The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-12
Mr.. CLEVELAND ACCEPTS
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM RIoDLED
The Necessity of a Reform OF the Tarin
Clearly aad Concisely Stated-ssUn-
necessary Taxation is Unjust Taxa
tion"-StatesmanIike Document.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9-The following is
the presidents letter of acceptance:

S@-' AA-E1ihN-1h undressing 10 you NY
formal acceptance Of the nomination to the
presidency of the United States, my thoughts
persistently dwell upon the impressive relation
OF such action to the American people, whose
confidence is thus invited, and to the political
party to which belong just entering upon q
contest for continued supremacy.
The world does not afford spectacle more
sublime than is furnished when millions OF free
and intelligent American citizens select their
chief magistrate, and bid one Of their number
to find the highest earthly honor and the full
measure of public duty in ready submission to
their will
Ii follows that a candidate for this high
Office can never forget that when the turmoil
and the strife which attend the selection OF its
incumbent shall be heard no more there must
be. in the quiet calm which follows, a complete
chosen president of every faculty and endeavor
to the service of a confding and generous
nation of freemen.
These thoughts are intensified by the light of
my experience in the presidential Office, which
has soberly impressed me with the severe
responsibility which it imposes, while it has
quickened my love for American institutions
and taught me the priceless value of the trust
OF my cOuatrymen.
1t is of the highest importance that those who
administer our government should jealousy
protect and maintain the rights Of American
citizens at home and abroad, and should strive
to 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 much watchfulness and care. Among
these are the regulation of sound financial
system suited to our needs, thus securing an
efficient agency Of national wealth and general
prosperity; the construction and equipment of
means of defense, 10 insure our national safety
and maintain the honor beneath which such
national safety reposes; the protection
of our national domain, still stretch
ing beyond the needs of q century's
expansion, and its preservation for the settler
bic and sincere recognition of the value of
American labor, leading to the scrupulous care
and just appreciation Of the interests of our
worl1ingmen; the limitation and checking of
such monopolistic tendencies and schemes as
interiors with the advantages and benefits
which the people may rightly claim; gener-
Gus regard and care for our surviving soldiers
and sailors, and for the widows and orphans
of such as have died, to the end that while
the appreciation of their services and
sacrifices is quickened, the application of their
pension funds to improper causes may be pre-
vented; protection against servile immigra-
ton, which injuriously completes with our
laboring men in the field of toll, and adds to
our population an element ignoran Of our in
situations and laws, impossible of assimilation
with our people and dangerous to our peace
and welfare; a strict and steadfast adherenee
to the principles OF civil-service reform aud
thorough execution of the laws passed for
their enforcement, thus permitting to our peo-
pie the advantages of business methods in the
operation of their government; the guaranty
to our colored citizens OF all their rights of
cliLeuSnlps anu tllciI just IcCVgnltlOu uHu en-
enlargement in all things pertaining to that re-
lation; a firm, patient and humane Indian
policy, so that in peaceful relations with the
government the civilization of the Indian may
be promoted, with resulting quiet and safety to
the settlers of our frontiers; and the curtail-
ment of public expense by the introduction of
economical methods in every department of
the government.
The pledges contained in the platform adopt
ed by the late convention of the national de-
mocracy lead to the advancement of these OBJ
jects and insure good government-the aspira-
ton of every true American citizen and the
motive for every patriotic action and effort.
In the consciousness that much has been done
in the direction of good government by the
present administration, and submitting its rec
ord to the fair inspection of my countrymen,
indorse the platform thus presented, with the
determination that, if | am again called to the
chief magistracy, there shall be a continuance
of devoted endeavor to advance the interests
Of the entire country.
Our scale of federal taxation and its conse-
quences largely engross, at this time, the atten-
ton OF our citizens, and the people are soberly
considering the necessity of measures of re-
lief.
Our government is the creation of the people,
established to carry out their designs and ac-
complish their good. 1t was founded on JUS
tice, and was made for free, intelligent and
virtuous people. 1t is only useful when
within their control, and only serves them well
when regulated and guided by their constant
touch. 1t is a free government because it
guarantees to every American citizen the un-
restricted personal use and enjoyment OF all
the reward of his toll and of all his income, ex-
cept what may be his fair contribution to nee
essary public expense. Therefore it is not
only the right, but the duty, of free people,
in the enforcement OF this guaranty, to insist
that such expense should be strictly limited
to the actual public needs. 1t seems
perfectly clear that when the government,
this fundamentally created and maintained
by the people TO do their bidding, turns upon
them, and, through an utter peryersion of its
powers. EFFORTS from their labor and capital
tribute largely in excess OF public necessities,
the creature has rebelled against the creator and
the masters are robbed by their servants.
The cost OF the government must continue to
be met by the tariff duties collected at our GUS
tom-house upon imported goods, and by inter-
nal revenue taxes assessed upon spirituous and
malt liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine.
suppose il is needless to explain that all
these duties and assessments are addedSto the
price OF the articles upon which they are
levied, and thus become a tax upon all those
who buy these articles for use or consumption.
j suppose, too, IL is we'll understood that the
effect OF this tariff taxation is not limited TO
the consumers of imported articles, but that
the duties imposed upon such articles permit a