The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-11
TARIFF EXCESS.
President Cleveland's Letter
of Acceptance.
A aosr FAMILIAR ARGUMENT.
A Mosaic Of Every Plea Ever Made
for Low Import Deties-The For
esEn Market Delasion-The Ceun-
try Standing ON the Brink Of a
PreeIpiee.


try Standing ON the Brink of a
PreeIpice.
wAsAINSroS. sept s-Follosisg is the
presidents letter OF acceptance.
WASHINGTON, l.. c.. Sept :
Hon. Patrick 4. Collins and others OF the
cofamittee-<statifags IN addressing 70
you my formal acceptance Of the ncanina
non 10 the presidency Of the Juiied states
my thoughts fersisfenfiy dweli en- the i'm
pressiye relation Of such action 10 the
American people, whose confidence l. in
yiied, and 10 the political party 10 which !
belong, Just entering on a contest for con
finred supremacy The woFla does not
afford n spectacle more sublime than Is
furnished when the millions Of free aud
intelligent American citizens select their
chief magistrate and bid one Of their mum
ber 70 HEd the highest earthly honor aud
ful measure Of publicity IN ready sub
mission 81 their VIII, II follows ihat The
when the turmoil and strife which attend
the election shall be heard no mere. that
there must be. in the quiet calm which
follows 4 coEuf ietc and solemn selfcau-
seeraiiEg by Ehe peoples chosen president,
of every faculty sad enaeavor TO the ser
Il
of fSeemeD. These thoughts art intensified
sy the light of my experience in the prcsi-
DENTAL Office, which has soacriy impressed
me with tae severe responsibilities which
Il Imposes. while IL has qlickened mg love
for American institutions and taught me
the value OF the trust Of my country
INTERESTS DEMANDING CONSIDERATION.
II is OF the highest Importance that
tbese who administer the government
should closely protect and maintain the
rights Of the American people az home and
abroad, and shOuiG: strive 10 achieve for our
country her proper place among the na-
tons Of the earth. but there Is no people
whose home Interests are 50 great aud
" hose numerous objects Of domestic con
cern deserve 50 much watching and care.
Among nose are the regulation OF a sound
financial :, stem 10 Our needs, thus seenr-
ing an efficient agency OF national wealth
aud general prosperity; the construction
and equipment of means OF defense, 10 in
sure our national safety ana maintain TIE
homer beneath which such national safely
reposes the protection Of our national do
main, siill stretching beyond the needs Of
the century'S expansion, and the preserve
tion for the settler and pioneer OF
our marvellous growth; the sensible
and sincere recognition .Of the value Of
American labor, leading 10 serupuloas care
and lust appreci alton OF the Interest," OF
our workingmen. the limitation and check
ing OF sucn mouapoilstie tendencies and
schemes as interfere with the advantages
and benefits which the people may right
fully claim; a generous regard and care for
our surviving soldiers and sailors and Tor
the widows and orpbaus OF such as have
died, 10 the end that v hiie the appreciation
of their services aud sacrifice is quick
ened. the application of the pension fands
TO improper cases may be prevented pro
aaf.Nn
Injuries oar industrial system by comPeti
tiOn with our iaboring mea, aud adds TO
our population an elemeni Ignorant OF our
institutions and laws, impossible Of asslrn-
ilati0a with our people, and dangerous to
our peace and welfare; strict and stead
fast adherence 10 the principles of civil
service reform.
RoREED III TIE TAEIFF.
The government is creation Of the peo-
PIE. established TO carry out their designs
and accomplish their good II was
founded on justice and made
for free and viriuous people
II Is only useful when within their control.
and only ser q well when regulated Rnd
guiden by their constsRt touch. Is y a
fee government be aHsS II guarantees 10
every Ameritaa citizen the unre>t'irtcd
his toll ana Of ali his income, EXCEPT what
msy be his fsir contribution 10 tt. ueecs-
sary public exnense. Therefore il i not
only the Ttsht hpt the dutv OF a free people
IN The enforcement Of this gUaran &c e.
inS 81 that sGch expense he limited to the
actual public ice IS II seems Clear that
when the government, thus iustrume nj
ally created and maintained by ihe people
20 do their bidGing, turns Upon them aud
through an utter pefyeFsion OF lis powers
cxturts from their lauoT and capital largely
in excess of the public ueeds. the creafEr.
has rebelled against its creator aud the
mast rs are robbed by their servants.
