The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-09
PUTS IT ASIDE.
Judge Greer is Not a Candidate.
Tho American Party's Vico-Prcsi-
dontial Nomination Declined.
He Cannot Stand Upon tho Plat
form of tho Party,
He Regards the Question Of Tariff
Reform Vital.
Ho Believes, Therefore, the Reelection
otMr, Cleveland To Be Necessary
Naturalization Issues
Discussed.

Following is the Ic,tcroi the Hon. James
NJ, Greer OF Memphis, declining The vice.
presidential nomination oi the American
party
MEMPHIS Tenn, -yr.cmryrs, IssS
Tho Hon. Jack Hruurt the Hon Isaac sharp. tho
Nnu. James u trHtv tUuWliv.
Gentlemen lours OF tine 10Th ult., tell.
ing me officially OF my nomination by tho
American party lor Ncc-prcsilcnt OF tho
United States, has been received. ! am
deeply grateful TO the convention which
paid me this unsousht aud unexpected
honor, but | feel constrained to resign |
am in favor of restricting both immigra-
ton aud naturalization, But cannot 20
20 the extent OF the convention in bcliey-
ing it wise to Internationally repeal our
naturalization laws The effect Of this
would OF course be- to prevent any foreign
born person, no matter how worthy no
might be-, from ever becoming an Amcri-
can citizen.
II cannot hc a healthy thing for any nn-
ton TO have large part OF It's population
made up ui resident aliens who can never
hope 10 tlkc any part n the making "
laws under which they must hC taxed and
tp which they must submit their personal
| liberty.
Another part Of the platform provides
! ia effect that before the immigrant leaves
his native shore he must furnish evidence
Of being 'likcly 20 become a desirable cit
izcn OF the United States" liy restricting
immigration 81 this industrious aud intel
liLonl class thusc whom We thus tacitly
invite will come a. M already imhucd with
the spirit II America. hold that the i'm
migrant who has renowned all allegiance
10 any foreign power who accepts tho
spirit oi our constitution and laws, who
has learned our language aud customs,
who rcnu his children tu speak and un-
dcBiunl the one aud reverence and obey
the other, should have held out 20 him
the proud honor IT American citizenship.
Hy Keeping cut all who do not furnish cy-
ilcncc before they come Ut probably adopt
ing In heart and mind this ambition, aud
! hy requiring them after they come aud
| have resided suiuc years among tiS "a mako
this probability judicial certainty by
proof IN court of Justice We will keep
America Tor Americans.
! tind, too, that the platform of The con-
! vtniiUn pushes aside The question Ut tariff
| reform ~ not now demanding expression
! from the American party liy the usage
Of the Phrase projection w. FREQ trade X
q fraud and q snare. the convention leaves
the public to infer that II Is immatcrial
whether We reduce tariff taxation 20
the basis NJ the actual needs Of the nation
~ whether We shall let the principle re-
main of accumulatlng an idle surplus in
our treasury. To this ! cannot subscribe.
Belonging lot years 10 lhc Democratic par
~, ! have b,cn taught that protection right
" understood simply means the payment
Oi a bonus 10y all oi our citizens 60 few
ol Unr citizens 30 engage IN certain indus
triou- pursuits. ! have no reason now to
| doubt the wisdom Of that teaching Under
! the name and guisc oi protecting the work.
ingman, We are paying his employer q
premium and filling the treasury with un-
Issued money without benefit Ia the work.
ingman " Ia th" nation ~ large.
We are protecting the American lnborcr
from competition with the paupcr labor II
Europe hy bringing that plupcr here Tho
settlement IT this great economic question
u now absorbing the people absorbing
them Ia the exclusion Ut all Other issues.
believe ani hope that by thr election Il
Mr. Cleveland this tall thc settlement will
be- made
Most earnestly, most '1ynusIy. approve
that part vt the conventions platform in
which II declares iuf mo north, no south,
no east aud no south, bat lur common
country When YOU add 81 this declares
ton ihr proof 1T ~ gpul faith los choosing
u southern man ~ your nominee TOT Vice.
President We NAV 90 last hope that Sec
tiunl'Ism is dead, hope that the day has
passed when scuund.mlc politicians, by
appealing 10 the passions aud pie indicos a
thc people, can lead away sobct inquiry
into their own merits. Alter tNenty-thrce
years ui peace no trace should hc left II
that dark nyer OF blood which, while Il
flowed from heroes veins and hal iis
source IN an honest belief ol right, yet once
divided our country.
While We may look back fcyCrcnty %
that yesterday because IT the proof Il gave
OF American hyroism aud American C1ur-
age, We should not bring 10 With iis gave
yard garments into the iull sunlight Of tho
living present. We should use only me
memory " that hof0.sm aud sc'isacnf.r
ul TINT past % mold together the future
Of the whole nation by tho living needs u
the present
IN conclusion, let me say that the pin.
ciplr which gave birth 10 the American
plriy Will live the fall measure ot tho
nations life. Cynics may tell rs that
patriotism r. lead, but be- Is but q shallow
thinker Who thus speaks IN haste.
So long m civilization lasts men will ac'
crpt tbr American flag as symhn.ixns tho
most complete individual liberty consistent
with organized society This lgnyun which
America furnishes Vil ultimately reach
Rll the nations and even now commands
their fear W their reverence
From the bottom 1t my heart again.
through YOU, thanking convention oi my
counirymcn Tor the hIsl compliment they
paid me, ! am, mos. psp' fully yours,