Helena weekly herald., 1888-09-13
CLEVELAND'S ACCEPTANCE


To those who begun to have apprehen-
sion that Cleveland was hesitating about
the acceptance of the Democratic nomina-
ton, his letter published to-day will bring
relief The long delay of more than three
months was probably intended to
reach the exigencies that might be de-
veloped by the progress of the campaign.
Instead of broadening and multiplying
the issues, the progress of the cam
paign has narrowed them. There is
but one issue, that of the tariff, and on that
issue the President has nothing new to offer
His statement that unnecessary taxation is
unjust taxation" is one of those popular
axioms that no one thinks of denying.
But it is pure tri1ing with the interests of
the nation to refuse to apply the revenues
to the extinction of the public debt, in or
der to create an apparant surplus for
campaign argument. There is ample au-
thority of law to purchase outstanding
bonds and they are daily offered and re-
fused on the ground that the premium is
too high. This premium is the result
and measure of our national credit. The
only way to make this premium less
is to impair the credit of the government
Is this what Cleveland would advise
But there is another fully as important
purpose to which this surplus should be
applied, the construction of a navy and the
erection of public buildings..in all the cities
and towns for the use of the postal and
other government business, and in the con-
struction of public Improvements that
would benefit every person in the country.
As there is no need of having any surplus,
so there isstillle need of any extravaganza
AS every one knows, slight reduction
of duty will lead to increased importations
and consequently increased revenue.
Recognizing this, the Mills bill, while
sparing the internal revenue taxes, the
only real war taxes we have remaining,
strikes off the entire duty on foreign wool,
lumber, salt and many other articles, thus
absolutely destroying industries in which
millions of capital are invested and hun
dreds of thousands are employed.
The talk about reaching foreign markets
with our goods is unadulterated nonsense.
We have not yet begun to supply our own
market. We have not much of commercial
marine nor do we want more till we have
a navy to protect it. There are no duties
upon exports, but our manufacturers using
any foreign raw material are allowed
drawback. So that there is abso-
lutely nothing in the way Of
our manufacturers competing now
in foreign markets except the higher wages
paid for labor. Unless the Democratic
policy reduces wages it cannot open to us
any foreign markets.
The pretense that the Presidents policy
is not intended to reduce wages, when its
very purpose is to flood the country with
cheaper foreign made goods, may 60 for
what it is worth among those foolish
enough to believe it. To offer men cheap
goods who are without means TO
buy them is mere mockery. To tell
them to 60 West, where there
are waste and vacant lands, when they
have no means to get there, is still further
mockery. And pray tell US what We shall
do with our surplus production of raw
material, if labor is thrown out of employ
ment in mills, shops, factories, etc. and all 60
to farming? You propose to ruin the wool,
lumber and salt business. The farmers at
the North can't raise cotton, rice and to-
bacco If they raise more corn, wheat,
pork and the few other articles left them,
where will they find market for them?
The foreign markets are already surfeited.
The letter says nothing about accepting
the nomination. Of course that was un-
necessary. 1t is nothing but campaign
harangue of one who has fallen victim
to the shallow fallacies of the Golden
school and seeks to impose them upon
others for his own personal gain and their
irretrievable injury.