Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-10-18
THURMAN'S LETTER.
The Democratic Vice-Presidential
Candidate Formally Accepts
His Nomination.
In Brief Epistle He Declares His
Adherence to the st. Louis Plat
form.
a Denial That High Taxation Is Con-
ducive to Prosperity-What Laboring
Men Need.

COLUMBUS, O., Oct. 15.-Judge Thur
mans letter of acceptance was given to
the press last evening. The first draft of
the letter was in the Judges handwriting
and the typewriter copies showed only q
few changes in punctuation from the
original. 1t was as follows:
Hon. Patrick 4 Collins and Others. CoHlRIittee:
COLUMBUS, O., Oct. I2.-Gentlemen: In
obedience to custom 1 send you this formal ae-
ceptance OF my nomination for the office Of
Vice-President Of the United States made by
the National convention OF the Democratic
party at st. Louis.
When you did me the honor TO call upon me
at Columbus and officially notify me of my
nomination expressed to you my sense OF OBJ
legation TO the convention and stated that al
though had not sought the nomination, did
not feel at liberty, under the circumstances. to
decline it. 1 thought then, as 1 still think,
that whatever I could properly do TO
promote the reelection of President
Cleveland i ought to do. His administration
has been marked by such integrity, good sense,
manly courage and exalted patriotism, that a
Just appreciation of these high qualities seems
TO call for his reelection. / am also strongly
impressed with the belief that his reelection
would powerfully tend to strengthen that feel
ing OF fraternity among the American people
that is so essential to their welfare, peace
and happiness and to the perpetuity of the
Union and our free institutions
approve the platform OF the ST. Louis con-
vention and can not too strongly express my
dissent from the heretical teachings of the
monopolists that the welfare of people can be
promoted by system OF exorbitant taxation
far in excess of the wants of the Government.
The idea that people can be enriched by
heavy and unnecessary taxation, that mans s
condition can be improved by taxing him on all
he wears. on all his wife and children wear, on
all his tools and implements of industry, is an
obvious absurdity.
To fill the vaults of the treasury with an idle
surplus for which the Government has no legit-
innate use and to thereby deprive the people Of
currency needed for their business and daily
wants and to create powerful and dangerous
stimulus to extravaganza and corruption in the
expenditures of the Government seem to me to
be a policy at yaria nee with every sound
principle Of government and of political econ
omy. The necessity Of reducing taxation
to prevent such an accumulation OF surplus
revenues and the consequent depletion Of tho
circulating medium is so apparent that no party
dares to deny 1t; but when we come to consider
the modes by which the reduction may be
made We find wide antagonism between our
party and the monopolistic leaders of our
political opponents. We seek to reduce taxes
upon the necessaries Of life; our opponents
seek to increase them. We say: "Give TO
good clothing, cheap blankets, cheap tools and
cheap lumber" the Republicans by their plat
form and their leaders in the Senate. by their
proposed bill say: Increase the taxes on cloth
ing and blankets and thereby increase their
cost maintain a high duty on the tools of the
farmer and mechanic and upon the lumber
which they need for the construction OF their
modest dwellings, shops and barns and thereby
prevent their obtaining these necessaries at
reasonable prices"
Can any sensible man doubt as TO where he
should stand IN this controversy: Can any well
informed man be deceived by the false pre-
tense that system so unreasonable and un-
just is for the benefit OF the laboring man.
Much is saiA A'about competition of American
laborers with the pauper labor of Europe, but
does any man who looks about him that
no immense majority Of laborers in America
are not engaged in what are called the pre-
tected industries? And as to those who are
employed in such industries is it not undeni-
able that the duties proposed by the Demo
cratic measure called the Mills bill far exceed
the difference between American and European
wages, and therefore if it were admitted that
our workingmen can be protected by tariffs
against cheaper labor they would be fully pro-
tected and more than protected by that bill?
Does not every well informed man know that
the increase in price of home manufactures
produced by high tariff does not go into the
pockets of the laboring men, but only tends to
swell the profits of others?
1t seems to me that if the policy OF the Dem
ocratic party is plainly presented all must un-
derstand that we seek to make the cost of living
less and at the same time increase the share of
the laboring man in the benefits OF National
prosperity and growth. / am very respectfully
your obedient servant,
ALLEN q