The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-31
THURMAN'S LETTER.
The Democratic Vice Presidential
Candidate Accepts.

Candidate Accepts.
The following is the letter of acceptance OF
the Hon. Allen G. Thurman:
COLUMBUS, Ohio Oct. 10.
To Hon. Patrick A. Collins and Others, Com
n,ittee:
GENTLEMEN-In obedience to custom l
send you this formal acceptance of my noml-
nation for the Office of Vice-President, made
by the National Convention or tile Demo-
cratic party at st. Louis.
When you did me the honor to call upon
me at Columbus and officially notify me OF
my nomination I expressed to you my sense
of obligation to the Convention, and stated
that, although had not sought the nomina-
tion, did not feel at liberty under the cn-
cumstances to decline it.
approve the platform Of the st. Louis
Convention and cannot too strongly express
my dissent from the heretical teach
ings of the monopolists that the vel
fare of people can be promoted oy
a system Of exorbitant taxation far
in excess Of the wants of the Government;
The idea that a people can be enrlchea
by heavy aud unnecessary taxation, that
a mans condition can be improved by taxing
him on all he wears, on all his wife and chill
dren wear. on all his tools and Implement,
of industry, is an obvious absurdity. 10 III
the vaults of the Treasury with an idle sur
plus for which the government has no legl-
Innate use and to thereby deprive tne
people Of, currency needed for the business
and dailys wants, and to create powerful
and dangerous stimulus to extravaganza and
corruption in the expenditures Of the gov
ernment, seems to me to be policy at Varl-
ance with every sound principle or govern
ment and Of political economy.
The necessity of reducing taxation to pre-
vent such an accumulation of surplus reve-
nue. and the consequent depletion OF the CIR
culating medium is so apparent that no parry
dares to deny it. We seek to reduce the taxes
upon the necessaries Of life: our opponents
seek to increase them.
We say give to the masses Of people cheap
and good clothing, cheap blankets, cheap
tools and cheap lumber.
The Republicans, by their platform and
their leaders in the Senate, by their proposed
bill, say increase the taxes on clothing ana
blankets and thereby increase their COST;
maintain high duty on all the tools ana Inn,
elements of the farmer and mechanic ana
upon the lumber which they need Tor
the construction of modest dwellings, shops
and barns, and thereby prevent their OBTAIN
ing these necessaries at reasonable prices.
Much is said about competition OF American
laborers withehe pauper labor OF Europe; ou1
does not every man who looks around him see
and know that an immense majority or the
laborers in America are not engaged IN
what are called the protected industries,
and as to those who are employed IN
such industries is it not unden'able that
the duties proposed by the Democratic
measure, called the Mills bill, iSr exceed the
difference between American and European
wages, and that therefore if itwera admitted
that our workingmen can be protected, py
tariffs against cheaper labor they would be
fully protected and more than protected by
that bill.
Does not every we'll informed man know
that the increase in price Of home manutac-
lures produced by high tariff does not go
into the pockets of laboring men, but only
tends to swell the profits of others. 1t
seems to me that if the policy o.
the Democratic party is plainly pre-
sentel, all must understand that we seek to
make the cost of living less and at the same
time to increase the share Of thu laboring
man in benefits of national prosperity and
growth.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALLEN G. THURMAN.