Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-19

CeWM<fce, &c.
Ap0rrA. Mr.. July lS--Thc following
Il Mr.. Blaine's letter q acceptance:
Augusta, Me-, July Is, 1854.
The Hen. yoha b. Henderson and others Of
Tie Committee, etc, etc.,
Gentlemen. lin accepting the nomins'
tion for the presidency rendered me by the
Republican National Convention 1 beg TO
express deep sense OF the honor which Is
conferred and OF The duty which IL I'M
posed. venture to accompany the accept
anee with some observations upon the qucs-
lions involved In the contest-questions
whose settlement may affect the future Of
the nation fayora5ly or mfavorably for q
long series Of years.
In enumeraiing the issues upon which
the Republican party appeals for popular
support. the Convention has been singu-
larry explicit and felicitous. II has pro-
perry given the leading position 10 the In.
dustrial interests OF the country AZ affected
by the tariff on imports. On that question
the two political parties are radically In
conflict. Almost the first act OF the
Republicans when they cam, into
rowcr In 1861 was the establishment
Of the principle of protection TO American
labor and TO American capital. This prlnci-
pie the Republican party has ever since
steadily maintained, while on the other
hand the Democratic party In Congress
has for fifty years persisteptly warred
upon n. Twice within that period our
opponents have destroyed tariffs arranged
for protection, and since the close OF the
civil war, whenever they have controlled
the House OF Representatives, hostile legis-
latiop has been attcmptcd-never more
eonsplculously than IN their principal
measure at the late session OF Congress.
TIE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws are. In their very nature,
subject 10 frequent revision In order that
they may be adapted 10 changes and
notifications Of trade. The Republican
party IL not coptending for the perma.
nency OF any particular statue. The Is
sue between the two parties does not have
reference 10 a specific law. Ii is far
broader and far deeper. 1t involves prin-
ciple Of wide application and bene6cent In
fiuence, against theory which we believe
10 be unsound In conception and inevita.
bly, hurtfui In practice. In the many tariff
revisions which have been necessary for
the past twenty.three years, or which may
hereafter become necessary. the Republic
can party has maintained and will maintain
the policy OF protection to American in-
dustTy. while our opponents insist upon
q revision, which practically destroys
that policy. The issue is thus dis.
tincf. wei defined, and unavoidable.
The pending election may determine the
fate OF protection for o generation. The
overthrow OF the policy means large
and permanent reduction In the wages OF
Ia fnN
the loss OF vast amounts OF American CAPT.
tal 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 ar
gument to sustain IL. | only invite atten-
ton to certain facts OF official record which
seem 10 constitute demonstration.
In the cersus OF 1850 an effort was made,
for the first time IN our history, to obtain
valuation OF all the property in the United
States. The attempt was in large degree
nnsucuccessful. 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 10 consolidate the local val
uation used IN the States for purposes Of
assessment. and that, as every one knows,
differs widely from complete exhibit Of
all the property.
In the census OF 1860, however. the work
was done with great thoroughness-the
distinction between assessed" value and
"true" value being carefully observed.
The grand result was that the " true value"
of all the property In the States and Terri
tories Excluding slaves amounted 10 four
teen thousand millions OF dollars (sl4, 000,-
0,0o0). This aggregate was the net re-
suit 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. II
represented the fruit OF the toll OF two
hundred and fifty years.
After 1860 the business OF the country
was encouraged and developed by pro-
tectiye tariff. At the end Of twenty years
the total property OF the United States, rs
returned by the census OF 1880, amounted
to the enormous aggregate Of forty-four
thousand millions OF dollars. This great
result was attained, notwithstanding the
fact that countless millions had in the in
terval been wasted in the progress Of a
bloody war. IL thus appears that while
our population between 1860 and 1880 in
creased go per cent, the aggregate pro-
perry OF the country increased PA per
cent, showing q vastly enhanced wealth
per capita among the people. Thirty
millions Of dollars had been
added during these twenty years TO the
permanent wealth OF the nation.
These results are regarded by the older |
nations Of the world as phenomenal. That |
DIR country should surmount the peril and |
he cost Of a gigantic war, and for an en-
ire period Of twenty years make an aver
age gain to its wealth of $125, zoe, 900 per |
month surpasses the experience OF all other |
nations, ancient or modern. Even the |
OF the present revenue system |
do not pretend that in the whole history OF |
any parallel can be found to !
The material progress OF the United States |
since the accession Of the Republican party |
10 power.
The period between 1860 aud to-day has
not been enc OF material prosperity only. |
At no time In the history OF the United |
States has there been such progress In the |
moral and philanthroplc field. Religious |
and charitable institutions, schools, semi |
naries, and colleges. have been founded |
and endowed far more generously than at |
any previous time In our history. Greater !
AID more varied relic! has been extended |
to human suffering and the entire progress
OF the country in wealth has been accom-
panied and dignifed by broadening and
elevation OF our national character as q
people.
Our opponents find fault that our rev.
enue system produces q surplus. Blu. they
should not forget that the law has given a
specific purpose 10 which all OF the surplus
is probably and honorably applied-the re-
duction OF the public debt and the eonse-
quent relief OF the burden OF taxation. No
dollar has been wasted, aud the only ex-
travaeance with which the party stands
charged is the generous pensioniug OF
soldiers, sailors. and their families-a eX.
trayagance which embodies the highest
form Of justice In the recognition and pay
ment OF sacred debt. Vixen reduction OF
taxation is TO be made. the Republican
party can be trusted TO accomplish II in
such form as will most effectively aid the
industries OF the nation.
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE..
A frequent accusation by our opponents
Is that the foreign commerce OF the country
has steadily decaycd under the influence
Of the protective tariff. In this way they
seek TO array the importing interest
against the Republican party. II Is
common and yet radical error TO con-
found 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 exports and imDorts Of a counfrv re