The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-16
THURMAN ACCEPTS.
he DECLARES AGHIEST 8LONOPO-
LIES IND TRUSTS.

| COLUMBUS, o., October 14.--[Special. Fol
| lowing is Judge Humans letter of accept
ance, as given to the press this evening. The
first draft Of the letter was in the judge s
handwriting and the typewriter copies showed
! only few changes in punctuation from the
original:
Columbus, O., October 70, Isss-IIon. Patrick A.
| Collins and others, committee Genlemen-In
oLeiience to custom, send you this formal accept
ance Of my nomination for the Office OF vice -pres
| dent Of the United States, made by Che 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 nonina-
ton expressed 10 you my sense Of obligation TO
the convention, and stated that although had
not sought the nomination. did not feel atliberty,
under the circumstances, to decline it. thought
then, as still think, that whatever could prop
ery 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 apprecia-
ton Of these high qualities seem 10 call for his re-
election.
am also strongly impressed with the belief that
his reelection would powerfully tend TO strengthen
that feeling of fraternity among the American peo
pie that is so essential 10 their welfare peace and
happiness, and to the perpe.uity of the union and
of our free institutions.
approve the platform Of the ST. Louis corven-
ton, and cannot too strongly express my dissent
from the heretical teachings Of the monopoliss
that the welfare of the people can be promoted by
system of eXorbitant taxation far in excess of the
wants Of the government,
The idea that people can be enriched by heavy
and unnecessary taxation that mans condition
can be improved by taxing him On all he wears, on
all his wife and children wear all his tools and
implements of industry is an obvious absurdity. To
fill the vaults of the treasury with idle surplus
for which the government has no legitimate use,
and to thereby deprive the people of cur currency
cd fhdf Il Aof1 atn1 10
create powerful and dangerous stimulus to extrav-
agance and corruption in the expenditures Of the
government, seems to me to be policy at variance
with every sound principle Of government and of
political economy.
The necessity of reducing taxation to prevent
such accumulation Of surplus revenue, and the
consequent depletion of the circulating medium, is
so apparent that no party dares to deny 1t; but
when we como to consider the modes by which re-
duction may be made, we find wide antagonism be-
tween our party and the monopolistic leaders of
political opponents We seek to reduce taxes upon
the necessaries Of life; Our opponents seek to in
crease them.
We say, give TO the masses of the people cheap
and good clothing, cheap blankets cheap tools and
cheap lumber The republicans, by the platform,
and their leaders in the senate by their proposed
bill, ray increase taxes OIL clothing and blankets
and thereby increase their cost, maintain high
duty on the tools of the farmer and mechanic and
upon the lumber which they need for the construc-
ton of the modest dwellings, shops and barns, and
thereby prevent their obtaining these necessares at
reasonable prices.
Can any sensible man doubt as 70 where he
should stand in this controversy? Can any we'll
informed man be deceived by the false pretense
that system SO unreasonable and unjust is for the
benefit of the laboring men?
Much is said about competition Of American
latorers with the pauper labor of Europe; but does
not every man who looks around him see and
know that the immense majority of laborers in
America are not engaged in what are called the
protected industries? And as to those who are en-
ployed in such industries is it not undeniable
that the duties. proposed by the democratic
measure, called tho Mills bill, far exceed the
difference between American and European
wages, and that therefore, if it were
admitted that our working men can be pro-
tected by tariffs against cheaper labor, they would
be fully protected and more than protected, by that
bill2 Does not every well informed man know that
the increase in the price of home manufactures pro-
duced by the high tariff does not go into the pockets
Of the lahoring men, but only tends to swell the
profits OF others?
It seems to 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 increase the share OF the laboring
man in the benefits Of national prosperity and
growth.
am very respectfully your obedient servant,
ALLEN G. THURMAN