The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-10-20
Following is Judge Thurman's letter Of

Only the Necessarics
of Life.
Following is Judge Thurman's letter Of
acceptance:
COLUMBUS, O., Oct IA, 1888.
Hon. PATRICK A. COLLINS and others,
Committee--G Gentlemen: In obedience to
custom, l send you this formal acceptance
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. rrr-,
When you did me the honor to call upon
mo 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 circumstances, to decline IL. Thought
then, as still think, that whatever / could
properly do to promote the reelection Of
President Cleveland ought to do. His
Administration has been marked with
such integrity, good sense, manly courage
and exalted patriotism that a Just appre-
citation of these high qualities seems to call
for his reelection.
am strongly impressed with the belief
that his re- election would powerfully tend
to strengthen
THAT FEELING OF FRATERNITY
among the American people that is so es-
sential to their welfare peace and happi
ness, and to the perpetuity Of the Union
and of our free institutions.
approve the platform Of the st. Louis
convention, and can not too strongly ex-
press my dissent from the heretical teach
ings of a monopolist that the welfare of q
people can be promoted by system Of ex-
orbitant taxation far in excess of the
wants Of the Government.
The idea that people can be enriched
by heavy and unnecessary taxation, that
a mans condition can be improved by
taxing him on all he wears, on all his wife
and children wear, on all his tools and inn
plements of industry, is an obvious abb
surdity. To fill the vaults Of the Treasury
with an idle surplus for which the Govern
ment has no legitimate 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, seems to me to be a policy
at variance with every sound principle of
Government and of political economy.
The necessity Of reducing taxation to
prevent such an accumulation of surplus
revenue and the consequent depletion of
the circulating medium is so apparent that
no party dares to deny it; but when we
come to consider the modes by which the
reduction may be made we find wide an
tagonism between our party and
THE MoNoPoLIsTIc LEADERS
OF our political opponents. We seek to re-
duce taxes upon the necessaries Of life;
our opponents seek to increase them. We
say, give to the masses Of the 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, say, increase
the taxes on clothing and blankets, and
thereby increase their cost:
MAINTAIN 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 pretense that system so unreasona-
BILE and unjust is for the benefit of labor
ing men?
Much is said about competition of Amer
lean laborers with the pauper labor of
Europe; but does not every man who looks
around him and see and know that an i'm
mense majority of the laborers in Amer
lea are not engaged in what are called the
protected industries? And as to those who
are employed in such industries, is it not
undeniable 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
billP
Does not every well-informed man know
that the increase in price of home manu-
features, produced by a high tariff, does
not go into the pockets Of laboring men,
but only tends to swell the profits of 9TH
ers?
1t seems to me that il tho 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
increase the share Of the laboring man in
the benefits Of National prosperity and
growth. 5t.fl
lam, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, ALLEN G. THURMAN.