Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-09-15
IcLEvELAND's LETTER.

ceptance OF MS renOmlnatlOn 10 the
Presidency appeared in the daily pa
pers last Monday. 1t is such clear,
forcible and straightforward docu-
ment that we surrender a large por-
ton of our space in order to give the
bulk ofthe letter. Every sentence is
replete with truth and wisdom, and
consequently with sound democracy.
1t will be found interesting and in
structive reading. After an introduce
ton in which the President expresses
his pleasure and qualification at his
nomination., and setting forth the
general principles and purposes of
the party, the letter proceeds as fol-
lows:
Our scale of federal taxation and
its consequences largely engross, at
this time, the attention of our citi-
zens, and the people are soberly con-
sidering the necessity of measures of
relief. Our government is creation
of the people, established to carry out
their designs and accomplish their
good. 1t was founded on justice and
was made for free, intelligent and
virtuous people. 1t was only useful
when in their control, and only serves
them we'll when regulated and
guarded by their constant touch. 1t
is a free government because it guar
antees to every American citizen the
unrestricted personal use and enjoy
ment of all the reward of his toll and
ofall his income except what may be
his fair contribution to the necessary
public expense. Therefore it is not
only the right but the duty of a free
people, in the enforcement of this
guaranty, to insist that such expenses
should be strictly limited to the ac-
tual public needs. 1t seems perfect
ly clear that when this government,
fundamentally created and main
tanned by the people to do their bid
ding, turns upon them and through
an utter perversion of its powers eX-
torts from their labor and capital
tribute largely in excess of the public
necessities, the creature has rebelled
against the creator, and the masters
are robbed by servants. The cost of
government must continue to be met
by tariff duties collected at our Gus
tom-houses upon imported goods and
by internal revenue taxes assessed
upon spirituous and malt liquors, to-
bacco and oleomargarine.
Isuppose it is needless to explain
that all these duties and assessments
are added to the price of the articles
upon which they are levied, and thus
become tax upon all who buy these
articles for use and consumption. !
suppose, too, it is well understood
that the effect of this tariff taxation
is not limited to the consumers OF
the duties imposed upon such articles,
but permit a corresponding increase
in price to be laid upon the domes-
tic product of the same kind, which
increase is paid by all our people, as
the consumers of home productions,
and entering every American home,
constitutes a form of taxation as Ger.
tain and as inevitable as though the
amount were annually paid into the
hands of the tax-gatherer. These re.
suits are inseparable from the plan
we have adopted for the collection Of
our revenue by tariff duties. They
are not mentioned to discredit the
system, but by way of preface to the
statement that every million of dol.
lars collected at our custom-houses
for duties upon imported articles and
paid into the public treasury repre-.
sent many millions more, which
though never reaching the national
treasury, are paid by our citizens a:
the increased cost of domestic pro
duction resulting from tariff laws.
In view of this necessary effect o.
the operation of our plan for raising
revenue, the absolute duty of limit
ing the rate of tariff charges to the
> necessities of "a frugal and economi
cal administration of the government
seems to be perfectly plain.
After discussing the indefensible
ness and magnitude of the treasury
surplus, the letter continues: Taxa
ton has always been the feature o
organized government hardest to re
concile with the peoples ideas o
freedom and happiness. When pre-
sented in a direct form nothing will
arouse popular discomfort more
quickly and profoundly than unjus
and unnecessary taxation. Farmers