The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-11-01

the Presidents letter of acceptance.
1t is dated at Washington, Septem
Der 8, 1888, and addressed to Hon.
Patrick A. Collins and others, Com
mittee:
GESTLEMES: In addressing to you my formal
acceptance of the nomination 10 the presidency
of the United States my thoughts persistently
dwell upon the impressive relation of such action
to the American people. whose confidence is thus
invited and to the political party to which be
long just entering upon contest for continu
supremacy. The world does not afford spec
tacle more sublime than is furnished when mill
ions of free and intelligent American citizens Sc
lect their chief magistrate, aGd bid one of their
number to find the highest earthly honor and the
fun measure of public duty N ready submission
to tneir will
IL follows that candidate for this high office
can never forget that when the turmoil and the
strife which attend the selection of its incumbent
shall be heard no more there must De i'll the
quiet calm which follows a complete and solemn
seIf-colsecration by the peoples chosen president
of every faculty and endeavor to the service OF a
confding and generous nation of freemen. These
thoughts are int nsifed by the light of my expe
nence in the presidential office, which has sober
ly impressed with the responsibilities
which it imposes, while it has quickened my love
for American institutions and taught the
priceless value of the trust CT my coutrymen.
1t is Of the highest importance thai those who
administer our government should jealousy pro-
tect and maintain the rights of American citi-
Zens at home and abroad, and should strive to
achieve for our country her proper place among
the nations of the earth; but there is people
whose home interests are great, and whose
numerous objects of domestic concern deserve so
much WatrlfulupSS and Among these
the regulation of a sound financial system suited
10 our needs, thus securing efficient agency OF
national wealth and general prosperity; the con-
struction and equipment of means of defense to
insure our national safety and maintain the honor
beneath which such national safety reposes; the
protection of national domain, still stretching
beyond the needs of ce fury 5 expansion, and
its preservati n for the settler and the pioneer of
marvellous growth; sensible and sincere
recogni ion Of the value of American labor. lead
ing to the scrupulous and just appreciation
Of the interests Of our workingmen; the limita
ton and checking of such monopolistic tendencies
and schemes as interfere with the advantages and
benefits which the people may rightly claim;
generous regard and care for our surviving sol
ders and sailors and for the widows and orphans
of such as have died, to the end that while the ap-
probation of their services and sacrifices is quick
ened the application of their pension fund TO i'm
proper cases may lie prevented; protection
against servie immigration which injuriously
completes with our laboring men III the field of ton
and adds to our population an element ignorant
of institutions and laws, impossible Of asSim-
ilation with our people, and dangerous to our
peace and welfare: a strict and SteadfaSr adher-
ance To the principles of civil service reform, and
a thorough execution of the laws passed for their
enforcement, thus permitting to our people the
advantages of business methods in the operation
of their government; the guaranty to our colored
citizens of all their rights of citizenship and their
pertaining to that relation; firm, patient, and
humane Indian policy, that in peaceful rela-
tons with the government the civilization of the
Indian may he promoted, with resulting quiet and
safety To the settlers on our frontiers; and the
curtaiment of public expense by the introduction
of economical methods in every department of
the government.
The pledges contained In the platform adopted
by the late convention of the national Democ-
racy lead to the advancement of these objects,
and insure good government-the aspiration of
every true American citizen and the motive for
every patriotic action and effort. In the
seriousness that much has been done in the direc-
ton of good government by the present admins
tration, and submitting its record to the fair in
spection of my cGuntrysnen, indorse the plat
form thus presented with the determination that,
if / am again called 10 the chief magstracy
there shall be continuance of devoted endeavor
to advance the interests of the entire country
Our scale of federal taxes and its consequences
largely engross at this time the attention of our
citizens and the people are soberly considering
the necessity of measures of relief Our gov
eminent is the creation of the people, established
to carry out their designs and accomplish their
good Ii was bundled on justice, and was made
for a free intelligent and virtuous people. 1t Is
only useful when within their control and only
serves them well when regulated and guided by
their constant touch. 1t is free government
because it guarantees to every American citizen
the unrestricted personal Use and enjoyment of
all The reward o his toll and of all his income
except what may be his fair contribution to nee
essary public expense. Therefore it is not only
the right but the duty of a free people in the
enfor, ement of this guaranty, to insist that such
expense. should be strictly limited to the actual
public needs. Ii seems perfectly clear that when
the goyernment-this nstrumentaty created
and maintained by the people to do their bid
ding-turns upon them and, through utter
peryer>ion of its powers EFFORTS from their labor
and capital tribute largely in excess of public
necessities the creature has rebelled against the
creator and the masters are robbed BIZ their serv-
ants.
The cost of the government must continue to
be met 10y tariff duties collected at our custom
houses upon imported goods and by internal rev
enue taxes assessed upon spurious and malt
liquors. tobacco and oleomargarine. suppose it
Is needless 10 explain that all these duties and
sessmentS are added to the price of the articles
upon which they are levied. anu UitlS become z
tax upon all those who buy these articles for use
and consumption. l suppose. too, it is well
derSood that the effect of this tariff taxation is
not limited to the consumers of imported articles,
but that The duties imposed upon such articles
permit corresponding increase in price TO be
laid upon domestic productions of the same kind;
which increase, paid by all our people con-
sumers of home productions and entering every
American home constitutes form of taxation
certain as inevitable, as though the amount was
annually paid into the hand of the taxgatherer.
These results are inseperable from the plan
have adopted for the collection of our revenue by
tariff q ties They are not mentioned To discredit
the system, but by way of preface TO the state
nlent that every million of dollars collected at
our cirsl ON houses for duties upon imported arti
cles and paid into the public treasury represent
many millions more which, though never reach
ing the national treasury, are paid by citizens
as the ire easei cost of domestic productions
sulting from our tariff laws.
In these circumstances. and in view of this
necessary effect of the operation of our plan for
raising revenue, the absolute duty of limiting the
rate OF tariff charges TO the necessities of frI-
gal aud economical ADMINISTRATION of the govern
nent ems tn be perfectly plain. The continu-
snce, upon preteNt of meeting public expendi-
tures of such scale of tariff taxation draws
from the substance Of the people a sum largely
In excess of public needs is surely something
which under government based upon justice,
and which finds its strength and usefulness in the
fsith and trust of the people, ought not to oe toll