Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1888 — CLEVELAND ACCEPTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CLEVELAND ACCEPTS.

HE STANDS TO HIS GUNS—A STATICSMANLIKE DOCVVEST. In Accepting the Nomination the President Indorses the National Platform—Again Declares Against War Tories an<l Attacks Trusts and Free Whisky. [Washington special.] The President's.letter accepting the ronommanation to the Presidency by the St Louis coir venticn is as follows: “Washington, D. C., Sep;. 8, 1381 “The Hon. Patrick A. Collins and Others, Committee, E.c.: “Gentlemen—ln address.n; to you my formal acceptance of the noniinatio.i to the I’retiiency of the United States my thoughts persistently dwell upon tha impressive relation of such action to the American people, whosa eon Wince is thus invited, and to the political party to which I belong, just entering upon a contest for continued supremacy. The world does not afford a spectacle more sublime than is furnished when millions of free and intelligent American citizens select their Chief Magistrate and bid one of their number find the highest earthly honor and the full measure of public duty in ready submission to their will. It follows that a candidate for this high office can never forget that when the turmoil and the strife which attend the selection of its incumbent shall bo heard no more there must be in the quiet calm which :ollows, a complete and solemn selfconsecration by the people’s chosen President of every faculty and endeavor to the service o' a confiding end generous nation of freemen. These thoughts are intensified by the light of my experience in the Presidential office, which has soberly impressed me with the severe responsibilities which it imposes, while it has quickened my love for American institutions and taught me the priceless value of the trust of my country - men. Home Interests of Americans. “It is of the highest importance that those who administer our government should jealously protect and maintain the rights of American citizens at home and abroad and should strive to achieve for our country her proper place among the nations of the earth, but there is no people whose home interests are so, great and whose numerous objects of domestic concern deserve so much watchfulness and care; Among these are the regulation of a sound financial system suited to our needs, thus securing an efficient agency of national wealth and general prosperity; the construction and equipment of means of defense to insure our na ional safety and maintain the honor beneath which such national safety reposes; the protection of our national domain still stretching beyond the needs of a century's-expausion, and its preservation for the settler and the pioneer of our marvelous growth; a sensible an 1 sincere recognition of the value of American labor, leading to the scrupulous care and just appreciation of the interests of our workingmen; the limitation and checking of such monopolistic tendencies and schemes ns interfere with the advantages and benefits which the people may rightly'claim ; a generous regard and care for our surviving soldiers and sailors and for the widows and orphans of such as have died, to the end that, while the appreciation of their services and sacrifice! is quickened, the application of their pension fluids to improper cases may be prevented ; protection against a servile immigration, which injuriously competes with our laboring men in the fields of toil -and adds to our population an element ignorant of our institutions and laws, impossible of jmsimilaiion with our people, and dangerous to our peace and welfare; a strict and steadfast adherence to the principles of civil-service reform and a thorough execution of the laws passel for their enforcement, thus permitting to our people the adyanttiges of business methods in the operations of their government ; th) guaranty to our colored citizens of all their rights of eiti.zenship and their just recognition and encouragement in all things pertaining to th it relation; a. firm, patient, aim humane inilian. policy, so that in peaceful relations with the Gover.mi ant the civilization of the. Indian may be promoted, with resulting quiet and safety to the‘iettlers on our frontier^; and the curtailment qf public expense by the introduction of economical methods in every department of the Government. “The pledges contained in the platform adopted by tue late convention of the national Democracy lead to the advancement of these objects and insure good government—the aspiration of every true' American citizen and the motive for bvery patriotic action and effort. In the consciousness that much has bean done in the direction of good government by the present administration and submitting its recor i to the fair inspocti >n of my countrymen, I indorse the platform thus presented, with the determination that, if I am again elected to the chief magistracy, there shall be a continuance of devoted endeavor to advance the interests of the entire oeuu'.ry. * • Federal Taxation. “Our scale of federal taxation, and its consequences, largely engross at this time the attention of our citizens, and the people are soberly considering the necessity of measures of relief. Our Government is the creation of the people, established to carry out their designs and accomplish their good. It was founded on justice, and was made fora fine, iutelljgent and virtuous pfrple; It is only uses-1 when within their control, and only serves them well when regulated and guided by their const mt touch. It is a fre > Go, eminent because it guarantees to every American citizeuthe unres.ricted personal use and.enjoyment of ad the reward of his t il and of all his income, except what may be his fair contribution to necessary public expense. Th .ref ore, it is not only the rignt but the duty of a free people, in the enforcement of this guaranty. to insist that such expense should be Btrictf™imited to the actual public needs. It seems per ectly clear that when the Government, this instrumentality created and maintained by the people to do the r bidding, turns upon them arid through an utter perversion of its powers extorts from their labor and capital tr.buto largely in excess of public necessities, the creature has rebelled against the creator, and the masters are robbed by their servants. “The cost of the Government must continue to be met by tariff duties collected at our custom houses upon imported goods and by internal revenue taxes assessed upon spirituous and Inalt liquors, tobacco, and oleomargarine. I suppose it is needless to explain that all these duties and assessments are added to the price of the articles upon which they are levied and thus become a tax upon all those who buy these articles for use and consumption. I suppose, too, it is well understood that the effect of this tariff taxation is not limited to the consumers of imported at tides, but the duties imposed on Buch articles permit a corresponding increase in price to bo laid upon domestic productions of the same kind, which increase, paid by all our people as consumers of home productions and entering every American home, constitutes a form of taxation as certain and as inevitable as though the amount was annually paid into the hand of the tax-gatherer. “These results are inseparable from the plan we have adopted for the collection of our revenue by tariff duties. They are not mentioned to discredit the system, but by way of preface to the statement that every million of dollars collected at our custom houses for duties upon imported articles and paid into the public treasury represent many millions more which, though never reaching the national treasury, are paid by our citizens as the increased cost of domestic productions resulting from our tariff laws. Unnecessary Taxation Is Unjust. “In these circumstances and in view of this necessary effect of the operation of our plan for raising revenue, the absolute duty of limiting the rate of tariff charges to the necessities of a frugal and economical administration of the govermnuet seems to be perfectly plain. The continuance, upon a pretext of meeting public expenditures, of such a scale of tariff taxation as draws from the substance of the people a sum largely in excess of public needs is surely something which under a government based upon justice, and which finds its strength and useful- 1 ness in the faith and trust of the people, ought not to be tolerated. While f.e heaviest burdens incident to the necessities of the government are uncomplainingly borne, light burdens become grievous and intolerable when not justified by such necessities. “Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation. And yet this is our condition. Wo are annually collecting at our pustom houses and by means of our internal revenue taxation many millions in excess of all legitimate public needs. As a consequence there now' remains in the national treasury a surplus of more than 81?0,iXX),0i)). No better evidence could be furnished that the people are exorbitantly taxed. The extent of the superfluous burden indicated by this surplus will be better appreciated when it is suggested that such surplus alone represents taxation ag-

