The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-24
BLAISl2s LETTER.
Synopsis of Mr. BIaine's Letter of Accept
ance-His Views on the Leading Cues
lions of the Day.


AUGUSTA, Me-, July 19.-Hon. j. G.
Blaine issued his letter of acceptance yester-
day. 1t is rather a lengthy document,
dated July ID. In reference to the tariff he
SAYS: 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 contending for the permanency
of any particular statute. The issue be-
tween the two parties does not have refer
ence to a specific law. 1t is far broader
and far deeper 1t involves a principle of
wide application and 5enefcent influence
against theory which We believe to be I'M
sound in conception and inevitably hurtful
in practice. In the many tariff revisiOns
which have been necessary for the past
twentv-three wears. 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 revision, which prac-
ticaIIy destroys that policy. The issue is
thus distinct well defined and unavoidable.
The pending election may determine the
fate of protection for a generation. The
overthrow of the policy means a large and
permanent reduction in the wages of the
American laborer besides involving the loss
of vast amounts of American capital in
vested in manufacturing enterprises. The
value of the present revenue system to the
people of the United States is not a matter
| of theory, and | shall submit no argu-
ment TO sustain it. l only invite attention
to certain facts of official record which seem
10 constitute demonstration" On foreign
commerce he has this to say: "a frequent
accusation by our opponents is that the for
eign commerce of the country has steadily
decayed under the influence of the protec-
tive tariff. In this way they seek to array
! the importing interest against the Republic
can party. 1t is a common and yet radical
/ error to cOnfound the commerce of the
country with its carrying trade-an error
! often committed innOcently and sometimes
/ deSignedly-but an error SO gross that II
! does not distinguish between the ship and the
| cargo. Foreign commerce represents the eX,
ports and imports of country regardless of
| the nationality of the vessel that may carry
| the commodities of exchange. Uur carrying
| trade has from obvious CAUSES suffered
/ many diScour2gementSS since 1860, but our
! foreign commerce has in the same period
| steadily and prodigiOnsly increased-in-
| creased indeed at rate and to an amount
which absolutely dwarf all previous de-
velopmentS of our trade beyond the sea.
From 1860 to the present time the foreign
| commerce of the United States, divided
| with approximate equality between exports
| and imports) reached the astounding ag-
gregate of twenty-fOur thousand millions of
dollars (S24, ,000, 0O0.) The balance i'll
I -
bun it would have been much larger if our
! trade with the countries of America, else
! where referred to, had been more wisely
adjusted"
AGRICULTURE.
Tbs document which is protective
throughout. says of the agricultural interest:
| The agricultural interest is by far the
! largest ia the nation, and is entitled in every
adjustment of revenue laws to the first con-
sideration. Any policy hostile to the full
eStdevelopment 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
1 persuade the farmers of the United States
that they are robbed by protective tariff,
and the effort is thus maded to con-
solidate their vast influence in favor of free
trade. But happily the farmers of America
are intelligent and cannot be miSlead by
sophistry when conclusive facts are before
them They see plainly that during the
past twenty-fOur years, wealth has not been
acquired in one section or by one interest at
the expense of another section or another
interest They see thOt the agricultural
States have made even more rapid progress
than the manufacturing States. In these
extraordinary Developments, the farmers see
the hopeful impulse of home market, and
they see that the financial and revenue
system, enacted since the Republican party
came into power, has established and con.
Stantly expanded the home market. They
see that even in tile case of wheat which Is
DUr chief cereal export, they have sold, III
the average of the years since the close OF
the war, three bushels at home to one they
have sold abroad and that in the case Oi
eern the only other cereal which we export
10 any extent, 100 bushels have been used al
home to three and a half bushels exported
In some years the disparity has been SO great
that for every peck Of corn exported 100
bushels have been consumed in the home
market. The farmers see that i'll the
increasing competition from the grain fields
of Russia and from the distant plains OF
India. the growth of the home market be
comes daily of greater concern to them anC
/
value of every acre of tillable lanC
in the Union Referring TO foreign
relations, Blaine is rather temperate in hi,
remarks, nothing of bellieoSe nature APP
peaIing, concluding on that subject by say
ing: Our foreign policy should bt
an American policy in its broades
and most comprehensive sense-a pol
icy of peace, of friendship, of commercial
enlargement The name of American
which belongs to us i'll our National ca
paeity must always eXalt the just pride OF
patriotism Citizenship must be the panO
ply and safeguard of him who wears it. The
American citizen, rich or poor, native Of
naturaliZed. white or colOred, must every
I where walk secure in his personal and civil
rights, the public should never accept /;
lesser duty. 1t can never assume a nOble
one than the protection of the humbleS
man who holds it lOyally-protectiOn a
home and protection which shall follow hin
abroad, into whatever land he may go upon
a lawful erraDd."
TIE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
Mr. Blaine saws: L recognize. not with
out regret, the necessity for speaking of TIVE
sections of our country. But the regre
dminisheS when / see that the elements
which separate them are fast disappearing
PreiudiceS have yielded and are yielding
while growing cordiality warns the South
ern and Northern heart alike Can any on,
doubt that between the two sections conf
dence and esteem are to-day more marked
than at any period in the siXt!
years preceding the election of PreSi
dent Lincoln? This IS the result il
part of time and in part of Republican
principles applied under the favorable con
ditionS of uniformity. 1t would be grea
calamity to change these Influences undel
which Southern commemorative are learn
ing TO vindicate civil rights and adapting