The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-07-25
BLAINE'S ACCEPTANCE.
A MAsTERFUL PRESENTATION OF THE
ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.

To the Hon. John D. Henderson and Others Of /
the Committee:
GENTLEhEN-In accepting tho nomina-
Republican National Convention, beg to |
express deep sense Of the homer which is |
conferred and Of the duty which is imposed. |
venture to accompany the acceptance with |
some observations upon the questions in |
volved In the contest-ouestions whose set |
tlemsnt may affect the future Of the Nation,
favorably or unfavorably, for long series
Of years. In euumeraring the issues upon
which the Republican party appeals for the
popular support, the Convention has been
singularly explicit and felicitous. 1t has
properly given the leading position to the
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY
as affected by the tariff on imports. On that
question the two political parties are radi-
cally in conflict. Almost the first act when
the Republicans came In power in 1861 was
the establishment of the principle Of protec-
ton 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-
gress has for fifty years persistently warred
uponit. Twice within that period our oppo-
nents have destroyed tariffs, arranged fer
protection, and since the Gloss of the civil
war, whenever they have controlled tho
House of Representatives, hostile legislation
has been attempted-never more conspicu-
ously than in their principal measure at the
late session of Congress.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Our revenue laws are in their very nature
subject to frequent revision in order that
they may be adapted to the changes and
notifications of trade. The Republican
party is not contending for the permanency
Of any particular statute. The issue between
the two parties does not have reference to
specific law. 1t is far broader and far deeper.
1t involves principle of wide application
and beneicent influence against q theory
which we believe to be unsound in concep-
ton and inevitably hurtful in practice. In
the many tariff revisions 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 Ameri-
| can industry, while our opponents insist
upon revision which practically destroys
that policy. The issue is thus distinct, we'll
| defined, and unavoidable. The pending cleo
| ton may determine 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 Amsri-
can capital invested in manufacturing enter
prises. 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 unsuccessful. Partly
from lack Of time, partly from prejudice
among many who thought the inquiries FORE
Swallowed new scheme of taxation, the
returns were incomplete and unsatisfactory
| Little more was done than to consolidate the
local Variation used in the States for the pur-
pose OF assessment, and that, as everyone
knows, differs widely from q complete ex-
| hibit of all the property.
| INCREASE OF PROPERTY VALUES.
In the census of 1861 however, tho work
was done with great thoroughness, the dis
JUNCTION 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 lin
| Guiding slaves amounted to fourteen thou
sand millions OF dollars. This aggregate YVES
| 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. It rep
resented the fruit Of the toll of two hundred
and fifty years. After 1860 the bust ness Of
the country was encouraged and developed
by protective tariff. At the end of the
twenty years the total property of the United
States, as returned by tho census of 1880,
amounted to the enormous aggregate of
forty -four thousand millions of dollars This
great result was attained, notwithstanding
that countless millions had in the interval
been wasted in the progress Of a bloody war.
1t thus appears that while our population
between 1860 and 1880 increased sixty per
| cent, the aggregate property Of the country
increased PA per cent, showing a vastly en-.
HANGED wealth per capita among the people.
Thirty thousand millions of dollars had beeu
added during these twenty years to the per-
manent 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 costs Of a
gigantic war, and for an entire period of
twenty years make an average gain Of its
wealth of one hundred and twenty-five mil
lion dollars per month, surpasses the expe-
rience of all other nations, ancient or mod
ern. 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 Re-
publican party to power.
-. GENERAL ADVANCEMENT.
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 he's
there been such progress in the moral and
philanthropic field. Religious and charita-
BILE institutions, schools and colleges have
been founded and endowed far more gener-
ally than at any previous time In our history.
Greater and more varied relief has been ex-
tended to human suffering, and the entire
progress Of the country in wealth has been
accompanied and digniaed by . broadening
and elevation Of our National character AZ q
people. Our opponents find fault that our
revenue system produces surplus, but they
should net forget that the law has given .
specific purpose to which all of the surplus
Is proftably and honorably applied, to the
reduction of the public debt and the conse- |
quent relief Of the burden Of taxation. Net
q dollar has been wasted, and tho only ex-
travagance with which the party stands
charged is the generous pensioning Of sol |
diers, sailors and their families--an extrava-
gance which embodies the highest form Of |
justice In the recognition and payment Of
sacred debt. When reduction Of taxation
Is to be made, the Republican party can be |
trusted to accomplish 1t In such form IS
will most effectively aid the industries of the |
Nation.
. OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE..
A frequent accusation by our opponents is,
that the foreign commerce OF the cor utry has |!
steadily decayed under the influence of the |
go IL