gregating more tn-ui * 108,000 tn a county containing 51,00 < inhabitants. “Taxation has always been.the feature of organized government the hardest to reconcile with the people's ideas o’ freedom and happiness. When presented in a direct form uo.hing will arouse popular discontent more quickly and profoundly than unjust and unnecessary taxation. Our farmers, mechanic t, laborers, anl all our citizens closely scan the slightest increase tn the taxes assessed upon their, laudi and other property, and demand good reasons for such increase. And yet they se m t > be expected in some quarters to regard the unnecessary volume ot insidious and indirect taxation visited upon them by our present rate ot tariff duties with indifference if not with favor. The,Surplus a Menace. "The surplus revenue now remaining in th? Treasury not only furnishes conclusive p. oof of unjust taxation, but! s existence constitutes a separate and independent menace to the prosperity of the ;>eople. The vast accumulation of idle tunta represents that much m >ney drawn from the cireulnt n; medium of th) country which is needed in the channels of trade anil business. It is a great mistake to suppose that the consequences which follow the continual withdrawal and hoarding by the Government of the currency ot the people are not of immediate importance to the mass of • our citizens, , and only concerns those engaged in large* financial transactions. In the restless enterprise and activity which free and ready money among the people, produces is found that opportunity for tauor and employment and that impetus to business and production which bring in their train prospe ity t > our citizens in every station and vocation. New ventures, new investments jn business and manufacture, the construction of new and important works, and the enlargement of enterprises already establisho 1 dep;nl largely upon obtaining money upon easy terms with fair security, and all these things are st mulated by im abundant volume of circulating medium.

