Morris tribune., 1884-07-23
BLAlNE'S LETTER
Accepting the Republican Nomina-
ton for the Presidency.
Views of the Republican NolniRee
on the subjects OF che TArff,
Foreign Policy, haDOr, ana
others or Interest,"

CHICAGO, July 19.-Mr. Blaine's letter Of
acceptance of the Republican nomination for
the presidency has been given 10 the press
Following are extracts, beginning. with the
nominees views on
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws are III their very nature
subject to frequent revisions in order that
they may be adapted to changes and modifi-
cations Of trade. The Republican party is
particular statute The issue between tho
two parties does not have any reference to q
specific law. 1t is far broader and far
deeper. 1t involves principle of wide ap-
plication and bemfcent influence, against .
theory which we believe to be unsound in
conception and inevitably hurtfll in prac-
tice. In the many tariff revisions which
have been necessary for the past twenty.
three years, or which may hereafter become
necessary, the Republican party has main
tanned and will maintain the policy Of pro-
lection to American industry, while our op-
Fonents insist upon revision, which practi-
cally destroys that policy. The issue is thus
distinct, well de fined and unavoidable. The
pending election may determine the fate of
pro lection for generation. The overthrow
of the policy means a reduction in the wages
of the American laborer, besides involving
the loss of vast amounts of American capt.
tai invested in manufacturing enterprises.
The value Of the present revenue system to
Our opponents find fault that our revenue
system produces surplus. But they should
not forget that the law has given a specific
purpose to which all of the surplus is profit
ably 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 gener-
GUS pensioning of soldiers, sailors and their
families-an extravaganza which embodies
the highest form of justice in the recognition
and payment of a sacred debt. When reduc-
ton of taxation Is to be made, the Republican
party can be trusted to accomplish it in such
form as will most effectively aid the indus
tries of the nation.
AGRICULTURE AND THE TARIFF.
The agricultural interest is by far the largest
ment Of revenue laws to the first considera
ton. ANY policy hostile to theAfullest devel-
opment of agriculture in the United States
must be abandoned. Realizing this fact the
opponets Of the present system of revenue
have labored very earnestly to persuade the
robbed by a protective tariff, and the effort
is thus made to consolidate their vast influ-
ence in favor Of free trade. But happily
the farmers of America are intelligent, and
cannot be misled by sophistry when conclu=
sive facts are before them. They see plainly
that during the past twenty-four years,
wealth has not been acquired in one section
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-be-
tween $500, 00O, 900 and $500, 600, 900 each-and
that IN 1880 Massachusetts, had advanced to
81, 600, 000, 900, while Illinois had advanced to
q, 2O0, 0O0, 900. They see that New Jersey
and Iowa were just equal in population in
1850 and that in twenty years the wealth of
New Jersey was increased by the sum of
$3.50, 000, 900, while the wealth of Iowa was
increased by the sum of 81 SOC, 0O0, 900. They
see that the nine leading agricultural states
OF the west have grown so rapidly in pros
perity that the aggregate addition to their
wealth in 1860 is almost as great as the wealth
of the entire country in that year. They see
that the south, which is almost exclusively
has shared in the general pros
perity and that having recovered from the
loss and devastation of war, has gained so
rapidly that its total wealth is at least the
double Of that which it possessed in 1860, ex=
elusive Of slaves.
In these extraordinary developments the
farmers see the helpful impulse of home
market, and they see that the financial and
revenue system, enacted since the Republican
pal ~ CaIAo ulo power, ueS cStdDllSuoO anu
constantly expanded the home market. They
see that even in the case Of wheat, which Is
our chief cereal export, they have sold, in
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 Of
corn, the only other cereal which we export
to any extent, 100 bushels have been used at
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 BUSH
els have been consumed in the home market.
The farmers see that in the increasing COM
petition from the grain fields Of Russia and
from the distant plains of India, the growth
Of the home market becomes daily of greater |
concern to them, and that its impairment
would depreciate the value of every acre Of
tillable land in the Union.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
The Republican party has steadily aimed |
TO maintain just relations between labor and |
capital~guarding with care the rights of !
each. A conflict between the two has always |
led in the past and will always lead in the |
future to the injury of both. Labor Is indis- |
60 fol ~