St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-09
MAYOR RICE ACCEPTS.
Hon. Edmund Rice Says in a Formal
Way That He Will Accept the
Congressional Nomination,
And Takes the Occasion to Give His
Views on the Tariff and Labor
Questions.
His Honor Accepts.

His Honor Accepts.
Hon. Edmund Rice yesterday made Tor
NAL acceptance of the nomination as con-
gresham from the Fourth district OF MINI
nesota, rendered him at the convention held
in Minneapolis. The committee, consisting
of Hon. Z. w. Durant. Hon. +. H. hehy
and Hon. Z. M. Wilson, formally notlhed
Mayor Rice on Oct. of his nomination Ill
the following words:
In obedience to the direction OF the late
Democratic congressional convention OF tue
Fourth district of Minnesota, we nave the
honor and pleasure of announcing TO you
thar Won were unanimously and enthusiastic
sIv nominated as the candidate for congress
q. the Democracy of said district, ana we
respectfully and earnestly request your ac-
ceptance of such nomination
Mayor Rice at once prepared letter OF
acceptance, which he finished yesterday
morning. In it he takes occasion to speak
on some of the issues of the present at
some length. His letter is in the following
words. which will be read with interest not
only by Democrats but by all legal voters:
THE ACCEPTANCE.
ST. Paul. Oct. Hon. E. w. Dur ant, Hon.
p II Kelly. Hon. Eugene NJ. Wilson, GEN
tlemen: | have your letter of the 9th inst. in
forming me of my unanimous nomination
rs the candidate for congress or the Democ-
racv of the Fourth congressional district Oh
Minnesota by the late Democratic congress
sional convention, and requesting my ac-
centance of the same When solicited to be-
come a candidate for nomination, perem-
tO,1lv declined, and discouraged the use OF
nv name by the convention IN every way L
properly could. For personal reasons De
lieyed I could not bring my mind TO an ac-
centance of the nomination, and thought
10 L
fairly claim exemption. After mature con-
sheraton. however, in the belief that IL
elected may be of some service 10 the peo-
ME. | have decided. not without misglVlngs,
that am not ct liberty to decline 1t, and, Tor
the Information of those who may feel in
ta,as+ed in the views l entertain and who
1,foht not otherwise learn them, desire to add
some words touching the brief but clearly eX-
messed declarations of the platform, in which
/ cordially concur. To the people OF this
state at least, the question OF REVISION Oh
the tariff ana the one affecting the just
claims of labor, are the most important issues
in the present canvass. The existing tariff
has been a grievous burden to the farmers
and wage-wOrkers, who comprise a
large portion of the consumers of ari-
cles indirectly taxed 40 per cent OF their
value This form of taxation is hid IN the
price of the article, and the substance of the
purchaser disappears as if by silent and
unseen hand, whereas, if the real amount Oh
the tax were marked in figures
BESIDE THE REAL VALUE
of the articles purchased, every one would
know how much he WAS being taxed for the
support of the government and the aid ewas
attending to so-called American manufacture
erS He would at once know that he was pay
ing a more onerous tax than is exacted from
nv other civilized people on earth; and if it
were ATTEMPTED TO be raised in the form of state
and municipal taxation, which averages from
l to per cent. on real and personal property
ut about one-half its value, the people would
revolt and the law become dead letter upon
the first attempt to enforce it. The tariff has
nearly doubled the cost of more than 200
articles consumed and used in this country.
It has increased the cost of railroads in tins
state, as elsewhere, from 20 to 40 per cent,
and their rates for transportation OF grain,
and other productions and passengers, cores
pondingly, and lessened to that extent the
number of railroads and mileage we should
otherwise have had. The great burden of
this tariff is placed upon the producer, con-
sumner and wage-wOrker, instead OF being
shouldered on real and personal property as
in state and municipal. taxation. AND the
federal treasury is not only plethoric with
money from this source, but is gorged with
an annual surplus of S100.OOO0OO. Here is
to be found one great cause OF the just COM
plants of the farmer and wageworker, who,
in proportion to what they consume, pay as
laborer, however wealthy he may be.
The patience with which this had been borne
since our civil war has been astonishing, ii
not sublime. In its most oppressive form 1t
was raised eleven times pending the war on
the assumption that it was necessary to main
tain our armies, and that when the war ended
it should be withdrawn. In this the people
cheerfully acquiesced. Twenty-one years
have elapsed and yet the promise has not
been redeemed. Manufacturing and other
supposed interests demand its retention. 1t
is not far to 90 TO find the cause. A remedy
should now be applied by congress, with JUS
tice and wisdom, however. and with as little
harm to invested capital as possible.
THE RIGHTS OF LABOR.
The rights of the wage worker are entitled
to legislative recognition. Labor in its null
tiplied forms creates and gives employment
to the wealth of the civilized world. and in its
last analysis. upon labor devOlves the pay
ment of all public debts and taxes. The in
terestS OF labor. capital and property are re-
ciprocal, and if every man were just and en-
lightened there would be no cause of COM
plant. Serious disturbances, however, often
occur between employer and employees, and
to avoid this the latter call loudly for laws in
favor of arbitration and other remedial legis-
latiOn against the oppression and injustice of
private and corporate employers l am in
accord with them and in favor of all they ask
for their advancement and protection. if OBJ
tanned by legal and peaceful means, but am
Opposed-as believe in the main they are
to all acts of violence or force or the invasion
OF the rights of property persons. Their
moderation, wisdom, patience and united
action will enable them to effect such
changes in the laws and their administration
as are just and fair and any other changes
would work injustice to themselves. The
power is in their own hands. 1t lies in the ballot.
Further. wish to ask the conservative men
of oil no barr tn he
state by a change IN its legislative or admin
iStratiVe policy than has befallen the nation
by placing Mr.. Cleveland in the presidential
chair? What evils have sprung from his able
policy and his wise and economical admins
trative reforms? In what consist the calam-
tiles which it was claimed were to befalll the
republic if he were elected? All interest s in
his keeping are in good condition, and l be-
Iieve that all national and nOn-partisan citi-
zens are satisfied that he is conducting the
affairs of the nation with wisdom and integ-
rity. We approach, il we have not already
reached, a new era in our political affairs.
The great issues which cOnVulsed the country
for half a century have been happily settled,
and the results embodied in the fundamental
law of the land. The important question now
is, how can the government be administered
so as 10 be the least burden and the greatest
benefit to all the labOring classes of our
people. One party insists that this can be
accomplished only by continuing the high
taxes of the war period. The other that this
can be done only by the reduction of this
taxation to the lowest revenue standard. To
this latter party l belong. Thanking you,
gentlemen, for the courtesy you have ex-
tended to me, land the members of the conven-
ton for their enthusiastic and generous ex-
pressiOns of confidence, 1 am, most respect
fully, your Obedient servant.
EDMUND RICE.
THE COLORED BRETHREN.
Euaof5p1 r.IEad 70 Corx,, .. Dc