The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-08-15
LETTERS ACCEPT .


Full Text Of the Tllden and Hen
ae bricks Letters.
The Platform and Its Prin.
cfples Warmly Endorsed.
I d9s6E Q9p 1851 UA
A Calf fer Reform In Every De.
| pArtment OF Government.
Governor Tilden's Letter.
| a1tEi O. ALBANY. July 81, 1875.
GFNrLEMEN: When ] had the honor
to receive the personal delivery of your
letter on behalf of the Democratic Ma
Itioual Convention, held on the 2Sth of
June at St. Louis, advising me Of my
nomination as the candidate of con-
1stituency represented by that BODY for
the office of President of the United
States,1 answered that at my earliest
convenience, and in conformity with
usage, would prepare and transmit to
you a formal acceptance. ] now avail
myself of tue first interval in unavoida.
Bile occupation to fulfill that promise.
THE PLATFORM.
| The Convention, before making its
nominations, adopted declaration ol
principles which, as whole, seems to
i me wise exposition of the necessities
of our country, and Of reforms needed
to bring back the Government to its true
functions, and to restore purity OF ad
ministration, ,and to renew the prosperity
of the people. But some Of these re
forms are so urgent that they claim more
than passing approval. The necessity
jcf ssA @
REFoRM IN The SCALE OF PUBLIC ExPENsE
Federal, State and municipal, and in the
modes OF Federal taxation, justiies al
ithe prominence given to it in the decla,
ration OF the St. Louis Convention. The
present depression in all the business
and industries OF the people, which il
Idepriving labor of its employment and
carrying want into so many homes, has itt
principal cause in excessive Government
tai consumption under illusions of spe
icious prosperity. Engendered by false
ipolicies of the Federal Government, s
waste of capital has been going on ever
since the peace of 1865, which could only
end in universal disaster The Federal
taxes OF the last eleven years reach the
gigantic sum Of 81 500, 100000 Loca
taxation has amounted TO two-thirds as
much more The vast aggregate is not
less than $500, 100000. This
| ENORMOUS TAXATION oJs
Followed civil conflict that had greatly
impaired our aggregate wealth, and had
made prompt reduction OF expenses
indispensable. 1t was aggravated by
most unscientific and ill-adjusted meth
DDS of taxation that increased the sacri
fees OF the people far beyond the re.
ceipts Of the Treasury. 1t was aggra
waited, moreover, by financial policy
which tended to diminish the energy
skill and economy of production anc
/ frugality of private consumption, and
produced miscalculation in business and
in remunerative use Of capital and labor
Even in prosperous times the daily wants
of industrial communities press closely
upon their daily earnings The margin
Of possible national savings is at least 6
small per centage of the national earn
ings; yet now, for these ten years, the
Governmental consumption mas been 6
larger portion Of the national earnings
than the whole people can possibly save
in prosperous times for all new invest
ments. The consequences Of these er.
rors are now present public calamity
But they were never doubtful; never in
visible. They were necessary and inev
table, and were foreseen and depicted
when the waves Of that fictitious pros
perity ran highest. In speech made
by me on the oath of September, 1868
it was said Of these taxes: ie d!
"They bear heavily upon every mans
income, upon every industry and every
business Of the country and year by yea,
they are destined to press still more
heavily unless we arrest the system tha,
gives rise to them. 1t was comparative
ly easy when the values were doubling
under repeated issues of legal.tendel
paper money, to pay out Of the growth
of our growing and apparent wealth
these taxes, but when values recede and
sink toward their natural scale the tax
gatherer takes from US not only oul
profits, but also portion of our capital
do not wish to exaggerate or ALARM
simply say that we cannot afford the
costly and ruinous policy of the Radical
majority of Congress. We cannot afford
that policy toward the South. We Car
not afford the magnificent and oppress
live Capitalization into which our Gov
ernment is being converted. We canno
afford the present magnificent ard op
Ipressive taxation" To the Secretary O
1.-THE Treasury Iissid, early in 1855
|"There is no royal road for a Govern
Iment more than for on individual or
corporation. What you want to do nov
is TO cut down your expenses and liv
within your income" l would give W
all the legerdemain of finance and finan
ciering; / would give the whole of it 70
the old, homely maxim: "Live withi
|your income" This reform will be re
sisted at every step. but it must be press
ed persistently. We see to day the i'm
mediate representatives of the people i
one branch of Congress, while strugglin
to reduce expenditures, compelled
confront
THE MENACE OF THE SENATE AND KxECI
TIVE
That unless Objectionable appropriation
be consented to the operations of Go,
ernment hereunder shall suffer detr
ment or cease.
DESTRUCTIVE APPROPRIATIONS.
In my judgment an amendment OF tt
Constitution ought to be raised separ'
ting into distinct bills appropriations ft
various Departments of public service, an
excluding from each bill all appropris
tions for other objects and all indepenG
ent Legislation. In that way alone ca
: every power of each Of the two House
and of the Executive he preserved an
Exempted from moral duress, which o
ten compels assent to Objectionable al