Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-07-24
BLAINE'S POLICY!
Clearly Set Forth in mis- Letter Of Ac-
ceotance.
The Tariff, Civil Service tCurreney, Ftc
considered.

Under date of July Is. JAS. g. Blaine
addresses the National Republican Com
niittee, accepting the nomination tender
ed him the National Republican Con
vention. In his letter Of acceptance he
enumerates fully the issues upon which
the Republican party appeals for popu-
lar support. The first subject to re-
ceive consideration is
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws are in their very ma
ture subject to frequent revision in or
der that they may be adapted,to chang
es and notifications of trade. The
Republican party is not contending for
the permanency of any particular stat
ute. 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 applica-
ton and beneticents influence, against
theory which we believe to be unsound
in conception and inevitably hurtful in
practice. In the many tariff revisioas
which have been necessary for the past
90 years, or which may hereafter be-
come necessary, the Republican party
policy of protection to American irdus-
| try, while our opponents insist upon a
revision, which practically destroys
| that policy. The issue is thus distinct,
well defined and unavoidable. The
pending election may determine the
fate OF protection for generation. The
overthrow of the policy means a large
and permanent reduction in the wages
of the American laborer, besides in
volving the loss of vast amounts of
American capital invested in manufac-
turing 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 10 constitute demonstration.
Mr. Blaine then reviews the censuses
of 1850, 1860 and 1880 to show the in
crease in national wealth. The census
of 1850 was entirely unsatisfactory, in
asmuch as little more was done than to
consolidate the local valuation used in
the states for purposes of assortment,
which differs widely from a complete
exhibit OF all the property. The census
of 1860, which was complete and which
gave the ''true" rather than the
"assessed" value of all the prop
erty of the states and territor-
les Excluding slaves) amounted
to Sl4 1000 100000 the fruit of $50
years toll since the first English colon
list landed in 1907. After 1860 the
protective tariff went into operation
and ut the end of 20 years. in spite OF
war that cost countless millions, the
value of the property of the country
has increased to forty-four billions.
Thus it appears that while the popula-
ton had increased between 1860 and
1880 only 60 per cent, the aggregate
wealth had increased PA per cent. In
those 90 years 80 billions had been add
eli to the permanent wealth of the
country.
Such results the other nations of the
world have regarded as phenomenal,
and 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 Omitted States since the
Republican party came into power.
Not only has material wealth increas-
ed. but religious, educational and char
liable institutions have been founded
aud 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 and dignified oy
q broadening and elevation of our ma
tional character.
Our opponents find fault that our
revenue system produces surplus.
But they sho2ld not forget that the
law has given a specific purpose to
which all of the surplus is profitably
and honorably applied-the reduction
of the 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--an extravaganza which en-
bodies the highest form of justice in
the recognition and payment of sa-
cred debt. When reduction of taxa
ton is to be made, the Republican
party can he trusted to accomplish it
in such form as will most effectively
aid the industries of the Lation.
AGRICULTURE AND THE TARIFF.
1.-The agricultural interest is by far
the largest in the nation, and Is EMIT
led in evero adjustment of revenue
laws to the first consideration. Any
policy hostile 20 the fullest develop
ment of agriculture IN the United
States must be abandoned. Realizing
this fact. The opponents of the present
system of revenue have labored very
earnestly to persuade the farmers of the
United States that thew are robbed by
n protective tariff, and the effort is thus
made to consolidate their vast influence
in favor of free trade. Bat happily the
farmers of America are intelligent and
cannot be misled by sophistry when
conclusive facts are before them. They
see plainly that during the past "a Yeas
wealth has not been acquired in one
section or by one interest at the expense
of another section or another interest.
They see that the agricultural states
have made even more rapid progress
than the manufacturing states. The
farmers see that in 1860 Massachusetts,
and Illinois had about the same wealth
between eight and nine hundred mil
lion dollars each--aud that in 1880
Massachusetts had advanced TO twenty
six hundred millions, while Illinois had
advanced to thirty-two hundred mil
lions, They see that New Jersey and
Iowa were just equal in population in
1860 and that in twenty years the
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