Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-09-15
CLEVELAUD'S LETTER.
Accepting the Democratic Nomi.
nation fer President.
Presentation Of His Views on thu
Public Questions Of the Day.


ing the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent has been mado public. Mr.. Cleveland
begins by saying:
'sWAsnrNGToH, September 8, 1883.
"HoR. Rdtrich; i. Collins and others, COM
mifL.e Ec:
"GENTLEMEN-In addressing to you my
formal acceptance OF the nomination to
the Presidency of the United States, my
thoughts pcrsistent'y dwelt upon the impress
Slye relation OF such action to the Ameri-
can people, Whose confidence is thus inviel,
and to the political party to which belong,
just entering upon contest for continued
supremacy.
1.-THE world does not afford spectacle
more sublime than is furnished when
millions of free and intelligent Amerl-
can citizcns select their Chief Magistrate
and bid one of their number to find the high
est earthly honor AMI the full measure Of
public duty in ready submission to their
will.
''It follows that candidate for this high
Office can never forgot that wien the turmoil
and the strife which attend the selection Of
its incumbent shall be heard no moro
there must DO in tho quiet calm
which follows q complete and solemn self
conservation by the peoples chosen Prssi-
dent OF every faculty and endeavor to the
service of n coniding and generous nation
of frcemen
''These thoughts are intensified by the light
of my experience in the Presidential Office,
which has soberly impressed me with tine
severe responsibility which it imposes, while
it has quickened my love for American in
stitutions and taught me the priceless value
OF the trust OF my conntryinen."
The Democratic platform is endorsed by
the President in the following paragraphs:
sThe pledges contained in TIE Platform
adopted by the late Convention of the M
tional Democracy lead TO the advancement
of these objects and insure good government
the aspiration of every true American citizen
and tho motive for every patriotic action and
effort. in tho consciousness that much has
been dono in the direction of good govern
ment by tho present administration, and
submitting its re ord TO the fair inspection
of my countrymen, indorse the platform
thus presented, with the determination that
il am again called to the Chief Magistracy
there shall he Il continuance of devoted en-
denvor to advance tho interests of the entire
country"
On the tariff question the President says:
'Our scale of Federal taxation and its con-
sequences largely cnGros; ut this time the
attention Of our citizens, AMI the people are
soberly considering the necessity OF meas
ures of relief. Our Government is the crea-
ton of the people, established to carry out
1t was founded ON justice, 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 isa Tree
Government because iG guarantees to
every American citizen the unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment OF all the re-
ward of his toll and OF oil his income eX-
cep5 what mar he his fnir contribution to
necessary public expense. Therefore it is not
only the right but the duty of q free people,
in the enforcement OF this guarantee, to i'll
sist that such expense should DO strictly
limited to the actual public needs. 1t seems
perfectly clear thnt when the Government,
this instrumentality created and main
tanned by the people TO do their bidding,
. turns upon them and through an utter per-
version of is powers, EFFORTS from their labor
and capital tribute largely in excess OF pub
lie necessities, the creature has rebeled
against the creator and the masters are
robbed by their servants.
"The cost of the government must con-
tinue to be met by tariff duties collected ut
our Custom Houses upon imported goods,
and by internal revenue taxes assessed
upon spriLuous and malt liquors, tobacco,
and oleomargarine. suppose it is needless
to explain that all these duties and assess
ments are added TO the price of the articles
upon which they are levied, and thus be-
come tax upon oil those who buy these
articles for Use and consumption. sup
pose, too, it is well understood that the eff
feet of this tariff taxation is not limited to
the consumers Of important articles, but
that the duties imposed upon such
articles permit corresponding increase
in price TO DO laid upon domestic produc-
tons OF the same kind. which increase, paid
by all our leople as consumers of home pro-
auctions and entering every American
home, constitutes n form Of taxation as GER
tain and rs inevitable us though clio amount
was annually paid into the hand OF the tax
gathercr. These results arc inseparabe
from the plan we have adopted for the col
lection Of our revenue by tariff duties.
They are not mentioned to discretlit tho sys-
tam, but by way Of preface to the statement
that every million Of dollars colle;ted ut
our Custom Houses for duties upon inn
ported articles and paid into the public
Treasury represent many millions more,
which, though never reaching the National
Treasury, are paid by our citizens as the i'll
creased cost Of domestic productions result
ing from our tariff laws.
lin 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 to the
mnistration OF the government seems
to be perfectly plain The continuance, upon
the pretext Of meeting public expenditures,
Of such sale of tariff taxation rs draws
from the substance of tho people
sum largely in excess of public needs is
surely something which, nnder o Govern
ment based upon justice. and which tnds
its strength and usefulness in the fntf.
and trust Of the people, ought not to be
to Grated. While the heaviest burdens in
cident to the necessities of the Govern
ment are OVERWHELMINGLY borne. light
burdens become grievOus an intolerable
when not justified by such necessities. I'm
necessary taxation is unjust taxation.
.'Anl yet this is our condition. We are
annually collecting ut our Custom houses
and by means OF our internal revenue taxa
ton many millions in excess oil all leSitl-
mate public needs. As a consequence there
now remains in the National Treasury sur
Mus of more than Sl30,OJ0,000. No better
eyi lencc could be furnished that the people
are exorbiUantly taxed The extent of the
surperhuous burden indicated by. this
surplus will be better appreciated when it
is suggested that suah surplus alone repre-
sents taxation aggreguting more than SlOS.-
0u1 in q county containing oo,ooO lnnaoi-
tants.n
"Taxation has always been the feature OF
organized government the hardest to rec
oncilc with tho peoples ideas of freedom
and happiness. When presented IN a direct
form nothing Will arouse popu Ut uiscoh-
tent more quickly and profoundly taan I'M
lust and unnecessary taxation. Our far
mers, echaucs, laborers, and all our citi-
zens closely scan the slightest increase in
the taxcs asse scd upon their lands and
Other prosperity ana demand good reasons
fer surhin reasu And yet they seem TO oe
exce ted, in some quarters, to regard the TN
necessary volume of insidions and indirect
TAXATION visited upon them by our present
a. ~
with favor.
After further ference to the tariff ques-
ton the President says:
I'VE fully appreciate the Importance to
tho country OF our domestic industrial en-
terpris4s. In tho rcctiiication OF existing
wrongs their maintenance and prosperity
should be carefully and in n friendly spirit
considered. Even such re lance upon pres
entrcvcnue arrangements as have been in,
yited or encouraged should be fairly and
Justly regarded Abrupt and radical
changes which might edanger such enter.