Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-12
HARRISON'S EFFORT.
HIS LETTER AccEPTIse THE REPUBLI-
CAV HoMpATION.
He Struggles with the Tariff and Other
Questions CT tina Dsy-IdeaS Hidden
in GeneralitieE
IBy telegraph to the Dispatch

INDIANAPOLIS, ISp., September II, isSs.
Hon. VI. ~ Esise and Others, COMMITTEE:
Gentlemen, when your committee visited me
on the 4lh OF July last and presented tho official
announcement Of my nomination for the presl-
dency OF tho United States by the Republican
Convention promised as soon a. practicable
to communicate to you a more formal accept
ance Of the nomination. Since that time tho
work Of receiving aud addressing almost daily
large delegations Of my fellow-citz9ns has not
only occupied all Of my time. but has In some
measure rendered it unnecessary for me 70 use
this letter % the medium 81 communicating 70
the public my views upon the questions involved
in the campaign.
Appreciate very highly the confidence and
respect manifested By the convention and accept
the nomination With feeling Of gratitude and
a full sense Of the responsibilities which accom-
pany il.
II Is matter Of congrntulatondhat tho decia-
rations Of the Chicago Convention upon tho
questions that now sttra;t the inieres, Of our
people are 50 clear and emphatic 1her9 il fur
Their cause Of cougrstulation in the fact that the
convention uuersnces OF the Democratic party,
II In any degree uncertain or contradictory, can
now Do Judged and interpreted by executive acts
and messages and by definite propositions
in legislation. This Is especially true Of
What Is popularity known ~ the tarin
question. The issue cannot now be
obscured II Is not contest between schedules,
but between wide-apart principles. The for
eign competitors OF our market have with
quick Instinct seen how one issue Of this con-
test may bring them advantage, and our own
people are not so dull as to miss or neglect the
grave interests that are involved for them. The
assault upon our protective system is open and
defiant Protection il assailed rs unconstitu-
lons in law or a. vicious In principle, and those
who hold such views sincerely cannot stop short
Of an absolute elimination from oar tariff laws
Of the principle OF protection.
The Mills bill IS only step, but 1t is toward an
object that the leaders Of Democratic thought
and legislation have clearly la mind. Tho I'M
portant question ia not so much the length Of
the step as the direction Of H. Judged by the
Executive message Of December last, by the
Mills bill, by the debates iu Congress, and the
81 Louis platform, the Democratic party will, II
supported by the country, place the tarit laws
upon a purely revenue basis This is practical
free trade-free trade In tho English sense.
The legend upon tho banner may not be " Free
Trado"; It may be- more obscure-ho motto
Tariff Reform" bus neither banner nor In
scription Is conclusive, or, indeed. very impor-
tam: the assault itself ia the important fact.
Those clio teach that tho import duty upon
the foreign 20 lds sold in our market is pad ny
the consumer aud that the price oil the domesil.
competing article Is enhanced % The amount Oh
the duty on the imported ariicle-ihat every
milton Of dollars collected for customs-iuties
represents many millions moro which do NOT
reach the Treasury. but are paid by our clIen-
a. the increa 90 cost OF the domestic produc-
lions resulting from tho tariff lAws-mhy NOS IN
tend IL discredit IN the minds Of hefsOur sy--
'em II leyyiug duties on competing foreign
products, but IL Is clea ~ already as
credited In their own. We caunoi doubt with
out ifnpugnng their integrity that Iree
20 at uI on their convictions thoy would 20 rc-
wise our laws as 10 lay the burden Of the Gus
toms revenue upon articles that are not pro-
duced Ia this country AMI 10 place upon inc
FREQ list all competing foreign pr0lucls. 40
not stop 90 rofute this theory as ~ it7 eject on
our tariff duties. Those who advance n ~ stu
dents 81 maxlms aud not OF markets. They
may Dos safely allowed 20 cali ihoW pro.r't
tariff REFORM II the people understand thht
in tho end the Argument compel5 Ireo ita4o Ia
all competing products.
Thi. eud may not be- reached abruptly. md
is approach may be acc panied with some
expressions OF eyupathy Tor OR projected iu-
dustrcs and our working people, but 10 WIZ
certainly come if these ehry tops Do not
arouse the people 90 effective resistance.
