The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-15
Formally Accepted.
The Letter That Was Looked
for Has Arrived.
MIR. CLEVELAND's LETTER IN FULL

Turiff Question aud AN Argument IN fH'
war of Lower Duties-An Endorsement oi
the 81. Louis Piatform-The surplus ana
Labor Questions Considered-A Fohcy
OutIined-Repubiicans Criticised
WASHINGTON CITY, Sept 10 The follow
ing is the full text Of President Clevelands
letter of acceptance. IL is dated at Wash
inpton. Sept. &, 1883, and addressed to Hon.
Patrick A. Collins and others, COMMITTEES:
GENTLEMEN: In addressing 10 you my formal
acceptance of the nomination Ia the presidency
of the United States my thoughts persistehty
dwell upon the impressive relation OF such hctioh
10 the American people whose conhdenc" II thus
invited and To the political party to when oe
long, just entering upon contest Tor cohtlhu u
supremacy The world does not afford spec
tacle more sublime than is furnished when mil
ions Of free and intelligent American ctihehs 80
lect their chief magistrate, and bid one OF their
number to find the highest earthly honor and tho
full measure of public duty in ready submission
TO their will
IL follows that candidate for this high office
can never forget that when the turmoil anu the
strife which attend the selection OF its incumbent
shall be heard no more there must be IN the
quiet calm which follows complete ana solemn
self-consecration by the peoples chosen president
oil every faculty ana tDuthNbf W tio ou' ''N' W. -
coEfiding and generous nation OF freemen. THESE
thoughts are int nsified by the light Of my expe'
rience In the presidential office, which has sober
ly impressed me with the severe responsibilities
which IL imposes, while IL has quickened my love
for American institutions and taught me the
priceless value of the trust OF my coutrymen
IL il of the highest importance that those who
administer our government should jealollsly pro-
tsct and maintain the rights OF American citi
gems at home and abroad, and should strive 10
achieve for our country her proper place among
the nations OF the earth but there Is no people
whose home interests are so great, and whose
numerous objects Of domestic concern deserve so
much watchfulness and care Among these are
the regulation OF a sound financial system suited
10 our needs, thus securing an efficient agency OF
national wealth and general prosperity; the con
struction and equipment OF means OF defense to
insure our national safety and maintain the honor
beneath which such national safety reposes; the
protection " our national domain still stretching
beyond the needs a ceptury's expansion ana
its prcservat IN for the settler and the pioneer OF
our marvellous growth a sensible aud sincere
recognition OF the value Of American labor lead
ing 10 the scrupuous care and just appreciation
OF the interests Of our workngmen; the liInita
ton and checking OF such monOpOlistic tendencies
and schemes AZ interfere with the advantages and
benefits which the people may rightly claim;
generous regard and care for our surviving sol
diers and sailors and for the widows and orphans
OF such as have died. TO the end that while the ap-
preciaton OF their services and sacrifices is quick
ened the application Of their pension fund to i'm
proper cases may be prevented; protection
against a servile immigration which injuriously
completes with our laboring men in the field Of toll.
and adds to our population an element ignorant
Of our institutions and laws, impossible OF assim-
ilation with our people, and dangerous to our
peace and welfare; strict and steadfasf adher-
ance to the principles Of civil service reform, and
a thorough execution Of the laws passed for their
enforcement, thus permitting TO our people the
advantages Of business methods Ia the operation
Of their government; the guaranty to our colored
citizens OF all their rights Of citizenship, and their
lust recognition and encouragement In all things
to that relation; a firm, patient, and
humane Indian policy. NO that In peaceful rela-
lions with the government the civilization OF the
Indian may be promoted, with resulting quiet and
,afety 10 the settlers on our frontiers and the
,urtameDt of public expense by the introduction
II economical methods in every department of
he government
The pledges contained in the platform adopted
" the late convention of the national Democ.
acy lead TO the advancement Of these Objects
nd insure good government-the aspiration Of
very true American citizen and the motive for
,very patriotic action and effort. In the con-
that much has been done In the direc-
ion Of good government by the present admins
ration, and submitting its record to the fair in
,pection Of my countrymen, indorss the plat
form thus presented with the determination that,
IL l am again called to the chief magstracy,
there shall be u continuance OF devoted endeavor
10 advance the interests Of the entire country.
Our scale Of federal taxes and its consequences
largely engross at this time the attention Of our
citizens. and the people are soberly considering
the necessity Of measures OF relief. Our gov
eminent IL the creation Of the people, established
TO carry out thcir designs and accomplish their
good. II was bundled on justice, and was made
for free, intelligent end virtuous people. 1t IL
only useful when within their control and only
serves them well when regulated and guided by
their constant touch. IL is free government
because 1t guarantees to every American citizen
the unrestricted personal use and enjoyment Of
oil the reward o. his toll, and Of all his income
except what may be his fair contribution to nee
essary public expense. Therefore II IL not only
the right but the duty of a free people, in the
enforcement Of this guaranty, to insist that such
expense should be strictly limited to the actual
public needs. II seems perfectly clear that when
the governmcnt-this fundamentally created
and maintained by the people to do their bid
ding-turns upon them and, through an utter
perversion OF It's powers, EFFORTS from their labor
and capital tribute largely In excess Of public
necessities, the creature has rebeed against the
creator and the masters are robbed by their serv.
ants.
The cost Of the government must continue to
be net by tariff duties collected at our custom
houses upon imported goods and by int, rnal rev.
enue taxes Assessed upon spurious and malt
liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine. suppose 1t
Is needless 10 explain that all these duties and "a
easements are added to the price of the articles
upon which they are levied, and thus become a
tax upon all those who buy these articles for use
and consumption | suppose, too, II is well un.
derstood that the effect OF this tariff taxation Is
not limited 20 the consumers Of imported articles
but that the duties imposed upon such articles
permit corresponding increase In price to be
laid upon domestic productions of the same kind ;
which increase paid by all our people as con.
sumerB OF home productions and entering every
American home, constitutes a form Of taxation AZ
certain, rs inevitable, az though the amount was
annually paid into the hand OF the taxgatherer
These results are inseperable from the plan we
have adopted for the collection of our revenue by
tariff duties. They are not mentioned to discredit
the system, but by way Of preface TO the state
mept that every million Of dollars collected at
our custom houses for duties upon imported arti.
cles ard paid into the public treasury represent
many millions more which, though never reach
Ing the national treasury, are paid by our citizens
a. the increased cost OF domestic productions 10.
Sdlting from our tariff laws.
In these circumstances, and in view OF this
necessary effect Of the operation of our plan for
raising revenue, the absolute duty Of limiting the
rate Of tariff charges 10 the necessities Of a fru-
gal and economical ADMINISTRATION OF the govern