TIE cost of the government must con
tinue 20 b met by a tariff daty collected
a. our eustom house upon imported goods
and ,ly an internal rcvenuc tax assessed
upon spiFiIusus aud matt IlUois
tobacco and olegmargarine. I sup
pose u Is needless 10 explain that
al these duties and assessments are
added 90 the price 81 the material
upon which they are levied, aud thus be-
come tax on all those who buy these
articles for use and consumption. sup
nose. too. /. Is well understood that the
effect of this tariff taxation is not limited
to she consumers of imported articles, but
tie duties imposed on such articles permit
a corresponding increase IN price 10 he
made ullen domestic productions of the
same kind, which increase Is paid by the
pe0ple a. consumers of such productions
aud entering every American home, con
sfifufes q form of tax as certain and in
cviiable as though the amount were an
nually paid into the bands OF tax gather
ers These results arc inseIarable from
fhe plan we have adopted lot collection Of
revenue By a iariH duty. They are not
mentioned 10 disCredit the system. but by
way af preface IA s statement that every
million Of dollars collected at our e1lsfen
houses fof duties On imported articles and
paid into the Public ireauSry represc ats
rHn - Il. 81
reachiug the national treasury. are paid by
our citizens e. an increased cost 81 pro
ductiGn resulting from our tarih laws
SEcEssITY oF REDUCTION.
Under the circumstances aud IN view Of
this necessary effect Of the operation Of our
psaa for raising rergnGc. The absolute dn y
III limiting the rate 81 tariff charges 70 the
necessities Of a frugal aud economical al
ministrasion 0i the government seems to
be perfectly plain. The continuance HpCn
the pfeiexf oi meeting the public eSpeadi-
fures. 81 such scale oi tariff taxation as
draws from the substance Of the people a
sum ia-relF iu excess of the public needs.
Is surely something which government
based ou justice, and which finds lis
strength aad usefulness Ia toe faith sad
trust IS th,. people. ought nos ia tolerate.
While heavy burdens incident % Z ( aeces-
siiies of t1.s.gayrfnmeut are Huc0H1p3ain-
incig borne. light burdens become ercEiuHs
aud lnTaierahlc when NOT justified py such
necessities Unnecessary taxation % an
lust taxation. aud vet this ! car coudifiau.
W an annually c-iivetiug et cur custUm
hO,ssc>, and by means 81 cur internal refe.
uus- tas alton. many millions IN cxctss Of
al the legitimate PuslIe ntftS. 4 con
SEQUENCE there ROW remains ia fhc ga.
iipuai treasury 8 s1rplus ef EoFe thau
siee1a ola No better evidence es8Bla b.
fGrui shed than this that people are eSofbi.
"A r aassaa
huricn indicated hE ihis sHrplBs viii be
better appreciated whea u j. suggested
that such 8 surplus stone represents taxa
ri,4a agereessiuz Taore than SIS go IL a
country containing 5e.004. inhabitants.
rasrc4 A~p ISEaEEcF rAxsTloS.
Taxation alwAys hss been the feature oi
Organised government hardest to reconcile
Ri,h the rs-op8e's idea 81 freedom and
hsnsisess when presented IA \ direct
f0ria. noihing VIII arouse popular disccn.
tent more quickly sHi profoundly than
untHst and unnecessary taxation. uEf
farmers, BsercAauis, lat1zers and AZ cur
rffirsns riaSely ; an the slightest fucreass
Ia The taxes assessed ga their lard sad
cfheE pr8perty, Gu1 demand good TeSs1sl
for sssea iacrcEse- and yet they seem - Be
sNy.eftes. Ia sQrae quarters fa rcsafd Tie
uengnsssarv Vu3an,e - iuCsaiaiss ard tn
direct ssxaiioa visited uFun them hs oai
tsreSert yafe ~ tartE Duties With snaiscr
sncc. If not with fsvsr. The ssTplu,
rexeaae Row re1aininE iH ihc tTeasGrs
not uaiy furnishes cUlgius.ye evidence 81
ualus- 'axa;isn. tsss is existence can
sfsiates separate and ind eE,eslsseisf aacaacs
lo sise prosperity Of TIC Tegpis-
NEEuKo * HUsEsEss eHsSSsG.s
Tlsis Tzss serasaulzliou q Idle fuuds ss7s
esseu:s tsas much WsgaeF drawn fFsrl sai
ercHlags,sl q taze cuuaJry, = htes : nts-litt
&c eAzaness of trade zut business tt iar
ssvAi mtstakc tn suppose Thar tie e9lzse
..a.nasa Rhiea .allna IL -rnAk.Esssl va