The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24
\ STBTESNAN'S VIEWS.
Hon. James G. BIaine'S Letter Of
Acceptance,

AUGUSTA Me- July l5 Iss4.-THE HoN. JOHN B.
HENDERSON and others of the committee, etc
Gentlemen. In accepting the nomination for the
Presidency rendered me by tie Republican Ma
tiona Convention, beg to express deep sense OF
the honor which l. conferred and OF the duty which
IL imposed venture 10 accompany The acceptance
with some observations upon the qucstions Involv-
ed in the cGntcst-Suestions whose settlement may
affect the ulnre OF The Nation favorahy for long
IN enuInerating the issues upon which The Re-
puhlicau party appeals for popular support the
convention has been slneuiariy explicit ana ieliclt-
Gus. u has properly given the leading position 10
the Industrial interests OF the country affected 10y
the tariff imports. ON that question the two
poiiti,l parties radically In conflict Almost
Tie ffr>a 40 Of the Republicans when they came
into power in 1851. the establishment OF the
principle Of protection 10 American labor and to
american capital This principle the Republican
Salty las ever since steadily maintained, while on
shc other hand the Democratic party in Congress
las for 30 years PeTsstenly warred upon II. Twice
within that period our opponents have destroyed
tariffs arranged for protection, and since the close
OF tie civil war whenever they have controlled the
House Of Representatives. hostile legislation has
been attempied-never more conspicnously ihan
in their principal measures at the late session 81
Congress.
TARIFF REVISION.
Revenue laws are in their very nature subject to
frequent revision order that they may beadapted
20 changes andmOdifc atlons OF trade The kepuD-
lcln party moi contendlng for thepeTmaneney OF
any particular statute. The issue between the two
parties does not have reference 10 specific law. IL
l. far broader and far deeper 1t involves prlnci-
pie OF wide application and benefcent influence
against theory which we believe 10 be unsonnd
IL conception and inevitably huI1fnl IN practice
In the ln.itN tariff revisons which have been neceS-
saFy tor tine past rs years, or winch may hereafter
become necessary. the Republican party has main
tanned and viii maintain the policy OF protection
10 American industry, while our opponents INSIST
npon revision. which practically destroys that
policy. The issue thus distinct well defined, and
unavoidable. The pending election may determine
the fate Of protection for generation. The over
throw Of the policy means a large and permanent
reduction in the wages Of the American laborer
besides involving he loss of vast amounts Of Ameri-
can capital invested in manufacturing enterprises
The value q the present revenue system to the peo
pie OF the United states i not matter OF theory,
and i shall submit no argument to sustain H.
only invite attention 10 certain facts OF official rec
ord which seem 10 constitute a demonstration.
In ihe census OF IS50 an effort made for the
first time in history 10 obtain a valuation of all
the property in the United States. The attenip.
M large degree unsuccessful. Partly from lack
Of time, partly from Erejudice among many who
thought the inquiries foreslad0wed new scheme
OF taxation. the returns were incomplete and unsat-
isfact0TT Little more done than 10 consolidate
the local valuations used ID the States for purposes
OF assessment and that every one knows differs
widely from complete exhibit Of all the property
III tie census OF Is60. however, the work was
done with great thorough ncsStlse distinction be-
tween assessei IL value and true value being
carefully observed lllegTand result was that the
true value q ali tie property IA tie states and
Territories Excluding slaves amounted 10 fourteen
Thousand millions OF dollars lSl4gJ0 100000. This
aggregate Inc net resell Of the labor and saw
ines or all the people within the area of The United
States from tho time the trst British coionists land
ed 1867 down the year 1860 II representedth the
frEit Of The toll Of go years
RICH FRUITS OF PROTECTION.
AFTER 1850 the business Of the country was en-
couIaged and developed by protective tariff. AT
tie end or ~ years The total property OF the United
States, returned by the census Of 1880 amounted
10 the enormous aggregate Of 81 coo 100000. This
great result attained notwithstanding the fact
that countless millions had In the interval been
wasted IN the progress OF a bloody war Ii thus
%1ru- tae4xx
and lSD increased GO per ceEi the aggregate prop
cry OF the country increased PA per cent, show
Ing vastly enhanced wealth per capita among the
people Thirty thousand millions oi dollars had
been added during these 20 years 10 the permanent
wealth Of the Nation
These results arc regarded by the older nations
q the world phenomenal. That country
should zufInoUnt the peril ana the cost of glgaD-
tic war and for entire period Of 70 years make
average gain 20 lts wealth OF Si25-000.eo per
month snrpasse= The experience Of all other ma
items ancient or modern. Even the opponents Of
the present feFeRae syatem Do not pretend that in
the whole history 81 CIVILIZATION any parallel can
he found 10 the material progress Of the United
States since the accession q tie Republican party
60 power
The period between 1860 ana to-day has not been
one of material pre- EscriE only. al time in the
history of the United States has there been such
prOrTe- III the moral and phiiantlropic field. Re-
lgipEs ans charitable Institutions schools. SEMI
naFieR and colleges have been founded and en-
lowed far nloTe generously than IL any previous
time IN our history Greater and more varied re-
lief ha4s bcen extended 20 human suffering and the
entire progress OF che country in wealth mas been
accompanied and dgnified by a broadening and
elevation Of our national character a. a people.
