The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-07
GOV. TILDEN's LETTER.
He Reviews the Platform and the
Situation.
ALBANY. July 81. 1876.


the candidate of the constituency repre-
scented by that body for the office of presi-
dent of the United States, answered that
at my earliest convenience and In conform
ity with usage | would prepare and trans
init to you formal acceptance. | now
avail myself of the first interval in my un-
ayoidabIe occupation to fulfil that engage
ment. The convention, before making its
nominations, adopted a declaration of
principles which as whole seems to me a
wise exposition Of the necessities of our
country and f the reforms needed to bring
back the government to its true functions
to restore 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 HARD TIMES.
The necessity of reform in the scale of
public expense--federal, state and munich
pal-and in modes of federal taxation, JUS
titles all the prominence given to 1t in the
declaration of the st. Louis convention.
The present depression in all business and
industries of the people, which is depriving
labor of its employment and carrying want
into so many homes. has its principal cause
in excessive governmental consumption,
under the illusion of specious prosperity,
engendered by false policies of the federal
government. A waste of capital has been
going on ever since the peace of 1865 which
could OILY end in universal disaster. The
federal taxes of the last eleven years reach
the gigantic sum of 81 500 900 000 local
taxation has amounted to twO-thirds as
much more. The vast aggregate is not less
than 81 500, 900, 900. This enormous tax
alton followed a civil conflict that had
greatly impaired our aggregate wealth and
had made prompt reduction of expenses
indispensable. 1t was aggravated by most
unscientifc and il-adjusted methods of
taxation that increased the sacrifices OF the
peop'e far beyond the receipts of the treas
ury. 1t was aggravated moreover by
financial policy which tended to DIMINISH
energy. skill and economy of production
and frugaiiy of private consump-
ton, and induced miscalculations in bust
ness and unremuneratvc use of cap
ita and labor. Even in prosperous
times the daily wants of industrious com
muniiies press closely upon their daily earn
ings; the margin Of possible national saw
ings is at best small percentage of the ma
tlonal earnings. Yet now for these eleven
years the governmental consumption has
been larger portion of the national earn
ipgs than the whole people can possibly
save even in prosperous times for all new
lDNcSl mcUl5. He Consequences III tUtSf
errors are now a present public calamity {;
but they were never doubtful, never lnvis-
ible. They were necessary and inevitable,
and were toresecn and depicted when the
waves of that fictitious prosperity ran high
est. In speech made by me on the Gath
of September, 1863 it was said of these
taxes They bear heavily upon every
mans income, upon every individual and
every business in the country, and yea by
year they are destined to press still more
heavily unless we arrest the system that
gives rise 10 them" II was comparatively
easy when values were doubling under re-
peated issues of legal tender paper money
to pay out of the froth of our growing
and apparent wealth these taxes, bu,
when values recede and sink towards
their natural scale the tax-gatherer
takes from us not only our income,
portion of our capital. l do not wish to
exagerate or alarm. simply say that we
cannot afford the costly and ruinous policy
of the radical majority of congress. W.,
cannot afford that policy against the south;
we cannot afford that magnificent and op
pressive Centralism into which our govern
ment is being converted we cannot afford
the present magnificent scale of taxation
TO the secretary of the treasury | sale
early in 1865; There is NJ royal road fnr
the government more than for an indivi
dual or corporation. What you want t.
do now is to cut down your expenses am
live within your income. ] would give al
leger de-main of france and finanClerlng
! would give the whole of it for the old
homely maxim,
five WHITING YOUR MEANS!
This reform will be resisted at every step
hut 1t must be pressed persistenty. W.
see to-day the immediate representatives q
the people in one branch of congress, while
struggling to reduce expenditures, com
PEELED To confront the menace of the senar
az d executive, that, unless OBJECTIONABLE
appropriations be consented to, the opera
tions of government Hereunder shall suf
fer detrimpnt or cease. In my Judgment
AN AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
ought to be devised separating into distinc
bils appropriations tor various depart
ments of public service, and excludn
from each bill all appropriations for othe
objects, and all independent legislation.
that way alone can the revisory power o
each Of the two houses and of The execu
tive he preserved and Exempted from tn
moral duress which often compels asseI
to objectionable appropriations rather tina
stop the wheels of government.
HIS SOUTHERN POLICY.
An access Try cause, enhancing the dis
tress in business is TO he found in the sys
temitic and insupportable misgovernmen
imposed on the states of the south. BE-
sides the ordinary effects of ignorant an,
dishonest administration it has inflicte
upon them the enormous issues of fraudu
lent bonds, the scanty avsils of whic
were wasted or stolen, and the eXistenC
OF which is pablo dscredit tending I
bankruptcy or Reputation. The take
generally oppressive, in some ms anc(
have COS flscsred the entire income of pre-
perty and totally destroyed Its marketab
value 1t is impossible that these evi
should not react upon the prosperity {
the whole country. The nobler moiiv,
of humanity concur with material int res
of all in requiring that every obstacle /
removed TO complete and durable recol
Citation betweeH kindred p pulatons, ono
unna,urally estrGnged, on The basis recoy
nized by the ST. Louis platform of Il
&C institution of the United States with i
amendments universally accepted as fin
settlement OF the controversies which e.
gendered civil war" But in aid of r
suit so bent ficent, the moral influence
every good cnizen, as well as every COVER
mental authority, ought to be exerled, n
alone TO maintain Their just equality beto
the law, but likewise 10 establish cordi
fraternity and good will among citizen
whatever their race or color. who are no
united in one destiny of common self-go
ernment If the duty shall be assigned
me should not fail to exercise the powe
with which the laws and constitution
our county clothes its chief magistrate
protect all Its citizens, whatever their fo
in, nd M
sonal right.
REFORM AND RESUMPTION.
'Reiorm is necessary" declares the Z
ST. Louis convention, ''to establish SOU
currency, restore public credit, and mai
tain the national honor" and it goes on
demand judicious system of preparat
by public economies hv official refrenc