Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-15
THURMANS LETTER.
He Rehashes State Theories and Rides
CleveIand's Hobby Horse.

CoLuMBus, o., Oct Il.
The following is Judge Thurman's lettel
Of acceptance
COLUMBUS, o., Oct. ~. 1855.
Hon. Patrick A. Collins and others of the
| committee
| Gentiemen-In obedience to custom
send you this formal acceptance of my nom-
| ination for the Office of vice president of the
| United States, made by the national conyen.
| ion 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
obligation to the convention and stated that
although had not sought the nomination
! did not feel at liberty under the cireum-
stances to decline it. | thought then as
still think, that whatever l could properly do
to promote the reelection of President
Cleveland ought 10 do. His administra-
ton 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 re
election. | am also stroagly impressed with
the belief that his reelection would power
fully tend TO strengthen that feeling of fra
teruity among the American people that is SO
essential to their welfare, peace and happi-
ness and TO the prosperity of the Union and
of our free institutions. | approve of the
platform of the ST. Louis convention, and
| cannot too strongly express my dissent
from the heretical teachings of monopolists
that the welfare of a people can be promot-
ed by system of exorbitant taxation far in
excess of the wants of the government. The
idea that a people can be enriched by a
heavy and unnecessary taxation, that mans
ha oh hy tayiny him
all he wears, all his wife and children wear,
on all his tools and implements of industry,
is absurdity. To fill the vaults of the treas
ury with an idle surplus for which the gov
ernment has no legitimate use, and to there
fore deprive the people of the currency
needed for their business and daily wants
and to create a powerful and dangerous
stimulus to extravaganza and cor
ruption in the expenditures of the govern
ment, seems TO me to be policy at variance
with every sound principle of government
and of political economy. The necessity of
reducing the taxation to prevent an accumu-
mutation of the surplus revenue and the con-
sequent depletion of the circulating medium
is so apparent that no party dares to deny 1t,
but when we consider the modes by which
the reduction may be made, we find wide an
tagonsm between our party and the monop-
olistic leaders of our political opponents. We
seek to reduce the taxes upon the necessities
of life and 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 Sen
ate, and by their proposed BILL say increase
the taxes ON clothing and blankets, and there
by increase their cost maintain the high du-
ty on the tools of farmers and mechanics and
upon the lumber which they need for the
construction of their modest dwellings. shops
and barns and thereby prevent their obtain
ing these necessarles at reasonable prices.
Can any sensible man doubt as to where he
should stand i'll this controversy Can any
well informed man be deceived by false pre-
tences that a system so unreasonable and un-
Just is fer the benefit of laboring men!
Much is said about the competition of Amer
lean laborers with the pauper labor of Eu-
rope. But does not every man who looks
around him see and know an immense ma
jority of the laborers in America who are
not engaged in what are called the protected
industries? And as to those who are engaged
in such industries is it not undeniable that
the duties proposed by the democratic meas
ure 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 the 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 democratic party is plainly presented all
must understand that we seek to make the
cost of living less and at the same time in
crease the share of the lahoring man in the
benefits, of national prosperity and growth.
l am very respectfully your obedient SER
want, ALLEN q. THURMAN.