The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-10-20
Hon. A. G. rHuRMAN's LETTER.
Plain Democratic Truths.


Hon. Allen G. ThpFman's letter of accep-
lance of the nomination of the Vice Presi-
dency by the Democratic party was published
on Monday last. 1t is as follows
| COLUMBUS, Ohio, October II, 1SSS.-Hon.
Patrick A. Collins and others, Committee.
Gentlemen: In obedience TO custom | send
you this formal acceptance of my nomination
for the Office of Vice President of the United
States, made by the national convention 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 | had not sought the nomination, L
did not feel at liberty, under the circum-
stances, to decline it. | thought then, as L
still think, that whatever / could properly do
to promote the reelection of President
Cleveland ought to do His administration
has been marked by such integrity, good
sense, manly courage and exalted patriotism
that just appreciation of these high quali-
ties seems to call for his reelection.
| am also strongly impressed with the be-
lief that his reelection would powerfully tend
to strengthen that feeling of fraternity among
the American people that is so essential to
their welfare, peace and happiness, and to the
perpetuity of the Union and of our free insti-
tutions
/ 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 welfare ola people
can be promoted by system of exhorbltant
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
condition 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 surplus for which the government has no
legitimate use, and to thereby deprive the
people of our currency needed for their bust
ness and daily wants, and to create a power
full and dangerous stimulus to extrayagance
and corruption in the expenditures of the
government, seems to me to be a policy at
variance with every sound principle of gov
eminent and of political economy.
The necessity of reducing taxation to pre-
vent such an accumulation of surplus revenue,
and the consequent depletion of the circula-
ting medium, is so apparent that no party
dares to deny it; but when we come to con-
slider the modes by which the reduction may
be made we find wide antagonism between
our party and the monopolistic leaders of our
political opponents.
We 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 blank
cts, cheap tools and cheap lumber. The Re
publicans by their platform and their leaders
in the Senate, by their proposed bill, say, IN
crease the taxes on clothing and blankets,
and thereby increase their cost, maintain
high duty on the tools of the farmer ard me-
obon;o nd ,,,o, tho l., m har which thav need
for the construction of their modest dwellings,
shops and barns, and thereby prevent their
obtaining these necessaries at reasonable
prices.
Can any sensible man doubt as to where he
should stand in this controversy? Can any
we'll informed 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 competition of Ameri-
can 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 industries !?
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 be-
tween American and European wages, and
that, therefore, if it were admitted that our
workingmen can be protected 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 manufac-
lures produced by 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.
am, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want. ALLEN u. THURMAN.