies our hope of national perpetuity, let this occasion ami the events Which have lod to' It reinstate their faith and their oonildenoe tn their countrymen. If IVhas seemed to those striving for better public sentiment thnt the disposition was growing among our people to regard their government as a depository of Individual benolits. to be Importuned and threatened and despoiled, let them take heart from the evidences now before our eyes, that there Is still abroad tn the land a controlling belief that our government should bo a source of lust and benenoent rule, proudly supported by free i men, protected by their oare and watchfulness, and returning to all our petiole, with equal hand, the sufoty and happiness It holds In store for them.

„ls wo have loarnod that an appeal to the . patriotism of our countrymen and au honest presentation of political principles to their intelligence and Judgment are not In vain, the thought must not escape us that while’ our people will In the end repay with their support Ilia.political, paity which addresses their understanding and reason, they will surely revengo themselves upon those who docelve or betray them. Tho National Democracy and Its allies in [silitlcal principle rejoice over the defeat of those whose fate is full of Instruct 16n and warning. While we find in our triumph a result of the popular intelligence which we have aroused, and a consequence of popular vigilance which we have stimulated, let us not for a moment forget that our accession to power wlll find neither this Intelligence nor this vigilance dead or slumbering. We are thus brought face to face with the reflection that if we are not to be tormented by the spirits which we ourselves have called up we must hear above victorious shouts the call of our fellow countrymen to pnbllu duty and must put on a garb befitting public servants. The sontlment suggested by this occasion, which should dwarf all Others, has relation to the responsibility which awaits those who do not rejoice in victory. If we redeem the promlees we have made to the votors of our land the dlffioulty of our task can hardly be exaggerated. Conditions Involving most Important interests must lie reviewed and modified, and perplexing problems menacing our safety must ho settled. Above all, and'as the ultimate object of all wo do, the rights and the welfare of our people in every condition of life mnst he placed upon a more jsqual plane of opportunity and ad vantage. I am oonndent that the wisdom, of the Democratic party will be equal to .the emergency, and I base my oonildenoe upon the belter that It will be patriotically true to lta,prtnolpieS and traditions, and will follow the path marked out by true American sentiment. Wo should not enter upon our Work tn the least spirit of resentment nor In heedless disregard of the welfare of any portion of our citizens. The mission of our party and the reforms we contemplate do not Involve the encouragement of Jealous animosities nor a destructive discrimination between American Interests. In order that we may begin with free hands we should vigorously oppose all delusions whloh have their origin In undemocratic teachings or In demagogic attempts to deoelve the people. Mere catchwords, which, If they mean anything, have no relation to sound policy, and phrases Invented to please the oar of the victims of cunning greed ought not to stand In our way. Looking beyond all these we shall find Just principles furnishing ,a vantage ground from which we can lay out a safe course of aotlon. We should strive to rid ourselves and our countrymen of the idea that there is anything shabby or dlsgraoeful 4n economy, whether In public or private life. If extravagsnoe in public expenditure has prevailed tn the past It affords no excuse for Its continuance, and there is no breach of duty so palpable as the waste of money held by public servants for the people's uses. Our Government was founded in a spirit of frugality and economy, and its administration should not depart from'those lines. We need no glitter nor show to divert our people from turbulent thoughts. We have a more substantial guaranty against discontent In a plain and simple plan of rule In whloh every citizen has a share. In order that this should do Its perfect work It Is essential that there should exist among our people a wholesome and disinterested love for their government, for Its own sake, and because It Is a heritage belonging to all. The cultivation of such a sentiment is not only a high duty, but-an absolute necessity to the consummation of .the reforms we enter upon. We shall utterly and disgracefully fall If we attempt these reforms under the Influence of petty partisan scheming or the fear of Jeopardizing personal political fortunes. They can,only be acuompllshed when unselfish patriotism guides the aspirations of our people and regulate* the aotlon of their ohoeen servants. ... We who are to be charged with the responsibility of making and executing the laws should begin our preparation for the task by a rigid self-examination and by a self-purgation from all ignoble and nnworthy tendencies threatening to enter into our motives and designs. Then may we enjoin upon all our countrymen the same duty, and then may we hope to perform faithfully And successfully the work intrusted ot our bands by a oouttding people.