Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-19
MR.. BLAINE'S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE.
AUGUSTA. Ne, July 18th, 1884,

press deep sense OF the noDOr Wnlcn Is con
ferr, and of the duty which is imposed.
venture to accompany the acceptance with
some observations upon the questions inyolS ed
in the contest-questions whose settlement
may affect the future of the Nation favOrably
or unfayorably for long series of years.
In enumeratng the issues upon which the
Republican party appeals for popular support,
the Convention has been singulariy explicit
and delicious. 1t has properly given the
leading position to the Industrial interests of
the country as affected bv the tariff on i'm
ports. On that question the two political
parties are radically in conflict. Almost the
first act of the Republicans, when they came
into pow r in 1861, was the establishment of
the principle of Protection to American
labor and to American capital This princi-
pie the Republican Party has ever since
steadily maintained, while on the other hand
the Democratic Party in Congress has for fifty
years persistently warred upon it, Twice
within that period our opponents have de-
stroy e1 tariffs arranged for Protection, and
since the close of the civil war, whenever
they have controlled the House of Represen-
tatives, hostile legislation has been attempted
never more conspicuOusly than in their
principal measure at the late session of
Congress.
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 con-
tending tor 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 deeper 1. involves a
principle OF wide application and beneficent
influence, against theory which we believe
to be unsound in conception and inevitably
hurtiul 10 practice. In the May tariff re-
visions which have been necessary for the
past twenty-three years, or which may here
after become necessary, the Republican
Party has maintained and will maintain the
policy of Protection to American industry,
white our opponents insist upon a revision,
which practically destroys that policy. The
issue is thus distinct, well defined and una
voidable The pending election may deter
mine the fate of Protection for generation.
The overthrow of the policy means large
and permanent reduction in the wages of the
American labOrer. besides involving the loss
of vast amounts of American capital invested
in manufacturing enterprises. The value of
the present revenue system to the people of
the United States is not matter of theory,
and shall submit no argument to sustain it.
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 I'M
successful Partly from lack Of time, partly
from pre- udice among many who thought the
inquiries foreshadowei new scheme of
unsatisfactory. Little more was done than
to consolidate the local valuation used in the
States tor purposes of assessment, and that,
everyone knows, differs widely from
complete exhibit of ali the 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 re-
suit was that the true value" of all the prop
eFty in the States and Territories (excludiug
slaves amounted to fourteen thousand mill
lions OF dollars (Sl4, 900, 600, 000.) This az
gregate 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 coloniSt landed in 1907 down to the
year 1860. 1t represented the fruit of the toll
of two hundred and fttyyears
After 1860 the business of the country was
encouraged and developed by a Protective
Tariff At 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 l3i4, 900,
900 ,O0O) This great result was attained,
Notwithstanding the fact that countless mil
lions had in the interval been wasted in the
progress of bloody war. 1t thus appears
I nnt tsh On mud
1880 increased sixty per cent, the aggregate
property of the country increased two hun
bred and fourteen per Cent-showing vastly
enhanced wealth per capita among the people.
Thirty thousand millions of dollars $50, 900
600, 0O0) bad been added during these twenty
wears to the permanent wealth OF the Nation.
These results are regarded by the older
Nations of the world as phenomenal. That
our country should surmount the peril and
the cost of a gigantic war and for an entire
pc Rod of twenty years make an average gain
to its wealth of one hundred and twenty FIVE
million dollars per month snrpasses the ex-
perience OF all other Nations, ancient or
modern. Even the opponents of the present
Revenue system do not pretend that in the
whole history of civilizat IN any parallel can
be found to the material progress of the
United States, since the accession of the
hepuOuCan party 10 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
philanthropc field. Religious and charitable
Institutions, schools, seminaries and colleges,
have been founded and endowed far more
generously than at any previous time in our
history Greater and more varied relief has
been extended to human suffering and the
entire progress of the country in wealth has
been accompanied aud dgnifird by a broad
ening and elevation of our National character
as q people.
Our opponents find fault that our Revenue
system produces a surplus. But thew should
not forget that the law has given specific
purpose to which all of the surplus is profit
ably and honorably applied-the reduction of
the Public debt aud the consequent relief of
the burden of 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 extravaganza which embodies
the highest form of justice in the recognition
and payment of a sacred debt. When reduc-
ton 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 the Nation.
Our FOREIGN COMMERCE.
A frequent accusation by our opponents is
that the Foreign Commerce ofthe country has
steadily decsved under the influence of the
Protective Tariff. In this way they seek to
fhA stt1,v int ,ln D.,