The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-10-18
Mr.. THURMAN'S LETTER.
THE "OLD ROMAN" ACCEPTS
HIS NOMINATION.
A Short Expositionl of HisN Ideas Re,
garding the Issues of the Pres
emit Campaign.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 15.-Ex-SenatOr
Ihurman's letter accepting the nomination
OF the ST. Louis convention to the Vice
Presidency follows:
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct 12.-The Hon.
| Patrick A. Collins and Others, Committee
gentlemen: In obedience to custom. send
you this formal acceptance of my nomina-
tlon for the Office of Vice President Of the
United States made by the national conven-
ton OF the Democratic party at st. Louis.
When you did me the honor to call upon
me at Columbus and officially notify me Of
my nomination expressed to you my sense
OF obligation to the convention, and stated
! that, although I had not sought the nomi-
nation, did not feel at liberty, under the
circumstances, to decline it, I thought
then, as | still think, that whatever I could
properly do to promote the reelection of
President Cleveland ought to do. His adj
ministration has been marked by such integ-
r1ty, good sense, manly courage, and ex-
allied patriotism that a just appreciation of
these high qualities seems to call for his re-
election. am also strongly impressed with
the belief that his reelection would power
fully tend to strengthen that feeling of fra
termty among the American people that is
SO essential to their welfare, peace, and hap
plness, and to the perpetuity of the union
and OF our free institutions.
Taxation and the Surplus.
Il approve the platform Of the st. Louis
convention, and cannot too strongly ex-
press my dissent from the heretical
teachings of the monopolists that the well
fare OF people can be promoted by sys-
tenn OF exorbitant taxation far in excess of
the wants of the government The idea
that people can be enriched by heavy and
unnecessary taxation-that a mans con
dition can be improved by taxing him on
all he wears, on all his wife and children
wear, on all his tools and implements of in
dustry-is an obvious absurdity. To fill
the vaults Of the treasury with an idle sur
plus for which the government has no legiti-
mate use, and to thereby deprive the people
OF currency needed for their business and
daily wants, and to create powerful and
dangerous stimulus to extravaganza and
corruption in the expenditures of the gov
eminent, seems to me to be a policy at vari-
ance with every sound principle of govern
ment and OF political economy.
The necessity of reducing taxation to
prevent such an accumulation of surplus
revenue and the consequent depletion of the
circulating medium is so apparent that no
party dares to deny it; but when we come
to consider the modes by which the reduc-
ton may be made we find wide antago-
nlsm between our party and the monopolis-
TIC leaders OF our political opponents
The Points at Issue.
I'VE seek to reduce taxes upon the neces-
saries OF life; our opponents seek to increase
them. We say, give to the masses of the
people cheap and good clothing, cheap
blankets, cheap tools, and cheap lumber
The Republicans say by their platform and
their leaders in the Senate, by their pro-
posed bill, say increase the taxes on cloth
ing and blankets and thereby increase their
cost, maintain high duty on the tools of
the farmer and mechanic and upon the
lumber which they need for the construc-
ton of their modest dwellings, shops, and
barns, and thereby prevent their obtaining
these necessaries a reasonable prices. Can
any sensible man doubt as to where he
should stand in such controversy? Can
any well-lnformed man be deceived by the
false pretense that a system so unreasonable
and unjust is for the benefit of laboring
men?
Much is said about the competition of
American laborers with the pauper labor of
Europe, but does not every man who looks
around him see and know that an immense
majority of the laborers in America are not
engaged in what are called the protected in
dustries? And as to those who are employed
in such industries, is it not undeniable that
the duties proposed by the Democratic
measure called the Mills bill far exceed the
difference between American and European
wages, and that therefore, if it were adj
mltted that our workingmen can be pro-
tected by tariffs against cheaper labor,
they would be fully protected and more than
protected by that bill? Does not every
well-informed man know that the increase
in price of home manufactures produced by
q high tariff does not go into the pockets Of
laboring men, but only tends to swell the
profits of others?
1t seems to me that if the policy Of the
Democratic party is plainly presented all
must understand that we seek to make the
cost of living less and at the same time in
crease the share of the laboring man in
the benefits Of national prosperity and
growth.
IT am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, ALLEN G. THURMAN
REDSKINS MAY DISAGREE.