, 1888-09-11
HIS LITTLE LETTER.
Cleveland's Formal Acceptance
of His Nomination.
The Campaign Issues Presented
Plainly and Vigorously.
No Misrepresentation or Bun
combe Will Go This Time.

A. Collins and others, committee. Cen
tlemen: In addressing to you my formai
acceptance Of the nomination to the pres
idency of the United States, my thoughts
persistently dwell upon the impressive re-
lation of such action to theAmerican peo-
pleIwhose confidence is thus invited and to
the political party to which | belong, Just
entering upon the contest Tor continued
supremacy. The world does not afford a
spectacle more sublime than is furnished
when millions of free apd intelligent
American citizens select their chief
magistrate and bid one of their number to
find the highest earthly honor and the
full measure of public duty In the ready
submission to their will. 1t follows that
the candidate for this high Office can
never forget that when the turmoil and
strife which attend the selection of its in
cumbent shall be heard no more. there
must be in the quiet calm which follows a
complete and solemn self conservation by
the peoples chosen president of every
faculty and eadeavor to the service OF a
COIAllllk ilu kClClOhD vi IL
These thoughts are intensified by the
light of my experience in. the PRESIDENT al
office which has soberly impressed me
with the severe
RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH 1T IMPOSES,
while it has quickened my love for
American institutions and taught me the
priceless value of the trust Of my country.
1t is of the highest Importance that those
who administer our government should
~zealously protect and maintain the rights
of American citizens at home and abroad,
and should strive to achieve for our cOun-
try her proper place among the nations of
the EARTH but there is no people whose
home interests are so great, and whose
numerous objects of domestic concern de-
serve so much watchfulness and care.
Among these are the regulation of a
sound financial system suited to our needs,
thus securing an efficient agency of ma
tional wealth and prosperity; the consti-
tuition and equipment of means OF defense
to insur
OUR NATIONAL SAFETY
and maintain our honor beneath which
such national safety reposes; the protec-
ton of our national domain, still stretch
ing beyond the needs of the century's ex.
pansion and its preservation for settler
and pioneer of our marvellous growth; the
sensible and sincere recognition OF the
value OF American labor leading to scrup-
ulous care and Just appreciation of the
merits of our workingmen; the limitation
and checking of such monopollstic tend
encies and schemes as Interfere with the
advantages and benefits which the people
may rigLtfully claim; a generous regard
and care for our surviving soldiers and
sailors, and for the widows and orphans
of such as have died, to the end that
while the appreciation of their services
and sacrifices is quickeued the appropria-
ton of their pension funds to improper
cases may be prevented; protection against
servile immigration, which lnJurlously
completes with our laboring men in the
field of toll and
ADDS TO OUR POPULATION
an element ignorant of our institutions
and laws, impossible of assimilation with
our people and dangerous to our peace
and welfare; a strict and steadfast adher-
enre to the principles OF civil service re-
form and thorough execution of laws
passed, for the citizens and people are
soberly considering the necessity of meas
ures of relief. Our government is a crea-
ton of the people established to carry out
theii designs and accomplish their good.
1t was founded 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 a free government because it guaIan-
tees to
EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN
the unrestricted personal use and enjoy
ment of all the reward of his toll and of
all his income except what may be his fair
contribution to the necessary public eX-
pense. Therefore it is not only right but
the duty of a free people in the enforce
ment OF this guarantee, to insist that such
expense should be strictly limited to the
actual public needs. 1t seems perfectly
clear that when the government, this in
strumeDtality created and maintained by
the people to do their bidding, turns upon
them and through an utter perversion of
its powers extracts from their labor and
capital a tribute largely in excess of the
public necessities, the creature has
Tebelled against the creator and masters
are robbed by their servants. The cost of
government must continue to be met by
the tariff duties collected at our custom
house lpon imported goods and by
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES
assessed upon spirituous and malt LIQUORS,
tobacco and ol~eomargdrine. | suppose it
is needless to explain That all these
duties and assessments are added to the
price Of articles upon which they are
levied and thu become a tax upon all
those who buy these articles for use and
consumption. suppose too, that its
well understood hat the effect of this
tariff taxation is not limited to consumers
of imported articles, but that the duties
imposed upon such articles permit the
corresponding increase paid by all our
people as of home productions
and entering every American home, con.