Even the harvested grain of the farmer remains without a market unless money is forthcoming for its movement and transportation to the seaboard. “The first result of a scarcity of money among the people is the exaction of severe terms for its use. Increasing distrust and timidity is followed by a refusal to loan or advance on any terms. Investors refuse all risks and decline all securities, and, in a general fright, the money still in the hands of the people is persistently hoarded. It is quite apparent that when this perfectly natural ib not inevitable stage is reached, depression in all business and enterprise will as a necessary consequence lessen the opportunity for work and employment, and reduce s ilariej and the wages of tabor. Instead then, of being exempt from the influence and effect of an immense surplus lying idle in the National Treasury, our wage-earners and others wh > rely upon their labor for support are most of all directly concerned in the situation. Others seeing the approach of danger may provide against it. but it will find those depending upon their daily toil for bread unprepared, helpless, and defenseless. Such-a state of affairs does not present a case qf idleness resulting from disputes betweu the laboring man and his employer, but it produces an absolute and enforced stoppage of employment and wages. “in reviewing the bad effects of this accumulated surplus and the scale of tariff rates by which it is produced, we must not overlook the tendency toward gross and scandalous public extravagance which a congested treasury induces nor the fact that we are maintaining, without excuse, in a time of profound peace, substantially the rate of tariff duties imposed in time, of war, when the necessities of the Government justified the imposition of the weightiest burdens upon the people. Plans for Reducing; the Surplus. “Divers plans have been suggested for the return ot this accumulated surplus to the people and the channels of trade. Some of these devices are at variance with all rules of good finance; some are delusive, some are absurd, and some betray by their reckless extravagance the demoralizing influence of a great surplus of public money upon the judgments of individuals. While such efforts should be made as are consistent with public duty and sanctioned by sound judgment to avoid danger by the useful disposition of the surplus now remaining in the treasury, it is evident that if its distribution were accomplished another accumulation would soon take its place if the constant flow of redundant income was not checked at its source by a reform in our present tariff laws. “We do not propose to deal with these conditions by merely attempting to satisfy the people of the truth of abstract theories nor by alone urging their assent to political doctrine. We present to them the propositions that they are unjustly treated in the extent of present Federal taxation; that, as a result, a condition of extreme danger exists, and that it is for them to demand a remedy and that defense and safety promised in the guaranties of their free government. We believe that the same means which are adopted to relieve the Treasury of its present surplus and prevent its recurrence should cheapen to our people the cost of supplying

their daily wants. Both of these objects ws seek in part to gain by reducing the present tariff rates upon the necessaries of life. “We fully appreciate the importance to the country of our domestic industrial enterprise. In the. rectification of existing wrongs their maintenance and prosperity shoal I be carefully and in a friendly spirit considered. Even sucn reliance upon present revenue arrangements as have been invited or encouraged should be fairly and justly regarded. Abrupt and radical changes, which might engender such enterprises and injuriously affect the interests of labor dependent upon their success and continuance, ore not contemplated or intended. But we know the cost of our domestic manufactured products is increased and their price to the consumer enhanced by the duty imposed upon th? raw material used in their manufacture. We know that this inc r ?asel cost prevents the sale of our productions at foreign markets in competition with those countries which have the advantage of free raw material. We know that, confined to a home market, our manufacturing operations are curtailed, their demand for labor irregular, and tne rate of wages paid uncertain. The Democratic Proposition. “We propose, therefore, to stimulate our domestic industrial enterpr sea by freeing from duty the imported raw materials which, by the employment of labor, are usedin our home manufactures, thus extending the markets for their sale and permitting an increased and steady production with the allowance of abundant profits. True to the undeviating course of the democratic party we will not neglect the interests of tabor and our workingmen. In all efforts to remedy existing evils we will furnish no excuse for the loss of employment or the reduction of the wages of hones t toil. On the contrary. we propose, in any aljustnient of ourrevenue taws, to concede such encouragement and advantage to the employers of domestic tabor as will easily compensate for any difference that may exist between the standard of wages which

should be paid to our laboring men and the rate allowed in other countries. We propose, too, by extending the markets for our manufactures, to promote the steady employment of labor, while, cheapening the cost of the necessaries of life, we increase the purchasing power of the workingman’s wages and add to the comforts of his home. “And before passing from this phase of the question I am constrained to express the opinion that, while the interests of labor should be always sedulously regarded in any modification of our tariff taws, an additional and more direct and efficient protection to these interests would be afforded by the restriction and prohibition of the immigration or importation of laborers from other countries, who swarm upon our shores, having no purpose or intent of becoming our fellow-citizens or acquiring any permanent interest in our country, but who crowd every field of emuloyment with unintelligent labor at wages which ought not to satisfy those who make claim to American citizenship.

In Regard to Trusts. “The platform adopted by the late national convention of our party contains the following declaration: “ ‘Judged by Democratic principles, the interests of the people are betrayed when, by unnecessary taxation, trusts and combinations are permitted and fostered which, while unduly enriching the few that combine, rob the body of our citizens by depriving them as purchasers of the benefits of natural competition. ’ “Such combinations have always been condemned by the Democratic party. The declaration of its national convention is sincerely made, and no member of our party will be found excusing the existence or belittling the pernicious results of these devices to wrong the people. Under various names they have been punished by the common taw for hundreds of years, and they have lost none of their hateful features because they have assumed the name of trusts instead of conspiracies. We believe that these trusts are the natural offspring of a market artificially restricted; that an inordinately high tariff, besides furnishing the temptation for their existence, enlarges the limit within which they may operate against the people, and thus increases the extent of their j>ower for wrong-doing. With an unalterable hatred of all such schemes we count the checking of their baleful operations among the good results promised by revenue reform. “While we cannot avoid partisan misrepresentation our position upon the question of revenue reform should be so plainly stated as to admit of no misunderstanding. We have entered upon no crusade of free trade. The reform we seek to inaugurate is predicated upon the utmost care for established industries and enterprises, a jealous regard for the interests of American tabor, and a sincere desire to relieve the country from the injustice and danger of a condition which threatens evil to all the people of the land. “We are dealing with no imaginary danger. Its existence has been repeatedly confessed by all political parties and pledges of a remedy have been made on all sides. Yet, when in the legislative body, where, under the Constitution, all remedial measures applicable to this subject

