Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1889 — CLEVELAND ON POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

CLEVELAND ON POLITICS.

iHa Addresses a MarchaaVs Meet lag al Boston. I The Boston Merchant’s Association ban queted 400 prominent merchants and others at the Hotel Vendome Thursday night. Ex-President Cleveland, Hon. H. W. Grady and Hon. Andrew Carnegie made the speeches. ’ I Mr. Cleveland was greeted with longcontinued applause, shouts anil cheers, the i entire assembly rising and waving handkerchiefs and cheering enthusiastically. Mr. Cleveland spoke in a strong, wellmodulated voice and was easily heard by all. He began his address with a tribute to the integrity of Boston merchants, whose commercial honor in the early days of the Commonwealth had laid the foundation for the great success which their descendants had attained. Switching off into politics, he said: Political selfishness cheapens in the minds of the people their apprehension of the character and functions of the governIment; it distorts every conception of the [duty of good, citizenship, and creates an [atmosphere in which iniquitous purposes and designs lose their odious features. It ■begin when a perverted judgment is won ,to the theory that political action may be used solely for private gain and advantage, and when a tender conscience is qui eted by the ingenious argument that such gain and advantage are identical with the public welfare. This stage having been reached and self-interest being now fully aroused, agencies are used and practices permitted in the accomplishment of its purposes which,’Seen in the pure light of disinterested patriotism, are viewed, with tear and hatred. The independent thought and free political preference of those whom fate has made dependent upon daily toil for hard -earned bread, are strangled and destroyed by intimidation and the fear of .loss of employment. Vile, unsavory lorms rise to the surface of our agitated political waters, and gleefully anticipate in the anxiety of selfish interest, their opportunity to fatten upon corrupted and debauched suffrage. This train of thought leads us to consider the imminent danger which threatens us from the intimidation and corruption of our voters. It is too late to temporize with these evils or to speak of them oth erwlse than in the plainest terms. We are spared the labor of proving their existence, for all admit it. That they are terribly on the increase, all must * concede. Manifestly, if the motives of all our citizens were unselfish and patriotic, and if they sought in political action only their share of the advantage accruing from the advance of our country at all points towards her grand destiny, there would be _no.place or occasion for the perversion of our suffrage. Thus the inauguration of the intimidation and corruption of our voters may be justly charged to selfish schemes seeking success through political action. But these evils have been neglected by honest men disgusted with all political endeavor; they have been tolerated by respectable men who, in weakness of patriotic sentiment, have regarded them as only phases of shrewd political management, and they have been actually encouraged by the honors which have been bestowed upon those who boast of their use of such agencies in aid of party supremacy. Many of us, therefore, may take to ourselves a share of blame, when we find confronting us these perils which threaten the existence of our free institutions, the preservation of our national honor and the perpetuity of our country . 'The condition annexed to the founding of our government upon the suffrage of the people was that the suffrage should be free and pure. We consented to abide by the honest preponderance of political opinion, but we did not consent that a free vote, expressing the intelligent and thoughtful sentiment of the voter, should be balanced by a vote of intimidation and fear, or by an unclean, corrupt vote disgracefully bought anu treacherously sold. • Let us look with a degree of pity and charity on those whs yield to fear and intimidation in the exercise of the right of their suffrage. Though they ought not thus to yield, we cannot forget that as against their free ballot, they see m the scale, their continued employment, the comforts of their homes and the maintenance of their families. We need not stifle our scorn and contempt for the wretch who basely sells his vote, and who for a bribe betrays his trust of citizenship. And yet the thought will intrude itself that he but follows in a low and vulgar fashion the example of those who proceed upon one theory that political action may be turned to private gain. But whether we pity orwhether we hate, our betrayal is none the less complete; nor will either pity or hate restore our birth-right. But we know that when political selfishness is destroyed our dangers will disappear; and though the way to its stronghold may be long and weary, we will follow it—fighting as we go. There will bqno surrender, nor will there be desertions from our ranks. Selfishness and corruption has not yet achieved a lasting triumph and their bold defiance will but hasten the day of their destruction. As we struggle on and confidently invite a direct conflict with these entrenched foes of our political safety, we have not failed to see another hope which has manifested itself to all the honest of the land. It teaches them that though they may not immediately stop at their sourcejthe evils which afflict them, they may check their malign,influence and guard themselves against their baneful results. It assures them that if political virtue and rectitude cannot at once be thoroughly restored to the Republic, the activity of baser elements may be discouraged. It inspires them with vigilant watchfulness and a determination to prevent, as far as possible, their treacherous betrayal by those who aT6TalsoTo their obligation of citizenship. This hope, risen like the star in the East, has fixed the gaze of our patriotic fellowcountrymen; and everywhere, in our busy marts of trade and on our farms, in our cities and in our villages, in the dwellings of the rich and in the homes of the poor, in our universities and in our work shops, in our banking houses and in the ranks of inexorable toil, they greet with enthusiastic acclaim the advent of ballot reform. In conclusion let me say that good men ‘have no cause for discouragement Though [there are dangers which tureaten our welfare and safety, the virtue and patriotism of the American people are not lost, and wu shall find them sufficient for us. If in too great confidence they slumber, they will not always sleep. Let them but be ■aroused from lethargy and indifference by I the consciousness of peril, and they will burst the bonds of political selfishness, revive their political freedom and restore the purity of their suffrage. Thus will they dwouargetbe sacred trust committed to their keeping; tint* will they still proudly present to the world proof of the value of free institutions; thus will they demonstrate the strength and perpetuity of a government by the people; thus will they establish American patriotism throughout the length and [breadth of our land; and thus will they I preserve for themselves and for posterity their God-given inheritance of freedom, and justice, and psace, and happiness. I Mr. Cleveland’s address aroused greatenthusiasm, and his points were frequently greeted with cries of “Good” and applause Only one woman in France Ins thii year taken out a 1 Loan for shsntfaif, Lwt HMM there vers ftva.