St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-19
Repeating His Acceptance
of the Republican
Nomination,
Fnd Making ''Some Observations
~ Upon Platform
Topics.
Sn- costing Tricky and Deceptive Sta
tistical Arguments Upon
The Tariff Question.
Boldly Ignoring the Poverty and Desperation
OF Labor in the Protected
Industries.
And Uttering OracuIar Platitudes Regard
ing Other Leading Questions of
National Policy.

ing Other Leading Questions of
National Policy.
AUGUSTA, Me-, July IS, 1884.
The Hon. John B. Henderson and others of the
Committee, etc, etc.
Gentlemen: In accepting the nomination for
tn, presidency rendered me by the Republican
national convention, | beg to express q deep
sense of the honor which is conferred and of the
duty which is imposed. venture to accompany
the acceptance with some observations upon the
questions involved in the contest-questions
wbc5e settlement may affect the future Of the
nate favon6bly or unfavorably for long series
of y5ars.
In enumerating the issues upon which the Re-
publican party appeals for popular support the
cony yAtion has been singularly explicit aud fell
citous. 1t has properly given the leading posi-
ton the industrial interests Of the country IS
affected by the tariff on imports. On that ques7
tion the two political parties radically in con
fict. Almost the first act of the Republicans
when they came into power in 1861 was the es-
taOlishment Of the principle Of protection to Anne
rican labor and to American capital. This Prin-
cpe the Republican party has ever since steadily
maintained, while on the other hand the Demo
cratic party in congress has for fifty years per-
sstently warred upon it. Twice within that
period our opponents have destroyed tariffs
ranged for protection, and since the close Of the
civil war, whenever they have controlled the
house of representatives, hostile legislation has
been attempted-never more conspicuously than
IL their principal measure at the late session of
gPcss.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws are in their very nature subject
to frequent revision in order that they may be
adapted to changes and notifications Of trade.
The Republican party is not contending for the
permanency Of any particular statute. The issue
between the two parties does not have reference
to a specific law. 1t is far broader and far deep
or. 1t involves principle Of wide application
and benefcent influence, against theory which
we believe TO be uusound in conception and iney-
itably hurtful in practice. In the many tariff re-
visions which have been necessary for the past
twenty three years. which may hereafter be-
come necessary, the Republican party has main
taincd and will maintain the prolicy of protection
to American industry, while our opponents insist
upon u revision which practically destroys that
policy. The issue is thus distinct, well defined
and unavoidable. The pending election may de-
termine the fate Of the policy for a generation
The overthrow OF protection means large and
permanent reduction in the wages of the Ameri-
can laborcr, besides involving the loss of vast
amounts Of American capital invested in
featuring enterprises. The value of the present
;eyenue system to the people Of the United States
Is not matter Of theory, and shall submit no
argument to sustain it. 1 only invite attention
to certain facts of official record which seem to
constitute demonstration.
In the census Of 1850 an effort was made, for
the first time in our history, to obtain valuation
Of all the property in the United States. The
attempt was in large degree unsuccessful.
Partly from lack of time, partly from prejudice
among many who thought the inquiries fore
shadowed a new scheme of taxation, the returns
were Incomplete and unsatisfactory. Little more
was done than to consolidate the local valuation
used in the states for purposes of assessment,
and that, as everyone knows, differs widely from
complete exhibit of all the property.
In the census of 1860, however, the work was
done with great thoroughness-the distinction
between assessed value and true value be-
ing carefully observed. The grand result was
that the "true value of all the property in the
states and territories (excluding saves) amoun-
ted to fourteen thousand millions of dollars
(S14,0OO, ,00O, ,00Ol. This aggregate was the net
result Of the labor and the savings of all the
people within the area of the United States from
the time the first British coloust landed in 1907
down to the year 1860. 1t represented the frnit
OF the toll of two hundred and fifty years.
After 1860 the business Of the country was
encouraged and developed by protective tariff,
1t the end of twenty years the total property Of
the United States, as returned by the census OF
1880, amounted to the enormous aggregate Of
forty-four thousand millions of dollars (s4f ,O00,
O0G G,O0O) This great result was attained, not
withstanding the fact that countless millions had
In the interval been wasted in the progress 1f q
bloody war. 1t thus appears that while ourpop-
ulation between 1860 and 1880 increased sixty
per cent, the aggregate property of the country
Increased two hundred and fourteen per cent,
showing vastly enhanced wealth per capita
among the people. Thirty thousand millions of
dollars (S3O, 600 O00, O0O) had been added during
these twenty years TO the permanent wealth Of
the nation.
These results are regarded by the older ma
tons of the world as phenomenal. That coun-
try should surnouut the peril and the
cost of u gigantic war and for an entire period
OF twenty years make an average gain to its
wealth of one hundred and twenty-five million
dollars per month surpasses the experience of
all other nations, ancient or modern. Even the
opponents Of the present revenue system do
not 0r1lehu llAl n tue Nuoke LlSlOTN Ol
ton any parallel can be found to the material pro-
gress OF the United states since the accession of
the Republican party to power.
The period between 1860 and to-day has not
been one OF material prosperity only. At no
time in the history Of the United States has there
been such progress in the moral and philanthro-
pic field. Religious and charitable institutions,
schools. seminaries and colleges, have been
I 1l-f han,
81 any previous time in ouc history. Greater
and more varied relief has been extended to hu-
E.an suffering and the entire progress of the
country in wealth has been accompanied and dig
nifed by u broadening and elevation Of our MS
tiopal character rs people
Our opponents find fault that our revenue sys-
TEN produces surplus. But they should not
FORGET that the law has given specific purpose
10 which all of the surplus is probably and hon
ora5ly appued-the reduction of the public debt
and the consequent relief of the burden OF taxa
zion. No dollar has been wasted, and the only
extrayasance with which the party stands chsrged
Is the generous peRsioning of soldiers, sailors
and their families-an extravagance which en-
bodies the highest form Of justice in the recogni
ton and payment Of sacred debt. When reduc-
tion OF taxation is to be made the Republican
party can be trusted to accomplish it in such
form as vii most effectively aid the industries
OF the nation.
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE.