Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-10-20
THURNAN'S LETTER.
Commentator for President
Cleveland and His Re-
election Advocated.
The ST. Louis Platform Accepted
Reduction OF Taxation Urged
in the Interest Of Ameri-
can Labor.

Reduction OF Taxation Urged
in the Interest Of Ameri-
can Labor.
The letter of Judge Allen G. Thurman
accepting the democratic nomination for the
Vice Presidency was given to the press
Sunday:
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. y, lUSs.
Hon. PATRICK A. COLLINS
and others, Committee
GENTLEMEN-In obedience to custom
send you this formal acceptance Of my nom,
nation for the Office Of Vice President of the
United States, made by the National Con
vention of the democratic party at ST. Louis
When you did me the honor to call upon
me OF Columbus and officially notify me Of
my nomination, I expressed to you my senst
of obligation to tho Convention, and stated
that, although had not sought the nomina
ton, I did not feel at liberty, under the cir
cumstances, to decline it. thought then
as still think, that whatever I could
properly do to promote the re election Of
President Cleveland I ought to do His ad
ministration has been marked by suct
integrity, good sense, manly courage anc
exalted patriotism that just appreciation Of
these high qualities seems to call for hi
re election,
am also strongly impressed with the be
lief that his reelection would power fully
tend to strengthen that feeling OF fraternity
Ia bot ia en-
tial to their welfare, peace and happiness
and to the perpetuity Of the union and of ouI
free institutions.
approve the platform OF the 81. Louis
Convention, and I cannot too strongly ex
press my dissent from the heretical teachings
OF the monopoiSts that the welfare OF q
people can he prom ted by g. system oil
exorbitunt taxation far in excess OF tie
wants OF the government.
The idea that people can De enriched BY
heavy and unnec ssary taxation, tnat
mans condition can be improved by taxing
him on all be wears, on all his wife aud
children wear ON all his tools and inple'
ments of industry, is all obvious absurdlty.
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 currency needed for their BUS
mess and daily wants, and to create power
full and dangerous stimulus TO extravaganza
and corruption in the expenditures or the
government, seems to me TO be policy al
variance with every sound principal 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
circulating medium, is SO apparent that no
party dares to deny it, but when vs. come to
consider the modes by which the reouctlon
may be made we end u wide antagonism be.
tween our party and the monopoiistic leaders
Of our political opponents.
We seek to reduce taxes upon tile necessi-
ties of life; our opponents seek to increase
them. We say, give to the masses OF the
people cheap and good clothing, cheap
blankets, cheap tools and cheap lumber. Inc
republicans, by their platform and their
leaders in the Senate, by their proposed bill,
say, increase the taxes on clothing and
blankets and thereby increase their cost;
maintain high duty on the tools or the
farmer and mechanic and upon the lumber
, which they need for she construction Of their
modest dwellings, shops and barns, and
thereby prevent their obtaining these neces-
saries at reasonable prices.
Can any sensible man doubt as to where
Il. should stand in this controversy Can
nny well informed man be deceived by tile
Ind unjust is for the benefit OF the laboring
nenl
Much is said about competition Ut Ameri-
can laborers with the pauper labor of Europe,
hut d. es not every man who looks around
lin 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 undenioble that the duties
proposed by the democratic measure called
the Mills bill far exceed The difference be-
tween American and Europea wages, and
that, therefore, if it were admitted tnat our
workingmea can be protected by tariffs
against cheaper labor, they would be fully
protected, and more than protected by that
billl
Does not every well informed man know
that the increase in price OF home manufac-
lures produced 10y high tariff does not go
into the pockets of laboring men, but only
tends TO swell the profits of othersa
It seems t, ME that il the policy of the
democratic party is plainly presented all
must understand that we seek 10 make the
cost of living less and at the same time in
crease the share Of the laboring man i'll tho
benefits Of national prosperity and growth.
I am, very respectfully,
your obtdent servant,
ALLEN G. THURMAN