Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-24
THE KEYNOTE.
Mr.. Blaine, In His Letter OF Accept.
ance, Defines the Issues OF the
= Campaign.
Ciear-Cut asd Strong Declarations
on Every Question Before
the Public

+ T.. T. ~
| the nomination for the Presidency rendered
by the Republican National Convention,
| beg to express deep sense of the honor
which is conferred and of the duty which
is imposed. / venture to accompany the
acceptance with some observations upon
the questions involved in the cOnteSt-ques-
tions whose settlement may affect the fu-
ture of the nation favorably or unfavoraby
for long series Of years.
! In enumerating the issues upon which the
| Republican party appeals for popular sup
port. the convention has been singularly
| explicit, and felicitous. Ii 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 art radically in conflict.
Almost the first act of the Republicans,
when they came into power in 1861. was the
establishment OF the principle IF protection
to American labor and to American capital.
This principle the Repub lean party has
ever since st-adily maintained, while on the
Other hand the Democratic party in Con-
gress has for fifty years persistently warred
upon it. Twice within tnat period our op-
pOnents have destroyed tariffs arranged for
protection, and since the close of the civil
war, whenever they have controlled the
House of Representatives hostile legisla-
tiOn has been attempted-never more con-
spicuOusiy than in their principal measure
at the late session of Congress.
THE TARIFF.
Revenue laws are in their nature subject
TO frequent revision in order that they may
be adapted to changes and notifications of
trade. The republican party is not con-
tending for the permanency Of any particu-
lar statute. The issue between the two par
ties does not have reference to a specific
law. 1t is far broader and far deeper. 1t
involves principle OF wide application
and benefcent influence, against a theory
which we believe to be upsOund in concep-
tion and inevitably hurtful in practice. In
the many tariff reyisions which have been
necessary SOr 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 revision, which practically de-
stroys that policy. The issue is thus dis
tinct, well defined, and unavoidable. The
pending election 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 American capital invested in
manufacturing 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
il. j only invite attention to certain facts
of official record which seems to constitute
a demonstration.
In the census of 1850 an effort was made
for the first time In our history, to obtain q
valuation of all the property in the United
States. The attempt was in a large degree
unsuccessful. Partly from lack OF time,
partly from prejudice among many who
thought the inquiries foreShadowed a new
scheme Of taxation, the returns were in
complete and unsatisfactory. Little more
was done than to consolidate the local val
uation used in the states for purposes of as
SeSSment, and that, as every one knows diff
fers widely from complete exhibit of all
the property.
In the census OF 1860, however, the work
was done with great thOrOughness-the dis
tlnctl0n between ''Rssesseu" 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 To fourteen
thousand millions of dollars (S14, ,000, ,000,-
Co., This aggregate was not the net result
of the labor and the savings of all the peO-
pl, within the area OF the United States
from the tim the first British cOlonists
landed in 1907 down TO the year 1850. 1t rep
resented the frIlit of the toll OF 80 years.
After 1860 the business of the country
was encouraged and developed by protec-
tive tariff. At the end of twenty years the
total property of the United States, as re-
turned by the census of 1880, amounted to
the enormous aggregate of forty-fOur thou
sand millions of dollars (S44 OOO, 600, ,OOO.) |
This great result was attained, nJtwitli-
standing the fact that countless millions
had in the interval been wasted in the pro- |
gress of bloody war. 1t thus appears tnat |
While our, pa puatlon between 1860 and 1880 |
increased 60 pc. ce,lt, lhe aggregate prop |
erty of the cuuntry Increased PA per cent |
SHOWING vastly enhanced wealth per cap. |
ita among the people. Thirty thousand !
millions of dollars $3.50, ,0O0. 900 0OO) has been
a.dCd '.uring these twenty years 10 the per-
man nt w ai,h of the nation.
These results are regarded by the older |
na.l''iis of the world as phenomenal. That |
our country should surmount the peril and |
the cost of gigantic war and for an entire
period OF twenty years make an average
gain to its wealth of Sl25 900 900 per month
surpasSes the experience of all other na-
tlons. ancient or modern. Even the oppor
nentS OF tile present revenue system do not
pretend that in the whole history of civili-
Zatlon any parallel can be found to the ma
terial progress of the United States, since
the accession of the Republican party to
power.
The period between 1850 and to-day has
not been one of material prosperity only.
At no time in the history of the United
moral and philanthropic field. Religious
and charitable institutions, schools, semi
nar.c and colleges have been founded and
endowed Tar more generously than at any
previous time in our history. Greater and
more varied relief has been extended to hu-
man suffering and the entire progress of
the country in wealth has been aceompan-
led and dignified by broadening and ele-
yation of our national character as people.
Our opponents find fault that our revenue
system produces a surplus. But they should
not forget that the law has given specific
purpose to which all of the surplus is prof
itably and hop0rably applied reduction
OF the public debt and the consequent re-
lief of the burden of taxation. No dollar
has been wasted, and the only extravaganza
with which the party stands charged is the
generous pensiOning of soldiers sailors,
and their tamilies-an extravaganza which
embodles the highest form of justice in the
and payment of sacred debt
When reduction of taxation is to be made
the Republican party can be trusted to ae-
complisn it in such form as will most effect
lyely aid the industries of the nation,
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE,
A frequent accusation by our opponents
IS that the foreign commerce of the cOun-
.ry has steadily decayed under the influence
,f the protective tariff. In this way, they
'eek to array the importing interest against
'he Republican party. 1t Is common and
yet radical error to confound the commerce
If the country with its carrying trade-an
error often committed innocently and some
lines designedly-but an error so gross that
I does not distinguish between the ship and
he cargo. Foreign commerce represents
he exports and imports OF country re-
,ardless of the nationality of the vessel
hat may carry the commodities of ex-
,hange. Our CARRYING trade has from OBJ
TiOps causes suffered many discourage
nents since 1850, but our foreign commerce
las in the same period steadily and prodig-
Ously ncreaSed-increased indeed at rate
md TO an amount VIII ch absolutely dwarf
III previous developments of our trade be-
-ond the sea. From 1860 to the present time
he foreign comm trce OF the United States
divided with approximate equality between
Exports and imports) REACHED the astound-
NJ aggregate OF twenty-four thousand mil
ions of dollars 1874 900 600 O00) The bal
nee in this vast commerce inclined in our
avor, but it would have been much larger
our trade with the countries of America,
lsewhere referred to- had been wisely ad-
listed.
1t is difficult even to appreciate the mag
itude of our export trade since 1850 and
We can gain a correct conception of it only
y comparison with preceding results in the
anne field. Tie total exports from the
United States from the Declaration of indie
endenee in JIG down to the day OF Lin
oln's election in 1850 added TO all that had
reyionsly b zen exported from the Ameri-
an Colonies from their original settlement,
10 less than nile Thousand NIL
ions of dollars (S90OO000,0O0.) On the
tier hand our exports from 1860 to the
l. l..A