Omaha daily bee., 1884-07-21
hfR RLALNES LETTER.

In MS letJer u acCepbahSO 'HS 'Sf
can candidate for the presidency has
formulated his views On the issuee that
divide the American people. In the
main these views are strictly in accord
with the traditions of the party and the
platform adopted by the republican ma
t;onal convention. Without the least at
tempt at rhetoric, Mr.. Blaine, In a plain
matter of fact document, deals at length
with almost every question that has en-
crossed public attention since the
reconstruction era. He plants himself
souarely in favor of a protective tariff
policy as being conducive to the prosper
ity of the manufa% oturer, the workingmsn,
and indirectly Of the Agricultural. Mr..
Blaine gives greater prominence to the
tariff issue than to any other question,
and he evidently regards this question as
paramount in the coming campaign.
While his ultra protection views will no
doubt meet the unqualified approval east
of the Alleghanies and beyond the Rock.
les, the vast region covered byrtfeD prai-
RE states of the west, from Missouri to
Minnesota and from Illinois to Colorado,
does not share the fears which Mr., Blaine
entertafhs with regard totariff reform. The
republicans Of the west are by no means
free traders, but they believe that the
republican party acted wisely when
through its congress and its chief execu-
tive it reduced taxation by revising the
tariff. Every intelligent American will
concede that American industry has been
fostered and developed within the past
twenty years by the protective policy,
but many of the infant industries f%ostered
by the tariff are no longer in IN infantile
condition, and others have completely
outgrown all artificial props. This was
the view held by a very respectable
minority of the national convention.
Out of the forty-two members of the
committee on resolutions, eighteen were
outspoken in favor of revenue reform
through a reduction of the protective du-
ties that are nov imposed.
Mr.. Blaine is eminentIy sound on the
labor issue, and the policy of reserving
the public domain for actual settlers.
The American workingman cannot expect
good wages from the policy of excluding
articles of foreign manufacture. If pro.
lection is to prorect him against pauper
labor in Europe and Asia, we must pre-
vent the importation of the pauper labor
ers of the old world.
Mr.. Blaine very clearly defines his
foreign policy. 1t will be his aim to seek
the conquests of peace, by extending u
INNER to our nearest neighbors in
Mexico and South America, and keeping
clear of all entanglements with European
nations, by sustaining such relations as
will insure international amity and peace.
Mr.. Blaine in a very terse sentence de-
clares that citizenship of the republic
must be the panoply and safeguard of
him who wears it. The American citi-
zen, rich or poor, native or naturalized,
white or colored, must everywhere walk
secure in his personal and civil rights.
The republic should never accept a les
ser duty, it can never assume a nobler
one, than the protectionof tho humblest
man who owes a loyalty-protection at
home, and protection which shall follow
him abroad, into whatever land he may
go upon a lawful Grand"
MI. Blaine very wisely concludes that
the time has gone by for waving the
bloody shirt and he addresses himself to
the south in the most kindly expressions
of good will and friendship. Instead of
fighting over the battles of the rebellion
he endeavors to heal the scars by en-
couraging the material development of
the natural resources of the southern
states.
Civil s%ervics reform Mr.. Blaine re-
CARDS as an essential policy for tho eff
cient conduct of public affairs. He re-
peats the dogma laid down by Rutherford
B. Hayes, in his letter of acceptance,
that congressman should not control fed
eral appointments, and he goes even SO
far as to promise that all competent EN-
ployes and officers shall be retained dur
ing good behavior.