The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-03
CLEVELAND'S LETTER.
Accepting the Democratic NOmi'
nation for President.
Presentation of His Views on the
Public Questions Of the Day.

The letter of President Cleveland, accept
ing the Democratic nomination for Presi'
dent, has been made public. Mr.. Cleveland
begins by saying:
"WAsHINGToN, September s, 1855
"Hon. Patrick A. Collins and Others, Com,
nlittee Etc.:
"GENTLEMEN-In addressing to you my
formal acceptance OF the nomination to
the Presidency of the United States, my
thoughts persistently dwelt upon the impress
sive relation Of such action to the Ameri.
can people, whose confidence is thus invited,
and to the political party to which belong,
just entering upon contest for continued
supremacy.
more sublime than is furnished when
millions of free and intelligent Amerl-
can citizens select their Chief Magistrate
and bid one OF their number to find the high
est earthly honor and the full measure Of
public duty in ready submission to their
will
at follows that a candidate for this high
office can never forget that when the turmoil
and the strife which attend the selection Of
its incumbent shall be heard no more
there must be in the quiet calm
which follows a complete and solemn self
conservation by the peoples chosen Presi-
dent of every faculty and endeavor to the
service of confiding and generous nation
of freemen.
''1hese thoughts are intensified by the light
of my experience in the Presidential Office,
which has soberly impressed ME with the
severe responsibility which it imposes, while
it has quickened my love for American in
stitutions and taught me the priceless value
of the trust Of my countrymen."
nar,Noraft4 ,,loff0 -
the President in the following paragraph:
1.-THE pledges contained in the platform
adopted by the late Convention Of the Ma
tional Democracy lead to the advancement
of these objects and insure good government
the aspiration of every true American citizen
and the motive for every patriotic action and
effort In the consciousness that much has
been done in the direction Of good govern
ment by the present administration, and
submitting its record TO the fair inspection
of my countryruen, indorse the platform
thus presented, with the determination that
If am again called to the Chief Magistracy
there shall be a continuance Of devoted en-
deavor to advance the interests of the entire
country"
On the tariff question the President says:
.'Our scale of Federal taxation and its con-
sequences largely engross at this time the
attention Of our citizens, and the people are
soberly considering the necessity OF meas
ures Of relief. Our Government is the crea-
ton Of the people, established to carry out
their designs and accomplish their good.
It was founded on Justice, and was made for
free, intelligent, and virtuous people 1t
is only useful when within their control, and
only serves them we'll when regulated and
guided by their constant touch. 1t is free
Government because it guarantees to
every American citizen tie unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment OF all the re-
ward of his toll and of all his income ex-
cept what may be his fair contribution to
necessary public expense. Therefore it is not
only the right but the duty of free people,
in the enforcement of this guarantee, to in
sist that such expense should be strictly
limited. to the actual public needs 1t seems
perfectly clear that when the Government,
this instrumentality created and main
tanned by the people to do their bidding,
turns upon them aud, through an utter per-
version of its powers. e2tortS from their labor
and capital tribute largely in excess OF pub
lie necessities, the creature has rebelled
against the creator and the masters are
robbed by their servants.
1.-The cost of the government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collected at
our Custom Houses upon imported goods,
and by internal revenue taxes assessed
upon spirituous and malt liquors, tobacco,
and oleomargarine l suppose it is needless
to explain that all these duties and assess.
ments are added to the pr.ce Of the articles
upon which they are levied, and thus be-
come a tax upon all those who buy these
articles for use and consumption. ! sup
pose, too, it is well understood that the ef-
feet of this tariff taxation is not limited to
the consumers of important articles, but
that the duties imposed upon such
articles permit a corresponding increase
in price to be laid upon domestic produc-
tions Of the same kind, which increase, paid
by all our Leople as consumers of home pro-
ductions and entering every American
home, constitutes form of taxation as GER
tain and as inevitable as though the amount
was annually paid into the hand of the tax
gatherer. These results are inseparable
from the plan we have adopted for the col.
lection Of our revenue by tariff duties.
They are not mentioned to dis,redit the sys-
tenn, but by way of preface to the statement
that every million of dollars cole ted at
our Custom Houses for duties upon inn
ported articles and paid into the public
Treasury represent many millions more,
which, though never reaching the National
Treasury, are paid by our citizens as the lu-
creased cost of domestic productions result
ing from our tariff laws.
I'm these circumstances and in view or
this necessary effect of the operation of our
plan for raising revenue, the absolute duty
of limiting the rate Of tariff chrr2eS to the
necessities or irugaI and economical al
ministration Of the government seems
to be perfectly plein. The continuance, upor
the pretext of meeting public expenditures
of such s,ale OF tariff taxation as draw;
from the substance of the people {
sum largely in excess Of public nseds is
surely something which, nnder Govern
ment based upon justice. and which, finds
its strength and usefulness in tie faltf
and trust of the people, ought not to bt
to Grated. While the heaviest burdens In
cident to the necessities of the Govern
ment are uncomplainingly borne. hgh
burdens become grievous AMI intolerable
when not justified by such necessities. UE
necessary taxation is unjust taxation.
sAnd yet this is our condition. We are
annually collecting at our Custom House
and by means of our internal revenue ia xa
tion many millions in excess OF all leglti
mate public needs. As consequence there
now remains in the National Treasury sur
plus of more than $780, ,00J No better
evidence could be furnished that the people
are exorbitantly taxed The extent Of the
surperfluous burden indicated by thi
surplus will be better appreciated when i
is suggested that such surplus alone repre-
sents taxation aggregating more than SloS.
0OO in a county containing 5o,OO0 mhabl
tants."
Taxation has always been the. feature Of
organized government the hardest to rec
oncile with the peoples ideas of freedom
and happiness. When presented in direc,
| form nothing will arouse popular discon-
tent more quickly and profoundly than un
| Just and unnecessary taxation. Our far
mers, mechanics. laborers, and all our citi
zens closely scan the slightest increase il
the taxes assessed upon their lands and
other property and demand good reason!
for such increase. And yet they seem to be
expe ted, in some quarters, to regard the I'm