Tho Republican party holds tna. protective
tariff is constitutional, whOiesouc. and usce--
sary. We 90 not oier flxed schedule, or i0od'-
IS raic- but al Hay3 Hith an Intelligent provision
az 10 IT, effect upon the domestic production and
wages OF our working people. VIC believe 10 io
be ono Of tho worthy OH .cts OF the tgr1 icgi-la
zion % preserve the American mAraei Tor AurH-
eau producers and ~ maintain the Amen an
scale OF wages by adequate DISCRIMINATING IL
ties upon foreign competing produces. lAe e.
feet OF lover rates hul larger lmpofla-
In "a D. q Il
and doubtful. but not 60 tho effect upon
American production and American wages. Loss
work and lower wages must De accepted as 10,
inevitable result Of the increased cherlng OF
foreign goods IN our market BY way u recon-
peuse for this rcdgctlOn in HE wages AMI the
los Of the American market II is suggested that
the diminished wages ~ the "orAinguan VIII
have an undimDi he'd ur'haIng power ana thAt
he will be- able 10 make up Tor the ioss OF Ills
homo market by an enlarged foreign market
Dor Vorkingmen have tho settlement OF me
question in their own hands. They now obtain
higher wages and 1--we more com oraby than
those Of any Otucr country. They VIII make
choice between the substantial Advantages they
have In hand and tie deropuV" pr misses and
forecasts Of those thcoriAne roiormefs lhey
will decide for themselves and Tor the country
whether the protective system ahall Do continued
or destroyed.
The fact OF q Treasury surplus, the amounted
which IL YarOusly stated, has directed pubic A.
tentiOu 10 the consideration OF the InoihDlr ~
WHICH the ia lDhhl lliiPtlH may hN7F no ti.AA''A
% a level OF wise aud necessary expenditure.
This condition has D en- seized upon by those
who are hostile 20 protective custom duties a.
au advantageous basis Of attack upon our taun
laws. They nave msui1cl and nlrsei the sur
plus which they effect 10 Gepreg ale, seemingly
FOR the purpose u eNaegoraung the evil Ia order
~ reconcile the people 81 tho extreme remedy
they propose. Tho proper reduction or NE rove
nue. does not nece-sltat0 aud s1ou.i not suggest
10 abandonment or the impairment Of mo pro-
tective system. The methods suggested by our
convention will not need 90 teoXhausled Ia order
10 fleet the necessary reduction, We are uotiiks-
~ to be called upon. think, to MAKE present
choice between the surrender OF our protective
~ stem and the entire repeal Of Internal iaAeA
Such contingency In Wow Ol the present relation
OF expenditures % revenue h remote. inspec-
ton and regulation Of manufacture and salc ot
oleomargarino Is important and revenue de-
rived from IL IS not 90 great that The repeal ~
tho law need enter into any plan OF revenue TO
ductiOn. The surplus now In tho Treasury should
be used Ia tue purchase Of bonds. The law au-
thOrizes this use Of IL, aud II 70 5nOt needed Tor
current or deficiency appropriations tho p'oUie,
ana not the hanks In which II has been lopo,-
tied, should have the advantage al lls uso by
stopping the Interest upon the public debt.
Closely connected with the subject OF the
tarifi Is that Of the importation Of foreign labor
ers under contracts OF service 20 De performed
here. The law now In forcc prohibiting such
contracts received my cordial support Ia The
Senate, aud such amendments q, may DO found
necessary effectively ~ deliver our work nemen
aud women from this most inequitaUle form OF
competition will have my sincere advocacy
Tho legislation prohibiting the importation OF
laDOrers under contracts 70 serve here Will,
however, afford very Inadequate relict 70 our
working people II tho system OF protective du-
ties Is broken DOM.
II the products Of the American shops must
compete in the American market without favor
ing duties with the products Of cheap foreign
labor the effect will be different, IL AZ ALL only
In degree-whether the cheap IauOrer is in the
street or over the sea. such competition VIII
soon reduce wages here 20 the level Of those
abroad, an1 when that condition is reached No
vii. not need any laws foroiddtsg importation Of
lab0rers under contradictory wilt have no in
ducement ~ come aud the employer no Induce
ment ~ send for them.
In the earlier years OF our history the public
agencies 70 promote immigration wero common.
The pioneer wanted neigh cor with more
friendly instincts than mo Indian. Labor was
scarce and fully employed. But tie day OF the
Immigration Bureau has gone by, While our
doors will continue open % proper immigration
We DO not need 70 issue special invitations 70 The
Inhabitants OF other countries 10 come 10 our
shores or 10 share cur citizenship. Indeed, the
necessity Of some inspection aud Limitation ls
obvious. We should resolutely refuse 70 permit
foreign governments ~ send thcir paupers and
criminals 20 our ports We are also clearly I'M