The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-23
Mr.. Blaine's Letter OF Acceptance.

Mr. Blaine's letter, formally accepting the
republican nomination to the presidency, was
made public last Saturday. The document is
of extraordinary length To publish it without
space. We are able to give only those portions
that relate to the tariff and one or two other
subjects OF popular interest. Upon these mat
tiers Mr. Blaine says:
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Revenue laws are, in their very nature, subject
to frequent revision, in order that they may be
adapted to changes and notifications OF trade.
The republican party is not contending for the
permanency of any particular statute, The issue
between the two parties does not have reference
to specific law. 1t is far broader and far
deeper. 1t involves principle of wide applica-
ton and beneficent influence against theory
which we believe to be unsound in conception
and inevitably hurtful in practice. 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 maintained and will maintain the
policy of protection to American industry, while
our opponents insist upon revision which
practically destroys that policy. The issue is
thus distinct, 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 la
borer, besides involving the loss of vast
dIlDuHls VI Chpthl luNtSleu III lDtuu-
featuring enterprises 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 in
vite attention to certain facts OF official record
which seem to constitute demonstration. In
the census Of 1850 an effort WAS made, for the
first time in our history, to obtain a valuation
OF all the property in the United States. The
attempt was in large degree unsuccessful.
Partly from lack of time, partly from prejudice
among many who thought the inquiries fore
Swallowed new scheme OF taxation, the re-
turns were incomplete and unsatisfactory.
Little more was done than to consolidate the
local valuation used in the states for purposes
OF assessment, and that, as everyone knows,
differs widely from complete exhibit OF all
the property. In the census OF 1860, however,
the work was done with great thoronghness-
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 territories lex
Guiding slaves) amounted to fourteen thousand
millions of dollars ($14, 900, 900 000). 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 1860 1t
represented 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 twenty years
the total property of the United States, as
returned by the census OF 1881, amounted
TO the enormous aggregate of forty-four thou
sand millions OF dollars (S44 900, DOC, 000).
This great result was attained Notwithstanding
the fact that countless mi lions had, in the inter-
val, been wasted in the progress of a bloody
war. 1t thus appears that while our population
between 1860 and 1880 increased 60 per cent,
the aggregate property of the country in
creased PA per cent-showing vastly en-
HANGED wealth per capita among the people.
Thirty thousand millions of dollars 1880 900, 600
000) 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 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 one hun
bred and twenty-five million dollars per month,
surpasses the experience OF all other nations,
ancient or modern. Even the opponents of the
present revenue system do not pretend that in
the whole history Of civilization any parallel
can be found to the material progress OF the
United States since the accession Of the repub-
lcan party to power. The period between 1860
and to-day has not been one of material pros
perty only. At no time in the history OF the
United States has there been such progress in
the moral and philanthropic field. Religious
and charitable institutions schools, seminaries
and colleges have been founded and endowed
far more generously than at any previous time
In our history. Greater and more varied relief
has been extended to human suffering, and the
entire progress of the country in wealth has
been accompanied and dignfied by broaden.
ing and elevation OF our national character as
a people. Our opponents find fault that our
revenue system produces surplus. But they
should not forget that the law has given spe-