Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-19


nation for the Presidency, rendered me by the
Republican National Convention, beg to ex-
press deep sense of the honor which is con-
ferred and of the duty which is imposed. ven
ture to accompany the acceptance with some
observations upon the questions involved in the
contest-questions whose settlement may affect
the future of the nation favorably or unfavor-
ably.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
For a long series of years, in enumerating the
issues upon which the Republican party APP
peals for popular support, the Convention has
been singularly explicit and felicitous 1t has
probably given the leading position to the in
dustrial interests of the country as affected by
the tariff on exports On that question the TWO
political parties are radically in conflict AL
most the first act of the Republicans, when they
came into power in 1861, was the establishment
Of protection to American labor and to Ameri-
can capital. This principle 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
destroyed the tariffs arranged for protection,
and since the close of the civil war, whenever
tives hostile legislation has been attempted,
never more conspicuously than in their princi-
pal measure at the late session of Congress.
The tariff question and revenue laws are in
their very nature subject 10 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 ref
| erence to a specific law 1t is far broader and
| far deeper. 1t involves a principle OF wide APP
| plication and benefcent influence against a
| theory which we believe to be unsound in con
| ceptien 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 Re
| publican party has maintained and win maintain
| the policy OF protection TO American industry;
while our opponents insist upon a revision
which practically destroys the policy. The issue
| is thus distinct well defined and unavoidable.
| The pending election may determine the fate of
protection for q generation. The overthrow OF
the policy means q large and permanent reduc-
| ton in the wages of the American lahorer be-
sides involving the loss of vast amounts OF
| American capital invested in manufacturing en-
| terprises. The value of the present revenue
system TO the people Of the United States is
not matter of theory, and l shall submit
no argument to sustain it. ] only invite atten.
ton to certain facts of official record which
seem to constitute q demonstration. In the
census OF 1850 an effort was made for the first
time in our history, to obtain a valuation of al
the property in the United States The attemp
! IN Il
the lack Of time, partly from prejudice among
many who thought the inquiries toreshadowe(
& new scheme Of taxation. The returns were
incomplete and unsatisfactory Little NOR,
was done than 20 consolidate the loca
valuation used in the States for the pur
poses of assessment, and that as everyon,
knows, differs widely from a complete exhibit 0
all the property. In the census of 1850, how
ever, the work was done with great thorough
ness the distinction between the " assessed
value ard the true" value being CAREFUL
observed. The grand result was that the true
value of all the property in the States and Tel
ritories excluding slaves amounted to fourtee
thousand millions Of dollars This aggregat
was tho net result of the labor and the saving
of all the people within the area of the Unite
States, from the time the first British coloni,
landed in 1907 down to the year 1860. It represen
ed the fruit Of the toll of two hundred and fit
years. After 1860 the business of the count1
was encouraged and developed by protectiy
tariff AZ the end Of the twenty years the tot,
property OF the United States as returned b
the census of 1850, amounted to the enormol
aggregate of forty -four thousand millions
dollars. This great result was attained notwitl
standing the fact that countless millions had
the interval been wasted in the progress Of
bloody war, It thus appears that while o,
population, between 1850 and 1882 increase
sixty per cent, the aggregate property of Il
3 country increased 214 per cent, showing
? vastly enhanced wealth per capita amor
! the people. Thirty thousand millions
dollars had been added during these TWEEN
years to the permanent wealth of the natio
These results are regarded by the older natio
: of the world as phenomenal, That our count
should surmount the peril and the costs OF
, gigantic war, and for an entire period of TWEEN
) years made an average gain to its wealth of o.
: hundred and twenty-five million dollars p
D month, surpasses the experience of all other Il
5 tons ancient or modern. Even theopponer
! of the present revenue system do not pretel
that in the whole history of civilization a
parallel can be found to the material progress
the United States since the accession of the /
a publican party to power.
NOT MATERIAL PROSPERITY ALONE.
The period between 1850 and to-day has T
been one of material prosperity only AT
- time in the history OF the United States has the
been such progress in the moral and phils
thropic field. Religious and charitable insti
tons, schools, seminaries and colleges ha
- been founded and endowed far more generou
/ than at any previous time in our history. Gre
nd er and more varied relief has been extended
he human suffering, and the entire progress of
in country in wealth has been accompanied a
ill dignified by broadening and elevation of
Us national character as apeople Our oppone
az, find fault that our revenue system produ
ct, a surplus: but they should not forget that
NO law was given specific purpose, to which
"a. of the surplus is proftably and honorably