Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-09-19
CLEvELAND's LETTER.

s
which belong, just entering upon . contest
tor continued supremacy.
The world does not afford spectacle moro
sublime than 10 furnished when millions Of free
Intelligent American citizens select their Chief
Magistrate and bid one OF their number to
dnd the highest earthly honor and full meas
viii. It follows that q, candidate for this high
once can never forget that when the turmoil
and the strife which attend tho selection Of its
must be In the quiet calm which follows =
complete and solemn self-consecration by the
peoples chosen President OF every faculty and
erous Nation Of freemen. These thoughts arc
intensified by the light Of my experience In the
Presidential office, which has soherly i'm
which it imposes, while 1t has quokened my
love for American institutions and taught me
the priceless value OF the trust Of my country
ut Is OF the highest importance that those
who administer our Government should jeal-
ously protect and maintain the rights OF Amer;
strive to achieve for our country her proper
place among the nations Of the earth: but
there is no people whose home interests are 50
mestio concern deserve SO much watchfulness
and care.
financial system suited to our needs, thus Sc
curing an efaceint agency OF National wealth
and general prosperity; the construct on and
equipment OF means OF defense to insure our
Nation nj safety and maintain the honor be-
meath which such National safety repOSeS;
the protection Of our National domain, still
pansion, and its preservation for the settler
and the pioneer of our marvellous growth; q
sensible and sincere recognition OF the value OF
American labor, leading to the scrupulOus
care and just appreciation of the interests OF
our working-men the Limitation and checking
OF such monopolisttc tendencies and schemes
which the people may rightly claim; genar-
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
quickenei the application OF their pension fund
to improper cases may be prevented: protec-
juriously completes with our laboring men in
the field Of toll and adds to our population IN
element ignorant OF our instttut ons and laws.
impossible Of assimilation with our people
and dangerous to our peace and welfare:
y strict and steadfast adherence to tho
principles OF Civi-service. reform ana
their enforcement thus purmitting 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
citizenship and their just recognition and en-
couragement in all things pertaining to that
relation; 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 on our frontiers; and the curtail.
economical methods in every department OF
the Government.
THE pledges contained in the platform
adopted by the late convention OF the National
Democracy lead to the advancement Of these
objects and insure good government-the as
PR OF every true American citizen and
Tort. In the consc, BUSINESS that much has
been done in the direction of good government
by the present Administration, and submitting
its record to the fair Inspection of nv country,
men. I indorse the platform thus presented.
with the determination that, it I am again
continuance Of devoted endeavor to advance
the interests Of the entire country.
"Our scale OF federal taxation and its con-
tention Of our citizens, ana the people are
soberly considering the necessity of measures
o' i Gnr vernen+ 10 Tho oro.+o, -, tho ao
pie, established to carry out their designs and
accomplish their good. 1t was founded on
Justice, and was made for free, intelligent
within their control, and only serves them well
when regulated and guided by their constant
touch. 1t IS free Government because it
restricted personal use and enjoyment Of
all the reward OF his toll and OF all
h,s income, except what may be his
expense. Therefore it is not only the right,
but the duty OF free people, in the enforce
ment OF this guaranty t to lbs st that such ex
public needs. 1t seems perfectly clear that
when the Government, this instrumentality
created and maintained by the people to do
their bidding, turns upon them, and through
an utter perversion of its powers EFFORTS from
their labor and capital tribute largely in ex-
cess Of public necessities, the creature has re-
belled against the creator and the masters are
robbed by their servants.
''The cost OF the Government must continue
to be met by tariff duties collected at our Gus.
tom.houses upon imported goods, and by In
ternal revenue taxes assessed upon spurious
and malt liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine.
II suppose that it is needless to explain that
611finS apo al IN
the price of the articles upon which they are
levied, and thus become tax upon all those
0gy 1o use ana
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
corresponding increase in price to be laid upon
domestic productions of the same kind: which
increase, paid by all our people as consumers
Ameican home, constitutes a form Of tax
ton as certain; as inevitable, as though
the amount was annually paid into the
are inseparable from the plan We have adopted
for the collection of our revenue by tariff du-
ties. They are not mentioned to discredit the
that every million Of dollars collected at our
custom houses for duties upon imported arti-
cles and paid into the public Treasury repre-
reaching the National Treasury, are paid by
our citizens as the Increased cost of domestic
productions resulting from our tariff laws.
Ill tucSc Observation-Disclosures, anu III view OF III B
necessary effect of the operation of our plan
for raising revenue, the absolute duty Of limit
ing the rate Of tariff charges to the necessities
OF frugal and economical administration of
the Government seems to be perfectly plain.
The continuance. upon pretext OF meeting
public expenditures, OF such a scale of tariff
taxation as draws from the substance of the
people sum largely in excess of public needs.
is surely something which, under a Govern
ment based upon justice. and which finds its
Of the people, ought not to be tolerated.
necessities of the Government are uncOmplain-
ingly borne light burdens become grievOus and
intolerable when not justified by such necessi-
ties. Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
And yet this is our condition. We ore annual
ly collecting at our custom houses and by
means Of our internal revenue taxation many
millions in excess OF all legitimate public
needs As q consequence there now remains
in the National Treasury surplus of more
than 10000, 900. No better evidence could be
furnished that the people are exOrbitantly
taxed. The extent OF the superhuOus burden
indicated by this surplus will be better appre-
ctated when 1t Is suggested that such surplus
alone represents taxation aggregating more
than sos COO In county containing $1,000 in
hsbit0nts EE I'll
'Ta1ation has always been the feature OF
organized gOyernment-th6 hardest to recon-
cile with the peoples ideas OF freedom and
happiness When presented in Q direct form
nothing will arouse popular discomfort more
quickly and profoundly than unjust and un.
necessary taxation. Our farmers, mechanics,
laborers and all our citizens closely scan the