Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1884 — WORDS FROM SEYMOUR. [ARTICLE]

WORDS FROM SEYMOUR.

'The Sage of Deerfield Writes a Letter Upon the Issr.es of the Day. necessity of a Change in the Government—No Free Trade in the Campaign. The letter which Horatio Seymour wrote to S. M. Shhw, editor of the Treeman's Journal, at Cooperstown, has been forwarded to the National Democratic Committee and by them given -out in full. The text is as follows: “I regret that I cannot take an active part in -the pending political contest. lam unable to •do so on account of my health. 1 feel a deep Interest in the result. The passions excited by the events of the past twenty years have in a .good degree subsided. The great interests of cur country should now be considered in a way •which will promote its welfare. From a feeble .nationality it has grown within the lifetime of many o our citizens to great power. Even if the rate of our increase shall be less than heretofore, in about twenty-five years it will have a population of 100,000,000. Many who are now living will be active citizens when it has gained this position. We are on the eveof greatevents, "upon which the results of the present canv. ss will have a bearing. While there is much to animate us with regard to the nation’s future, we must be-rln mind that its growth and piosnerity Will also cause many dangers. They will involve us in new relationships with nations. They will attract attention to our affairs and may excite unfriendly feelings. The increase of population and its diffusion over new and distant territories add to the danger of sectional prejudices. The future will demand thoughtful conduct of public affairs to prevent sectional passions, for with the increase of population and of varied interests they will be more easily excited. "Unfortunately the canvass has been marked by personalities, which have turned awav attention from more important subjects. It is our duty to learn how we can promote the interests of all pursuits, and not devote our attention to one at the expense of others. "The speakers and the press of the Republican party are causing danger to our agricultural and ■other interests by declaring that it is the duty of every good government to impose such taxes on imports as will exclude the products of other lands. Now, there is but one of our pursuits that needs such protection. Our farmers, our mechanics (with a few exceptions), our commerce, our carrying Interests ask lor no taxes to help them. Our manufacturers do need aid from the Government. All parties have agreed that a large share of our revenues should be raised by taxes upon imports. The late National Republican Convention artfully put forth •the same doctrine, but their press and speakers claim that the term ‘protection’ means that taxes may be imposed for the sole pui pose of aiding certain pursuits, and they do this in terms i which practically make war upon our agricultural and other interests. They say it is a duty of our Goverment to fence out the importations of foreign products which conflict with our own. If this is true, then, the governments of Europe are reoxracned because they do not Impose duties upon our agricultural products. A light duty upon our grain, provisions, and dairy products would be destructive to the prosperity of all parts of our Union and all industrial pursuits. If duties are put upon our products in European markets the disasters will be charged upon those who claim to be the peculiar friends of the manufacturers, and it would be easy for Europe to retaliate. It would need but light duties to shut out products from their ports. We have a striking proof of this in the effect ot our own taxes upon our carrying trade. In 1868 the tolls upon 100 pounds of wheat from Buffalo to New York on our canals were lo cents. In 187 u efforts were made to reduce them; these did not show their influence until 1876. In the ten years prior to that time the balance of trade against our country was $817,429,674. This State continued reducing canal taxes and at length abolished all tolls. The reduction of taxes led all other routes to reduce charges, with the following results; In 1868 it cost to carry a bushel of wheat from Chicago to New York, by lake and canal,j2s ceflts; by lake and railroad, 2J cents; by all rt.il,’42 cents. Last year the cost by lake ahd cankl was a fraction more than 9 cents; by lake and railroad 12 cents; by railroad, 16 cents. The effect upon carrying is shown in the reports of the . General Government. While from 1866 to 1875 the balance of trade against us was more than $800,000,000, when those charges were reduced the balance in our favor in eight years-was more than $1,800,000,000. - ’ ■ “Ihis shows what the effect would be if foreign governments, following the teachings of the Republican press and speakers, should feel it their ‘duty’ to impose' charges-upon exports to their countries equal to the reductions in the cost of carrying from Chicago to New York in 1868. There are evidences that they mean to put charges on these articles, and the Republican speeches are highly approved, by British, and continental journals. Fraribe anfl otlibr ’European countries have alrdbdy prohibited' the •importat on ot some ot out provisions, and they contemplate' further action in the . tion. It is urged with truth that if we .give ’’prosperity to our manufacturers" all ’ other' jn- • dustries would be benefited, but it is also true, ■ If we harm our farming, carrying and commercial pursuits we bring great disasters upon our manufactures. Our agricultural interests are tpemost important of all. There is no free- - trade party in our country, nor one opposed to raising the largest share of our revenue by*taxes upon imports. The amount raised in this way ' in 1884 was over $195,000,900, No party objects to this method of rising revenue. It can give no offense nor excite retaliation, as it does not put taxes upon foreign productions solely for the purpose of excluding them. “The discussion between parties has been, how the amount to be raised by taxes On imports shall be apportioned. There is a general complaint of the burdens of taxation. It is our duty, then, at this election to consider the interests ot all our industries, and to legislate not to build up one at the cost of the others. With those engaged in transporting the products of our land are a large class engaged in laborious pursuits. Any diminution of our exports would bring great loss to them. The falling off in the value of our railroads and other facilities has been caused by the fact that for a part of the year the balance of trade has been against us. This was due in part to heavy taxation, which has added to the cost of production. It is evident that every charge on our productions affects our exports in the same way that the cost of carrying does. Taxes should be reduced for other reasons. They are not only hurtful to our farmers, mechanics, and laboring men, but also to our manufacturers, for no pursuit can be prosperous when all others are oppressed. The erroneous idea that Europe is depending on us for'food is leading us into many mistakes. Our great exports during the past eight years were caused partly by failure of their crops, and partly by the fact that we cut down the cost of carrying. This year we are advised that their harvests are abundant. In addition to this fact we have evidence that the leading governments are taking measures by founding colonies and other means to get foreign products in exchange for their manufacture. India now exports more than 35,000,000 bushels of wheat. This amount will rapidly increase. France, Germany, and other powers now shut out some of our provisions, and we have reason to think this policy is to be extended to breadstuff's. There are great regions in South America fitted to grain growing, and as to provisions, we know that cattle are killed there only for their hides. Commerce between that country and Europe can easily develop the resources of South America, as Europe controls the ocean trade. We cannot maintain our shipping merely by an export trade; we must have return cargoes. “The outlook for our grain and cattle raisers is not favorable. Light taxes as tariff would drive them from European ports. Our farmers in the dairy business are not as prosperous as in years past. If, therefore, the British Government should yield to its land-owners that duties on foreign imports should not be made for revenue, but to protect labor and give capital its just reward, the result would be disastrous to our dairy and agricultural interests. “The fears I express may be unfounded, but it is our duty to study the interests of all pursuits and all sections. Gov. Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, is an able, firm, and thoughtful man, who has risen to the position of Governor of this State by the faithful performance of duties in the official positions he has held. His unflinching courage in carrying out his trusts, and his unquestioned integrity give him a strong hold upon the confidence of the public. The excitements of the Presidential contest have not drawn him away from his duties at the capital of this State.”