Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-10-26
THURMAN'S LETTER.
The Democratic Vice Presidential
Candidate Accepts.

The following is the letter Of acceptance OF
the Hon. Allen G. Thurman.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 10.
To Hon. Patrick a. Collins and others, Com
nlittee:
GENTLEMEN-In obedience to custom
send you this formal acceptance OF my nom1-
nation for the Office of Vice-President made
by the National Convention Of the Demo
cratic party at st. Louis.
When YOU did me the honor to call upon
me at Columbus and officially notify me or
my nomination l expressed to you my sense
of obligation to the Convention, ana stated
that, although l had not sought the nomIna-
ton did not feel at liberty under the cir
cumstances to decline it.
approve the platform of the St Louis
Convention and cannot too strongly express
nv dissent from the heretical teach
ings Of the monopolists that the vel
fare of a people can be promoted by
a system of exorbitant taxation far
in excess of the wants or the government
The idea that a people be enriched
by heavy and unnecessary taXatIon, CnaI
a mans condition can be improved by taxing
him on all he wears, on all MS Wlte ana chill
dren wear. all his tools and implements
of industry is an obvious absurdity. 10 I'LL
the vaults of the Treasury with an idle sur
plus for which the government has no legl-
innate use, and TO thereby deprive the
people of currency needed for the business
and daily wants, and to create powerful
and dangerous stimulus to extravaganza ana
corruption in the expenditures OF the gov
ance with every sound principle OF govern
ment and of political economy.
The necessity of reducing taxation to pre-
vent such an accumulation or surplus reVe-
nue. and the consequent depletion Oh the CIT
culatng medium is so apparent that no party
dareS to deny it. We seek to reduce the taxes
upon the neceSsarieS of life: our opponents
seek to increase them.
We say give to the masses of people cheap
and good clothing, cheap blankets, cheap
tools and cheap lumber.
The Republicans, by their platform and
their leaders in the Senate, by their proposed
bill saw increase the taxes on clothing and
blankets and thereby increase their cost;
maintain a high duty on all the tools and I'M
plements of the farmer and mechanic ana
upon the lumber which they need Tor
the construction of modest dwellings, shops
and barns, and thereby prevent their OBTAIN
ing these neceSsarleS at reasonable prices
Much is said about competition of American
labOrerS with the pauper labor OF Europe; but
does not every man who looks around him see
and know that an immense majority of the
labOrerS in America are not engaged IN
what are called the protected industries,
and q to those who are employed IN
such industries is it not undenable that
the duties proposed by the Democratic
measure, called the Mills bill, far exceed the
difference between American and European
wages, and that therefore if it were admitted
that our wOrkingmen can be protected by
tariffs against cheaper labor they would be
fully protected and more than protected by
that bill
Does not every well informed man know
that the increase in price of home manutac
lures produced by high tariff does not go
into the pockets of laboring men, but only
tends to swell the profits of others. Ii
seems to me that if the policy OF
the Democratic party is plainly pre-
sentel |, all must understand that we seek to
make the cost of living less and at the same
time to increase the share of the laboring
man in benefits of national prosperity and
growth.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALLEN @. THURMAN.