The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-07-30
Mr.. Blaine's Letter Of Acceptance.


MI. Blaine's letter of acceptance:
AUGUSTA, Me-, July Is, 1884.
To the Hon. John B. Henderson and
others of the committee:
GENTLEMEN In accepting the NOM
ination for the presidency, rendered me
by the republican national convention,
l beg to express a deep sense of the hon
or which is conferred and of the duty
which is imposed. / venture to accom-
pany the acceptance with some observa-
tons upon the questions involved in the
contest-questions whose settlement may
affect the future of the nation, favorably
or unfavorably, for a long series Of years.
In enumerating 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 posi-
ton to the industrial interests of the
country as affected by the tariff or inn
ports. On that question the two political
parties are radically in conflict. Al
most the first act when the republicans
came in power in 1861 was the establish
ment of the principle Of protection to
American labor and American 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 opinions have destroyed
tariffs, arranged for protection, and since
have controlled the house of representa-
ives hostile legislation has been attempt
ed-neyer more co~nspicuously than in
thliT, nrinainIa 1nnaclrpC af tho Late COG.
sion of congress. The tariff question or
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 perman-
ency of any particular statute. The
issue between the two parties does not
have references to a specific laW. 1t is
far broader and far deeper. It involves
a principle of wide application and bene-
ficent influence, against a theory which
we believe to be unsound in conception
and inevitably hurtful in practice. In
the many tariff revlsions 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 American industry,
while our opponents insist upon a revis-
ion, which practically destroys thatpoli-
cy. The issue is thus distinct, we'll de-
fined and unavoidable. The pending
election may determine the fate of the
protection for a generation. The over
throw 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
;rx,ocfod IN on F, 70 fin ri n n nnforpricn
The value of the present revenue system
to the people of the United States is not
a matter of theory, and [ shall submit
no argument to sustain it, only invite
attention to certain facts of official record
which seems to constitute a .demOnstra-
ton. 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 successful. Partly from
lack of time, partly from prejudice
among many who thought the inquiries
foreshadowed anew scheme for taxation,
the returns were incomplete and I'M
Little more was donethan
to consolidate the local valuation used
in the states for the purpose Of assess
ment, and that, as everyone knows,
differs widely from a complete exhibit of
all the property. In the census of 1860,
however, the work was done with great
lhoroughness, the distinction between
assessed" value and "trueo value being
carefully observed. The grand result
was that the true" value of all the
property in the states and territories |
slaves) amounted to fourteen
thousand millions Of dollars. This ag-
gregate was 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 1850. 1t repres-
ents the fruit of the toll of two HUNDRED
and fifty years. After 1860 the business
Of the country was encouraged and
developed by a protective tariff. At the
end of the twenty years the total prop
erty of the United States as returned by
the census Of 1880 amounted to the
enormous aggregate of forty-four thous-
and 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 1850 in
sixty per cent, the aggregate
property Of the country increased "a per
cent, showing a vastly enhanced wealth
per capita among the people. Thirty
thousand millions Of dollars had been
added during these twenty years to the
wealth of the nation. These
results are regarded by the older nations
If the world as phenomenal. That our
should surmount the peril
and the costs of a gigantic war and for
IN entire period af twenty years make
IN average gain of its wealth of one
hundred and twenty-five million per
surpasses the experience of all
other nations, ancient or modern. Even
he opponents of the present revenue
system do not pretend that in the whole