The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-18
HARRISON'S LETTER.
The Republican Nominee Makes
His Bow,

I INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, September 1.-THE fol-
( loving is General Harrison's letter accepting
the republican presidential nomination:
I I.DIANAPoLIs, Ind, September II, l3SS-To Hon.
/ N. y. EST and others, committee Gentlemen;
When your committee visited me on
the fourth o, July last and presented the official
announcement Of my nomination forthe presidency
Of the United States by the republican convention,
promised soon practicable to communicate to
sou d more formal ceptance of the nomination.
Since that time the work Of receiving and address
ing almost daily the large delegations Of my fellow
citizens has not only occupied all of my tiIne but
has in some measure, rendered it unnecessary for
me 10 use tlis letter as medium communicating
to the public my views upon the questions involved
in the campaign appreciate very highly the con-
hdence and respect manifested by the convention
and accept the nomination with feeling of graft
tide and full sense of the responsibilities which
accompany it.
1t IS matter of congratulation that the declara-
tons Of the Chicago convention upon the ques-
tons that now attract the interest of our people
are so clear and emphatic. There is q further
cause of congratulat1on in the fact that the conven-
ton utterances of the democratic party, If in any
degree uncertain or contradictory, can now be
judged and interpreted by the executive acts and
messages, and BY the definite propositions in legs
lation This is especially true of what is known as
the
Tariff Question.
The Issue cannot now be obscured II is not
contest between schedules, but between wide apart
principles. Foreign competitors of our market have,
with quick instinct how one issue of this con-
test may bring them advantage and our own peo-
pie are not so dull as to miss or neglect thegrave
Interests that are involved for them. The assault
on our protective system is open and defiant Pro-
lection is assailed unconstitutional as law
vicious in principle, and those who hold such views
sincerely cannot stop short of an absolute elimina-
ton from our tariTlaws of the principles of protec
ton.
The
MILLS BILL IS oNL AY STEP,
but II is toward an object that the leaders of the
democratic thought and legislation have clearly in
mind. The important question is not so much the
Myth of the step as the direction of it as judged by
the executive message of December last, by the
Mills BILL by debates in congress, and by the st.
Louis platform The democratic party will, if sup
ported by the country, place the tariff laws upon
purely revenue basis. This is practical free trade,
free trade in an English tense
The legend upon their banner many not be free
trade;' il may be the more obscure motto tariff
REFORM" but neither banner nor the inscription
is conclusive, or, indeed, very important The as
sault itself
IS THE IMPORTANT FACT.
Those who teach that import duty upon foreign
goods sold in the market is paid by the consumer,
and the price Of the domestic compelling article is
enhanced TO the amount of the duty on the i'm.
ported article-that every million dollars collected
for custom duties represents many millions more
which do not reach the treasury but paid by our
citizens the increased cost of domestic productions
resulting from the tariff laws, may not intend to
dscredit in the minds of others system of levy
ing duties on competing foreign products but it is
clearly already discredited in their own. We can
not doubt without mpugning their integrity that it
free 10 act their own convictions, they would
wise our laws as to lay the burden of the customs
revenue upon the articles that are not produced in
this country and to place upon the free list all COM
peting foreign products.
90 not stop to refute this theory to the effect
of our tariff duties. Those who advance it are stu
dents Of maxims and not of markets. They may be
safely allowed to call their project tariff REFORM"
il the people understand that in the end the argu
ment compels free trade in all competing pfoducts
This end may not be reached abruptly, and its APP
proach may be accompanied with
SOME EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY
for our protected industries and our working peo-
pie, but it will certainly come if these early at
tenpts do not arouse the people to effective resist
ance.
The republican party holds that protective tariff
is constitutional, wholesome and necessary. We do
not offer a fixed schedule, but principle We will
revise the schedule, modify the rates. but always
with an intelligent provision as to the effect upon
domestic production and the wages Of our working
people. We believe 1t to be one of the worthy OBJ
jeets of tariff legislation to preserve
THE AMERICAN MARKET FOR AMERICAN PRO
DUCERs
and to maintain the American scale OF. wages by
adequate discriminating duties upon foreign COM
petng products The effect oflower rates and larger
mportations upon the public revenue is contingent
and doubtful but not so the effect upon American
productions and American wages. Less work and
lower wages must be accepted as the inevitable re-
suit the increased Offering of foreign goods in
market.
BY way of reeompense for this reduction in his
;-- ~
that the diminished wagesof the workingman viii
have an undmnished purchasing power, and that
he will be able to make up for the loss of home
ina ket by an enlarged foreign market Our work
ingmen have the settlement Of the question in their
own hands. They now obtain higher wages and
live more comfortably than those of any other
country. They will make a choice between the
substantial advantages they have in hand, and the
deceptive promises and forecasts Of those heorzing
reformers. They will decide for themselves and for
the country whether the protective system shall be
continued or destroyed.
The Treasury Surplus.
The fact of treasury surplus, the amount of
which is variously stated, has directed public at
tentiou to consideration of the methods by which
the national moons may best be reduced to level
of wise and necessary expenditure. This condition
has been seized upon by those who are hostile to
protective custom duties as an advantageous base
Of attack upon our tariff laws They have magni
fed and nursed the surplus, which
they affect 10 denrecAte, seemingly for
the purpose Of eXaggeratng the evil in order to
reconcile the people TO the extreme remedy they
propose A proper reduction of revenue does not
necessitate, and should not suggest the abandon
ment or impairment of the protective system, The
methods suggested by our convention will not need
to be exhausted in order to effect the necessary
ducuon. We are not likely to be called upon, l
think, to make present choice between the sur
render of our protective system and the entire
Repeal of Internal Taxes.
Such contingency, in view of the present relation
OF expenditures to revenue, is remote The inspec-
ton and regulation of the manufacture and sale Of
oleomargarine is important, and the revenue de-
rived from it is not great that the repeal Of the
law need enter into any plan of revenue reduction.
The surplus now in the treasury should be used in
the purchase of bonds. The law authorizes this
of it, and if il is not needed for current deficiency
appropriations the people, and not the banks in
which il has been deposited, should have the al
vantage OF its by stopping the interest upon the
public debt Al least those who needessly hoard it
should not be allowed TO use the fear of monetary
strngency thus produced to coerce public sentiment
on other questions.
Importation of Foreign Labor.
Closely connected With the subject of the tariff is
that of the Importation Of foreign laborers under