The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-07-19
ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION.
The Hon. James q. BIaine's Letter 90
the American PeODle.


the Republican nomination for tho Presi-
dency to the chairman Of tho National Com.
mittce. The letter says at the outset:
In enumerating the issues upon which the
Republican party appeals for popular support
the convention has been singuiarly explicit
and fellcitoua. IL has properly given the lead
Ing position 70 the industrial interests OF the
country rs affected by the tarin on imports.
on that question the two political parties are
radically In conflict. Almost the first act OF
The Republicans when they came into power In
1901 was tho establishment OF the principle OF
protection to American labor and TO American
capital. This principle the Republican party
has ever since steadily maintained, while on
the other hand the Democratic party In Con.
gross has for nifty years persietently warred
upon II. Twice within that period our oppo-
beGts have destroyed tariffs arranged for pro-
lection, and since tho close OF tho civil war,
whenever they have controlled tho House OF
Representatives, hostile legislation has b9en
httompted-never more conspicuously than In
their principal measure at the late session OF
Congress.
Revenue laws, he says, are subject to re-
vision that they may be adapted to the
changes of trade. In the many tariff re-
visions made necessary since the war the
Republican party has adhered to and will
adhere TO the policy of protection. Tho
Democratic party on the other hand insists
upon revision which will practically de-
stroy that policy The difference between
the two parties ON the subject Of the tariff
is thus radical and distinct. The pending
election may determine the fate Of protec-
ton for a generation. The overthrow of
the policy means largo and permanent re-
duction In the wages of the American la
borer, besides involving the loss of vast
amounts of American capital invested in
manufacturing enterprises.
Continuing on this subject, Mr.. Blaine
says:
After 1850 the business of the country was
encouraged and developed by protective
tariff. At the end OF twenty years the total
property OF the United states, as returned by
the census OF $780, amounted TO tho enormous
aggregate OF forty.four thousand millions OF
dollars (s14,00O,000,O00). This great result
was attained Notwithstanding the fact that
countless millions had In the interval been
wasted In the progress OF bloody war. 1t
tween 1860 and 1880 increased sixty per cent.
the aggregate property OF the country IN
creased two hundred and fourteen per cent,
showing a vastly enhanced wealth per capita
among the people. Thirty thousand millions
OF dollars $50, 900, 900 had been added
during these twenty years to the permanent
wealth OF the Nation.
These results are regarded by the older ma.
lions OF the world as phenomenal. That our
country should surmount the peril and cost
OF gigantic war and for an entire period of
twenty years make an average gain to its
wealth OF one hundred and twenty-five mil
lion dollars per month surpasses the expert.
ence OF all other nations, ancient or modern.
Even the opponents OF the present revenue
system do not pretend that in the whole his
tory OF civilization any parallel can be found
10 the material progress OF tho 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 tho United States has
there been such progress in the moral and
philanthropic field. Religious and charitable
institutions, schoole, seminaries and colleges
have been founded and endowed far more gen.
erousIy than at any previous time in our his
tory. Greater and more varied relief has been
extended to human suffering and the entire
progress OF the country in wealth has been &C.
companied and dignifed by broadening and
elevation OF our National character as a
people.
Our opponents ind fault that our revenue
System produces surplus. But they should
not forget that the law has given a specific
purpose TO which all the surplus is probably
and nonorably applied-the reduction OF the
public debt and the consequent relief OF the
burden or taxation. No dollar has been wasted,
and the only extravaganza with which the party
stands charged is the generous pensioning OF
soldiers, sailors and their families-an OK
travagance which embodies the highest 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 II In such form as Will most Of
fectively aid the industries Of the Nation.
This country, he says, seeks the con-
quests of peace. We have not improved
our relations with Spanish American coun-
tries as wisely as we should have done in
the past twenty years. The sympathies of
these countries have been allowed to drift
away from us. We should mako every Of
fort to gain their friendship. Their popula-
ton is nearly fifty millions, and we import
nearly as much from them as we do from
Europe. But the result of the whole Ameri-
can trade is in high degree unsatisfactory.
We send large sums to Europe to pay Eu-
ropean manufacturers for the goods which
they send to South America. We are but
paymasters annually to this enormous
amount to Europeon factors, an amount
which is a serious draft, in every financial
depression, upon our resources Of specie.
In this connection Mr.. Blaine further
says:
While the great powers OF Europe are
Asia and Africa, II is the especial province of
this country TO Improve and expand Its trade
with the nations OF America. No field prom.
iees 80 much. No field has been cultivated 30
little. Our foreign policy should BIO an Ameri
can policy in It's broadcast and most compre-
hensive sense-a policy OF peace, OF friendship
and commercial enlargement 80 . Citizen.
ship of the republic must be the panopiy and
safeguard OF him who wears II. The American
citizen, rich or poor, native or naturalized,
cure in his person and civil rights.
The South, which is almost exclusively
agricultural, has shared In our general
| prosperity. 1t has gained SO rapidly that
| its wealth is double what it was in 1860
exclusive of slaves. The nine leading
agricultural States of the West have gainet
SO rapidly that tho aggregate addition t,
their wealth since 1860 is almost as gres
| as the entire wealth Of the country in tina
| year.
| In these extrf ordinary developments tn
/ farmers see the helpful Impulse OF nom
| market, and they see that the financial ant
/ revenue system, enacted since the Republican
| party came into power, has established AM
| constantly expanded the homo market.
| They see that in tho Increasing competition
/ from the grain fields OF Russia and from thu
distant plains OF India, the growth OF tn
| homo market becomes daily OF greater con
| Germ TO them, and that It's Impairment woult
depreciate the value OF every acre OF tillabl
land In the Union.
In addition to the advantages which the
American people enjoy from protection
against foreign competition, they enjo.
the advantages of absolute fire.
trade over larger area and with create
population than any other nation. Ant
he adds:
The internal commerce OF our thirty-eigh
| States and nine Territories is carried on with
/ out let or hindrance, without tax, detention o.
| governmental Interference OF any kind what
| ever. 1t spreads freely over an area OF tire
and a.half million square miies-almost equa
profts are enjoyed to-day by nfty.six millions
OF American freemen, and from this enjoy
ment no monopoly Is created.
Compared with our foreign commerce thes
| domestic exchanges are inconceivably grea
Notwithstanding maFAlV