Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-10-11
MORTON's LETTER.
he Accepts the Nomination for Vice
President.


President.
And Stands Upon tho Chicago PlatfOrn.
4 The following is Mr.. Levi p. Mortons
letter accepting the republican nomination
for vice president:
RuINEcLIYF, N. Y Oct. 2.
Hon. NJ. M. Estee and others, committfae:
Gentlemen In making formal acceptance
OF my nomination as the republican candi-
date for the vice presidency, desire to ex-
press my grateful appreciation Of the con-
fdence reposed in me by the convention.
The duties deyolving upon the vice preSi-
dent as presiding officer OF the senate and
in certain contingencies participant m
! the legislation of congress, make ii proper
that the people should know distinctly and
unreservedly the political views of the
candidate who may be presented for their
suffrages 1t fortunately happens that
this duty is easily discharged by referring
10 tho principles embodied in tho resolu-
lions unanimously adopted by the national
convention. These resolutions, unequivo-
cal and comprehensive in character, reflect
my personal convictions and have my
hearty approval.
1t is dificult, however, in political cam
paign 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 pro-
tective tariff duties now in force shall be
EcuuCcu 80 US 10 destroy JnelT tluCltuCJ, VI
whether these duties shall be retained with
such notifications and adjustments as shall
better adapt them 10 the great end Of pro-
tecting tho vast and important industries OF
the whole country. The republican plat
form, while recognizing the necessity Of re
ducing the revenue, declares that this ne
duction must not be made at the expense of
these industries and Of American labor.
The American people have now enjoyed the
protective system for q longer continuous
period than ever before in the history Of the
national government. The result is that
for more than quarter OF q century they
have realized degree Of industrial and
financial prosperity unprecedented in this
country and never eQualled in any OF er.
The pressing reason given for once again
trying the old experiment Of "a revenue tar
iff, without protection as "a motive or end,
is that the present tariff has produced and
is producing surplus In the treas l4y. But
is il not easily within the wisdom of con-
gress TO adjust the national income TO the
national expenditure withoat sacrificing or
even imperilling an industrial system.
which has brought untold advantages to the
entire countryl Admitting that the present
tariff, by lapse Of time and the large expan-
sion of trade which it has stimulated, needs
revision, is IL not wiser and more patriotic
10 revise IL with o careful regard to the In
terests Of protection than with the purpose
of lessening it's protective featuresl
These are some Of the questions that
must be answered at the national polls in
November For myself, as a citizen and as
a candidate, / do not hesitate 10 declare
that FROM long observation / am an unwav-
ering friend of the protective system. In a
| business life now extending over 40 years L,
have witnessed and compared the effect
upon the country Of "a revenue tariff tend
ing TO free trade with q protective tariff
encouraging homo industries. Under the
former the development Of the country has
always been arrested, while under the lat
ter il has uniformly been promoted.
To the 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 expanding OPP
portunitioS on tho other. Free trade would
bpcn America 10 competition with the
| whole world. Protection reserves America
Tor Americans, native and adopted.
The Industrial system Of country is as
sensitive as It's public credit. A hostile
movement creates distrust in the public
mind, and confidence, tho only basis of sue
cessful trade, becomes impaired. New en-
/ terprises withcr in the bud, capital grows
timid, the field of labor Is contracted ard
the pressure for employment inevitably re-
| duces the wages Of all workingmen.
With the views Of the convention so
| frankly expressed in its resolutions upon
all other questions Of public interest," 1
find myself in hearty accord. In relation
to silver and its important bearing upon
the national currency, as well as its con-
nection with and influence on the prosper
ity of large sections Of our common country;
in its advocacy of iudicious settlement Of
the public lands policy; in urging the ne
cessity for better coast defenses and the
duty we owe TO the shipping interests of
the country, the platform but repeats the
approved principles of the republican
| party.
The republican platform proposes a dis
tinctly American policy; not one of mar
rowness and bgotry but one broad and
philanthropic-s policy that best helps the
whole world by the example of great,
growing, powerful nation founded upon Che
equality Of every man before the law.
1t is for the American people to develop
and cultivate the continent TO which in the
providence of God they have fallen heirs.
They should adopt policy which looks
steadily TO this great end. With no spirit
of narrowness toward other peoples, but
rather in the highest interest of all, they
should find under their own flag limitless
advance in the direction Of the improve
ment, the prosperity and the happiness Of
man. Very respectfully yours,
LEVI p MORTON.