The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-07-26
Following is James e.. Blaine's letter
accepting the Republican nomination

for the presidency:
AUGUSTA ME-, July Is, 1S34-HoS. JOAN
B. HENDERsoS AND OTHERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
ETC. GENTLt8EN: In accepting the nomina-
ton for the Presidency rendered me by the Re-
publican National Convention, beg to express
a deep stnse Ct the honor which is conferred
and OF the duty which is imposed l venture
to accompany the acceptance with some OBJ
servatIons upon the questions involved IL the
contest-questlcus whose settlement NAV ST
feet the future Of the nation fayoTabiy or I'M
favorably for long series of years.
In enumerating the issues upon which the
Republican party appeals for popular support.
the convention mas been singuiarly expl.C and
fecltous. 1t has properly gwen the leading
position to the Industrial interests of the coun-
try as aft cted by the tariff on imports. On
that question the two political parties are radi-
cally in conflict. Almost the first act of the
Republicans, when they came into power i'll
1861, was the establishment of the principle of
protection 10 American labor and to American
capital. TOls principle the Republican party
has ever since steadily maintained while on
the other hand the Democratic party IN Con-
gress has Tor fifty years perslstently warred
upon it. Twice within that period our oppo-
ueuts have destroyed tsnrs arranged for pro-
lection, and since the Gloss of the cvil war,
whenever they have controlled the House Of
Representatives, hostile legislation has been at
tempted-neyer more conspcuously than in
their principal measure at the late session of
Congress.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws are Ia their very nature subject
to frequent revision in order that they NAV be
adapted to changes and notifications Of trade.
The Republican party is not contending for the
parmanency 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; Ii Involves principle of wide
application aGd benefcent influence, against a
theory which we believe to be unsCund in con
ceptioa and inevitably hurtful IN practice. In
the many t5rif reyisions which have been
necessary for the past twenty-three 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 re-
Vision which practically destroys that po,icv
The issue IS thus distinct, well defined. and I'M
ayoldable. IL pending election may deter
mine tie Tate Of protection for q generation
The overthrow Of the policy means large and
permanent re ductIon In the wages of the Amer
lean labOrer, besides involving the loss of vast
amounts OF American capital invested IN manu-
featuring enterprises. The value of the pres
eat revenue system to the people of the United
States is not matter Of theory, and | shall
submit no argument to sustain IT, / only in
vie attention TO certain facts OF official record
which seem TO constitute demonstration
IL THO Sf41cts1 VI ICJu al 6HOTI Was made, Tor
the first time in our history, to obtain valua-
stlon OF all tie property In the United States
The attempt was IL large degree unsuccessful
Partly for lack OF time, partly from prediuice
among many Who thought the inquiries fore
Swallowed a new scheme of taxation, the re-
turns were incomplete and unsatisfs ctory Lit
tie more was done than to consolidate the local
valuation used III the states for PURPOSES of
assessment, aud that as every one knows, differs
widely from complete exhibit of all the
property.
In the census Of 1860, However, the work was
done with great thOrCughness-the distinction
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 Excluding sIayes)
amounted 10 fourteen thousand millions Of
dollars OLA, OJO, 600. 0GO.) 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 colouist
landed IN 1907 down TO the year 1860. 1t rep
pesents the fruit of the toll of $50 years
After 1860 the business of the country was
encouraged and develop ed by protective tariff.
At the end OF twenty years the total property
o. the United States, as returned by the census
of 1880, amounted to the enormous aggre gate
o. forty-fOur thousand millions OF dollars
Cal ,0JO. uO0,O00.) This great result was at
tanned, notwithstanding the fact that countless
millions had IN the interval been wasted III the
progress of d bloody war. 1t thus appears
that while our population between 1860 and
1880 increased 81 per cent. the aggregate prop
erty OF the cuut try increased IA per cent
showing VASTLY enhanced wealth per capita
among the people. Thirty thousand millions
of dollars C@30,U0J, 05O,U00) has been added
during these twenty years to the permanent
wealth OF the nation.
These resu & are regarded by the older ma
tons OF tue world as phenomenal. That our
country should surmount the peril and the cost
of gigantic war and Tor an entire period of
twenty years make an average gam toits wealth
Of SIS, OttOU0 Fer month suTIGsses the OK
peIlence OF all othGT nations, ancient or mod
ern. Even the opponents of the present reve-
Lue system do not pretend that In the whole
history Cf civilization any parallel can be found
10 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
phian hrophic field Religious and charitable
institutions, schools, semlnaries and colleges
have been founded and endowed far more
generously than at any previous time in our
histoy. Greater aud more varied relief has
been extended to human suffering. and the
entire progress OF the country II wealth has
been accompanied and dlsniticd 10y broaden
ing ans elevation Of our national character as
4 people.
Our opponents find fault that our revenue
system produces surplus. But they should
not forget that the law has given a specific
purpose to which all of the surplus is profit
ably and hoLorsbiy apphed-the reduction of
tie public debt and 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 pen
sioning Of soldiers, sailors. and their families
ar extravaganza which embodies the highest
form Of justice in the recognition and payment
OF sacred debt. When reduction Of taxation
is to be made tie Republican party can be
trusted to accomplish 1t in such form viii
most effectively aid the industries Of the ma
ton.
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE.
A frequent accusation by our opponents is
that the foreign commerce of the country has
steadily decaycd under the influence of the
protec i've tariff. Ia this way they seek to ar
ray the importing interest against the Republic
an party. Ii Is d common and yet radical er-
TOR to confOuud the commerce of the country
with its carving traas-an error often com
mltted InrOCsntly and sometimes desIguedv-
but an error SO gross that it does not distin-
guish betNeen the ship and the cargo. Foreign
commerce represents the exports and imports
Of a country regardless Of the nationality of
the vessel that may carry the commodities of
exchange. Our carrying trade has from obvi-
GUS causes suffered many discouragements
since 1869, but our foreign commerce has in
the same period steadily and prodigiouSly in
creased-iHcreased indeed al rate and to an
amount which absolutely dwarf all previous
developments Of our trade beyond the sea.
From 1860 70 the present time the foreign COM
merce Of the United States divided with APP
proxlmste equslity between exports and i'm
por-s) reached the astounding aggregate Of
twestv-fCuc thousand millions of dollars (S24,-
NO, O0W. The balance i'll this vast COM
nerce inclined in our favor, but IT would have
been much larger II our trade with the ooun-
tries Of America, elsewhere referred TO, had
been wisely adjusted.
1t Is difficult even to appreciate the magnl-
tude Of our export trade since 1860 and we can
gam correct conception of 1t only by COM
psrlson with preceding results IN the same field.
The total exports from the United States from
the declaration Of independence in 1776 down
to the day of Lincoln's election in 1860, added
to All thst had previously been exported from
the American colonies from their original settle
ment amounted to less than nine thousand
millions Of dollars (S9, geo 000,000). On the
other hand our exports from 1860 to the close
OF the last fiscal year exceeded twelve thousand
ciions Of dollars (S12. 600 coo. G00)-the
whole Of it being the product OF American
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