Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-25
Mr.. Blaine's Letter of Acceptance


for the presidency rendered me by the Re.
publican national convention, beg 10 ex-
press deep sense Of the honor which il con-
ferred and of the duty which is imposed.
venture TO accompany the acceptance with
some observations upon the questions iuvolv-
ed in the oontest--questions whose settle
ment may affect the future Of the nation fa-
vorably or unfavorably for a long series Of
years.
In enumerating the issues upon which the
Republican party appeals for popular sup
port, the convention has been singularly ex-
plicit and felicitous II has properly given
tho leading position to the industrial interests
OF the country as affected by tho tariff on inn
ports. On that question the two political
parties are radically in conflict. Almost the
first act OF the Republicans, when they came
into power in 1861, was the establishment Of
the principle Of protection to American la
Dor aud to American capital This principle
the Republican party has ever since steadily
maintained, while on the other hand the
Democratic party in Congress has for 80 years
persistently warred upon IT, Twice within
that period our opponents have destroyed
tariffs arranged for protection, and since the
close of the civil war, whenever they have
controlled the House of Representatives hos
tile legislation has been attempted never
moro conspiouously than in their principal
measure at the late session Of Congress.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws nro in their very nature sub.
| ject to frequent revision in order that they
may be adapted to changes and notifications
OF trade Tho Republican party is not con-
tending for the permRnency of any particu-
lar statute. The issue between the two par
ties does not have reference 10 any specific
law II is far broader and far deeper 1t
involves principle Of wide application and
benefcent influence, against a theory which
we believe to be unsound in conception and
inevitably hurtful in practice. In tho many
tariff revisions which have been necessary
for the past 23 years, or which may hereafter
become necessary, the Republican party has
maintained and will maintain the policy of
protection to American industry, while our
| opponents insist upon a revision, which prao-
tically destroys that policy. Tho issue is
thus distinct well defined and unavoidable
The pending election may determine the fate
| OF protection for generation. The over
throw Of the policy means a large and perm
anent reduction in the wages of tho Ameri
can laborer, beaides involving the loss of vast
amounts Of American capital invested in
manufacturing enterprises. The value Of
the present revenue system to the United
States is not a matter Of theory, and / shall
submit no argument to sustain it. / only in
vite attention to certain facts of official rec.
ord which seem to constitute q demonstra-
tion.
In tho census Of 1850 an effort was made,
| for tho first time in our history, to obtain a
valuation Of all the property in the United
States The attempt was in large degroe un-
successful, Partly from lack of time, partly
from prejudice among many who thought
| tho inquiries foreshadowed now 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 every one knows, differs widely from a
complete exhibit Of all tho property.
In the census of 1860, however, the work
was done with great thoroughness-the dis
tinction between assessed" value and "true"
value being carefully observed. The grand
result was that the true value" of all the
property in the states and territories (exclud.
ing slaves) amounted TO $l4, 900, 900, 900.
| This aggregate was the net result of the Ia
| Dor and the savings of all the people within
the area of the United States from the time |
the first British colonist landed in 1907 down
to the year 1860. 1t represented the fruit of
the toll of $50 years.
| After 1860 the business of the country was
encouraged and developed by a protective
| tariff. At the end of 20 years the total prop
! erty Of the United States, as returned by the
! census of l~-u, amounted TO the enormous
| aggregate Of S4iOOO, 900, 900. This great
result was attained, Notwithstanding the fact
! tlat countless millions had I'm the interval
/ been "-.t. d .u o.. ls.rr. ot D. bloody war
. j: tLs appear Chat w-.lr our population Orc.
| tween l-GJ and l-71 Increased GJ per cont,
| the aggregate property Of the country in-
/ creased 2Ii per ceu.-sLowiug o vastly en-
! u.u..I w...La IHr capita. among the peo-
| pie. Thirty thousand millions OF dollars had
| been added during these 20 years TO the per-
manent wealth of the nation.
These results are regarded by the older ma
tions of the world as phenomenal That
our country should surmount the peril and
the cost OF gigantic war and for an entire
| period OF 20 years mako an average gain to
its wealth of 1926, ,OO0, 600 per month sur
passes the experience of all other nations,
ancient or modern. Even the opponents of
| the present revenue system do not pretend
| that in the whole history OF civilization any
parallel can be found to the material progress
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 philanthropic field. Religious and char
table institutions, schools, seminaries and
colleges, have been founded and endowed
far more generously than at any previous
time in our history Greater and more va
ried relief has been extended to human suf-
foring, and the entire progress of the country
in wealth has been accompanied and digni-
fed by broadening and elevation of our ma
tional character as a people.
Our opponents find fault that our revenue
system produces a surplus But they should
not forget that the law has given a specific
purpose TO which all the surplus is proftably
and honorably applied-the reduction of the
public debt and the consequent relief Of the
Ill.
wasted and the only extravaganza with which
the party stands charged is the generous pen
sioning OF soldiers, sailors and their families
| -an extravaganza which embodies the high
est form of justice in the recognition and
| payment of a sacred debt When reduction
of taxation is to be made, the Republican
party can be trusted to accomplish it in such
form as will most effectively aid the industries
of tho nation.
OUR FoREIoN COMMERCE.
A frequent accusation by our opponents is
that the foreign commerce of the country
has steadily decayed under the influence of
the protective tariff In this way they seek
to array the importing interest against the
Republican party. It is common aud yet
radical error to confound tho commerce
of the country with its carrying trade-an
error often committed innoeently and some
times designedly-but an error so gross that
it does not distinguish between the ship and
the cargo. Foreign commerce represents the
exports and imports of q country regardless
of the nationality of the vessel that may car
ry the commodities of exchange. Our carry
ing trade has from obvious causes suffered
many discouragements since 1860, but our
foreign commerce has in the same period
steadily and prodigiously increased d-increas-
ed indeed at a rate and to an amount which
absolutely dwarf all previous DEVELOPMENTS
of our trade beyond tho sea- From 1860 to
the present time the foreign commerce OF
the United States divided with approximate
equality between exports and imports) reach.
ed the astounding aggregate Of 1924 900, OO0,-
600 The balance in this vast commerce in.
olined in our favor, but II would have been
much larger if our trade with the countries
of America elsewhere referred to, had been
more wisely adjusted.
It is difficult to appreciate the magnitude
of our export trade since 1860, and we can
gain correct conception of it only by COM
parson with preceding results in the same
field. Yhe total exports from the United
States from the declaration of independence
in 1776 down TO the day Of Linooln's election
| Ia 1QG0 addad m oil that had uravfoualv haan