DtFopponeHts End fault tlHEt our revenue system
produces 81 SGrplcE. But they should not forget
that tle law hae given specific purpose TO which
al y. The suFF8u. a. probably and honcrab!v APP
pliedte reduction cf the public debt and the con-
seqncut relief 81 the burden Of taxation No dollar
has been frasted aud The only e1frcg1gance 4rfls
sVfioh the party stands charged is The generous pen
fioast9 QT soldiers sailors. and their fniicsz en-
fraragaEce arch citoafes TIC hglieet form " justice
81 the Tcoognitlcn and F5ngGgiegt u sacred debt
Nhen reduction cf taxation j. 10 lie made, The Re-
publican party 5e trusted TO accomplish il ia
such form viii 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
decascd under the influence Of the protective tariff
IL rhis way they seek to array the importing interas
agnlns- tic Republican party. 1T Is a common and
yet radical error 10 coufound the Of thu
country Elhlts carrying tTade-an error often com
mtiteu n8ceeIaty ana sometimes desigDediy ,--bui
an error gross that ID does not distinguish be
tween the ship and the cargo. Foreign conln1ercs
represents the experts and imports u q country re
Graess ~ lie nationality u ne vessel that may car
ny the coEnTnpdisir cIexlhaIge Our carrying trade
has rem obvious CAUSES suffered gnay discourage
rlens since 1869, Ai1t orr foreign commerce has in
the SAME period steadily and prOdipiously increased
increased, indeed, at a rate and TO an amour
v iil absolutely dvyaEts "a previous Development
Of oUT sTlF beyond tile sea. From 1850 tc the pres
eut time tac foreign Of the United State
divided wiln approximate equality between cs
pore RIG imports reached the astounding aEgre
gate of tEealiy-f0UT thousand millions OF dollar
is2G.039,09e Tho balance ln this vast coInnlercr
Inclined III favor. but il would have been micl
larger If our trade with the countries Of America
elsewhere referred TO- Lad been more wisely sd
lusteG.
II j. dilict even to appreciate the magnitude Q
our export trade since is0, and we gain cor
rect r1.icr{5ou vi ii only by comparison with pre-
ccl M results in The same field The total export
frrsa the United states from the Declaration Of 10
dependence ~ ls.B down 20 the day OF Lincoln
essalga in 1850 added 70 all that had preyious
been % ported from the american colonies fron
thcir original settlement amounted 10 leSs tina
nine thousand millions Of dollars tSs 600 900 0J5
On the other hand, exports from 1869 70 I'll
clSsc OF the lass fiscal year exceeded twelve thou
snd millions ri dollars tSl2 GOO DD9bthe mlsol
OF il being the pr0rBct Of American labor. Ey
dcntiya protective tsis.E has not injured our exoi
trade, wien, under its influence, we exported IN
years 40 per cent more than the Total amount tha
had been exported III Tie entire previous history
American commerce. All the details, when ana
lyzed, correspond with this gigantic result. III
commercial cities OF the Union never had sue
growth as they have enjoyed since 1862 Our chs
emporium She city 81 New York with its depend
encies bias within tl5at period doubled her popuis
ZION and increased her wealth five-fold. Durin
the same period the imports and exports wlnc
have entered ard left lcr harbor are more tina
double IN bulk and value the whole amount IN
ported and ported by her between the sestlemeE
CT the ftEas Dutch colony thc Island Of MRf.hal
tsn and the outbreak q; tle civil war IL $780,
EFFECT on THE FARMERS.
The agricultural Interest Ii by Car the largest
THE Nation, and il entitled Ia every adjustment
revenue laws ~ lsg characterization. ANY pole
host lc 10 tlic fullest development ~ agriculture
the Aaitcl ELates must be abandoned. iseaizif
tAis FACT the opponents OF LIE present system .
revenue hnvn iaiorcd scTy earnest Ia persuade IL
fasners Of the United States iias they arc robbie
hy protective tariff and The effort T. thus made
dAfe 1l8cirN influence la favor On free trad