must originate, the Democratic majority were attempting w th extreme moleritioa to redeem the pledge common to both parties, they were ' met by d termin?d opposition anl obstruction; I and the minority, refusing to co-opsrat? in the House of Representative! or propose another I remedy, have remitted the re lemption of their i party pledge to tho doubtful no ver of the Senate. The Republican Plan. “Th? people wilt hardly be deceived by their 1 abandonment of the field of legislative action to meet in ]>olitical convention and flippantly declare in their party platform that our conservative and careful effort to relieve the situation is destructive to ths American system of protaction. Nor will the people be misled by toe apl>eal to prejudice conta ned in th) absurd allegation that we serve the interests of Europe while they will support the interests of America. They propose in their platform to ihus supper! the interests of our country by removing the internal revenue tax from tobacco and from spirits used in the arts and for mechanical purposes. They declare also that there should be such a revision of our tariff laws as shall tend to check the importation of such articles as are produced here. Thus, in proposing to increase the duties upon such articles to nearly or quite a prohibitory point, they confess themselves willing to travel backward in the road of civilization und to deprive our people of the. markets for their goods, which esn only be gained and kept by the semblance, at least, of an interchange of business, while th-y abandon our consumers to the unrestrained oppression of domestic trusts and combinations which are in the same platform perfunctorily condemned. “They propose further to release entirely from import duties all articles of foreign production (except luxuries) the like of which cannot be produced in this country. The plain people of the land and the poor, who scarcely use articles of any description produced excessively abroad anl not already free, will find it difficult to discover where their interests are regarded

in this proposition. They need in their homes cheaper domestic necessities, and this seems to be entirely unprovided for in this proposed scheme to serve tne country. Small compensation for this neglected need is found in the further purpose here announced and covered by the declaration that if, after the changes already mentioned, there still remains a larger revenue than is requisite for the wants of the Government, the entire internal taxation repealed ‘rather than surrender any part of our protective system.’ Our people ask relief from the undue and unnecessary burden of tariff taxation now resting upon them. They are offered—free tobacco and free whisky. They ask for bread and they are given a stone. The Protective System Not in Danger. “The implication contained in this party declaration that desperate measures are justified or necessary to save from destruction or surrender what is termed our protective system should confuse no one. The existence of such a system is entirely consistent with the regulation of the extent to which it should be applied and the correction of its abuses. Of conrse in a country as great as this, with such a wonderful variety of interests, often leading in entirely different directions, it is difficult if not impossible, to settle upon a perfect tariff plan. But in accomplishing the reform we have entered upon, the necessity ot which is so obvious, I believe we should not be content with a reduction of revenue involving the prohibition of importations and the removal of the internal tax on whisky. It can be better and more safely done within the lines of granting actual relief to the people in their means of living and. at the same time, giving an impetus to our domestic enterprises and furthering our national welfare.

“If misrepresentations of our purposes and motives are to gain credence and defeat our present effort in this direction, there seems to be no reason why every effort in the future to accomplish revenue reform should not be likewise attacked and with like result. And yet no thoughtful man can fail to see in the continuance of the present burdens of the people and the abstraction by the Government of the currency ot the country inevitable distress and disaster. AU danger will be averted by timely action. The difficulty of applying the remedy will never be less and the blame should not be laid at the door of the Democratic party if it is applied too late. “With firm faith in the intelligence and patriotism of our countrymen, and relying upon the conviction that misrepresentation will not influence them, that prejudice will not cloud their understanding, and that menace will not intimidate them, let us urge the people’s interest and public duty for the vindication of our attempt to inaugurate a righteous and beneficent reform. “Gboveb Cleveland.” The porcupine is probably the best informed of all the animals. He can give you more points than you will know what to do with in a week. — Burlington Free Press.

THE GREATER THE AMOUNT OF “PROTECTION” OR TARIFF, THE HIGHER BECOME THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE, WHILE THE BURDEN FALLS ON THE WORKMAN.