The Republican journal., 1888-10-11
Morton's Acceptance.

HEARTY APPROVAL OF THE CHICAGO PLAT
| FORM. TARIFF VIEWS FORMED IN FORTY
YEARS OF BUSINESS LIFE.
| Hon. Levi L. Morton has written the follow
Ing letter formally accepting the Republican
nomination for Vice President:
RHiNECLIFr. n. Y, October ..
TO Hon. NJ. NJ. Estee and Others, Committee
Gentlemen-in making my formal accept
| ance of the nomination a the Republican can
didate for Vice President, | desire to express
| my grateful appreciation OF the confidence re-
| posed iii me by the convention. The duties ue-
| voving upon the Vice President as presiding
| officer of the Senate and. in certain contin-
! ScncleS, as participant in legislation by Con-
greSs. make it proper that the people should
know distinctly and unTeSerVedly the political
| views Of the candidate Who may he presented
for their sutfrases. 1t fortunatel, happens that
this duty for myself is easily discharged by re-
| fcrring to the principles embodied in the reso-
utionS unanimously adopted by the national
convention.
These resolutions, unequiVocal and compre-
hensiNc i'll character, reflect my personal con-
Nctons and have my hearty approval. 1t is
difficult, however, in political campaign to fix
popular attention on more than one issue, and,
in the pending election. every voter in the
United States clearly sees that the controlling
question Is whether the protective tariff duties.
now in force, shall be 50 reduced is to destroy
their efficiency, or whether these duties shall
be retained with such notifications and adjust
ments as shall better adapt them to the great
end of protecting the vast and important in
| dustries Of the whole country.
The Republican platform, while recognizing
the necessity Of reducing the revenue. declares
that the reduction must not be made al the eX-
pcnsc Of these industries and American labor.
The American people have now enioved the
protective system for "A longer continuous
| period than ever before in the history of the
| national government The result is that for
more than quarter of century they have
| realized degree of industrial and financial
prosperity unprecedented in this country and
! never e4ualled in any other.
The pressing reason given for once again try
ing the experiment of revenue tariff without
protection as a motive or end. is tiat the pres
ent tariff has produced and is producing sur
plus in the treasury. But Is it not easily with
in the wisdom Of Congress to ADJUST the nation
al income TO the national expenditure without
sacrificing. or even mperilln@ IN industrial!
system which has brought untold advantages
10 the entire country. Admitting tlat the pres
ent tariff by lapse Of time and the arge eXpan-
sion Of trade v hch it has stimulated. needs
revising. Is it not wiser and more patriotic to
revise it with careful regard to the interest Of
protection than with the purpose Of leSsening
its protective features: These are SOME of the
questions which must be answered at the polls
in Noycmhcr. For myself, as a citizen and as
4 candidate. ! lo not hesitate to declare that
friend of the protective system.
In business life now extending over forty
wears, ] have witnessed and compared the eff
fects upon The country Of revenue tariff tend
in- to trec trade, with protective tariff en-
rOuragi,r home industries. Under the former,
the Development of the country bas always
been arrested. while under the latter it has
uniformly been promoted. 10 men who earn
their bread by the sweat OF their brows. the
difference between the two systems is that Of
narrowing chances on the one hand and eN-
pandin@ opportunities OH the other. rec trade
would open America to competition with the
whole world. Protection reserves America for
Americans. native and adopted. The ntusr-
al system Of a country is as sensitive as it>
public credit. \ hostile movement creates dis
trust in the public mind and confidence, the
only basis OF successful trade. becomes impair
cd. NeW enterprises Wither in the bud and
| caI itai grows tlm The field Of labor is con
trartca and the pressure for employment in
cNltahtN reduce, the wages Of all working mon.
With the views Of the convention 50 frankly
expressed in its resolutions upon all the other
questions of public interest, find myself IN
hearty accord. In relation to silver and its in-
portant bearings upon the national currency.
AS well Is in connection with it> influence on
the prosperity Of large sections Of our common
country: in its advocacy Of julciou> settle
meat Of public lands questions in urging the
necessity for better coast defenccs and the duty
we owe to the shipping interests Of the coun-
Try, the platform but repeats the approved
principles Of the Republican party. The Re
publican platform proposes distinctly Ameri-
cln policy. not one of narrowncs> and bigotry,
hut one broad and phianthropieal; policy
that best helps the whole world by an example
of Il great. growing and powerful nation, found
ed on equality 10 every man before the law. 1t
j. for the American people to develop and cuti-
vAle the continent to which, in the providence
oi God, they have fallen heirs. They should
| aiDut that policy which looks >tpaIily TO this