The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-08-12
ACCEPT!
Letters of Tilden and Hendricks to that
Effect to the st. Louis Convention.
If Slow in Coming, Good Enough
to pay for Waiting.
Tilden's Letter.

receive the personal delivery of your letter or
behalf of the Democratic National Conven
ton. held at st. Louis on the 2Sth Of June
advising me of my nomination as candidate
by that body for the Office Of President OF The
United States, answered that at my earliest
convenience, and in conformity with usage
l would prepare and transmit 10 you formal
acceptance l now avail myself of the first
interval in unavoidable occupation to fulfil
that engagement. The convention before
making its nominations adopted deciara-
ton of principles which. as whole, seem to
me wise exposition of the necessities OF our
country and of the reforms needed to bring
hack the government to its true functions, to
restore the purity Of administration, and to
renew the prosperity of the people. But
some of these reforms are so urgent that they
CLAIM more than passing approval. The
necessity OF a
REFORM IN THE SCALE OF PUBLIC EXPENSE
Federal, State and municipal, and the modes
of Federal taxation, justifies all the promln-
ence given to il in the declaration of the St
Louis Convention The present depression
in all the business and industries of the peo
pie, which is depriving labor of its employ.
ment and carrying want into SO many homes
has its principal cause IN excessive govern
mental consumption under illusions of a spe
cious prosperity engendered by false policy
OF Federal government. waste OF capital
has been going on ever since the peace OF
1865 which could only end In universal dis
aster. The Federal taxes of the last eleven
wears reach the gigantic sum of $4,50O0OO,-
000 Local taxation has amounted to two.
thirds as much more. The vast aggregate is
not less than $500 100000 This enormous
taxation followed a civil conflict that had
greatly impaired our aggregate wealth, ana
had made prompt reduction OF expenses
indispensable. 1t was aggravated by most
unscientific and ill.adjudged methods OF taxa
ton, that increased the sacrifices OF the peo'
pie far beyond the receipts of the treasury.
II was aggravated, moreover, by financial
policy which tended to diminish the energy,
Skill, and economy of production, and the
frugality of private consumption and induced
miscalculation in business and an unremune.
rative use of capital and labor Even in
prosperous times the daily WAITS of lndus,ri-
GUS communities press closely upon their
daily earnings. The margin OF possible
savings Is at best but small percentage of
the national earnings; yet now for these
eleven years the governmental consumption
has been o larger portion Of the national
earnings than the whole people can possibly
save, even in prosperous times, for all new
investments. The consequences of these
errors are now present public calamity, but
they were never doubtful-never invisible.
They were necessary and inevitable and were
foreseen and depicted when the waves of that
fictitious prosperity ran highest In speech
made by me on the gath Of Sept 1865, 1t was
said of these taxes: "They bear heavily up.
on every mans income, upon every industry
and upon every business in the country, and
year by year they are destined to press still
more heavily unless they arrest the system
that gives rise 10 tAem'
1T WAS COMPARATIVELY EASY WHEN VALUES
WE'RE DOUBLING
under repeated issues of legal.tender paper
money to pay out of our growing ana appar-
ent wealth these taxes but when values re-
cede and sink toward their natural scale, the
tax gatherer takes from us not only our In
come, not only our profits, but also portion
OF our capital. do not wish to eXaggerate
or alarm; / simply say that we cannot afford
the costly and rulnous policy of the Radical
majority of Congress. We cannot afford that
policy toward the South. We cannot afford
the insidous and oppressive centralism into
which our government is being converted.
We cannot afford the present magnificent
scales of taxation. TO the Secretary OF the
Treasury | said, early in 1865, that there is
not royal road for government more Than
tor an individual or corporation. Nhat
YOU want to do now Is to cut down your eX-
lenses and live within your income would
give all the legerdemain Of finance and finan-
Clering-I would give the whole OF II for the
old, homely maxim, live within your income.
This reform will be resisted at every step, but
1t must be pressed persistcntly. We see to-
day the immediate representatives oil the peo-
pie in one branch of Congress, while strug.
Cling to reduce expenditures, compelled to
confront the menance OF the Senate anu the
Executive, that unless Objectionable appro'
priatIons be consented 10 the operations OF
the government hereunder shall suffer detri-
ment or cease. In my judgment, an amend
ment of the Constitution ought to be devised,
separating into distinct bills the approprla-
lions Tor the various departments OF the public
service, and excluding from each bill all
appropriations for other objects and all indie
pendent legislation. In that way alone can
the revisOry power Of each Of the two houses
aud of the Executive be preserved and eX'
empted from the moral duress which often
cumpels assent to Objectionable apprOpria-
tions rather than stop the wheels OF govern
ment An accessory clause, enhancing dis
tress in business, is to be found in the syste'
matte and insupportable misgovernment
Imposed upon tne states Oh lHe Suutu. De'luCe
the ordinary effects of ignorant and dishonest
administration, it has inflicted upon them
enormous issues of fraudulent bonds, the
scanty avalls oil which were wasted or stolen,
and the existence of which is public dis
credit, tending to bankruptcy or reputation.
Taxes, generally oppressive, in some instan.
ces have confiscated the entire income of
property, and totally destroyed It's marketable
value. IL is impossible that these evils should
not react upon the prosperity of the whole
country. The nobler motives of humanity
concur with the material interests of all in
requiring that every obstacle be removed to
complete aud durable reconciliation between
kindredspopulation once unnaturally estrang.
ed, on the basis recognized by the ST. Louis
platform aud the Constitution of the United
States, with It's amendments universally &C
copied as final settlement Of the conirover-
sizes which engeudered civil war. But in aid
OF result SO benehcent, the mora! infiu.
ence Of every good citizen as well as every
governmental authority ought 10 be exerted,
not alone TO maintain their lust equality he.