The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-09-14
Electors ut Large.
President CIereIands Letter of Accept.
of Hartford Co.


President Cleveland's letter of acceptance
of the Democratic nomination for the Presi-
dency, was sent to the committee last Satur-
day. There may be doubt about the causes
for its delay, but there can be no doubt
about the character of the letter itself. 1t con-
tains neither evasion, shutting or false pre-
tence, but is calm, dispassionate, statesman.
like document, with sincerity and patriotism
stamped on every line of it, He recognizes
the value of American labor and the necessity
for a scrupulous care and just appreciation
OF the interests of our workingmen, and
pledges himself that the Democratic party
will not neglect them.
MIR. Cleveland declares it to be the right
and the duty of a free people to insist that
the expenses of the government shall be
limited to the actual public needs.
The cost ofgovernment he says, must con-
tlnue to be met by tariff duties upon import
ed goods, but he reverts to the fact that these
duties are added to the price of the articles
upon which they are levied and thus become
a tax upon all who buy these articles. Also
that the effect of this tariff taxation leads to
corresponding increase in the price of do
nestle productions of the same kind. In
these circumstances he condemns rate of
tarlff charges in excess of the necessities of a
frugal and economical administration of the
government and sums it up in the pithy SEN
tence: Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation" The immense surplus in the trea.
sury shows that the people are exorbitantly
taxed, and are expected to regard the unneces-
sary volume Of insidious and unnecessary
taxation visited upon them by our present
rate of tariff duties with indifference if not
with favor.
MIR. Cleveland regards the surplus revenue
as menace to the prosperity of the people.
"Ths vast accumulation of idle funds =" he
says represents that much money drawn
from the circulating medium of the country,
which is needed in the channels of trade and
business"
The boarding of such vast sums of money
is followed by the exaction of severe terms to
borrowers for its use, and it leads, besides,
to gross and scandalous public extravagances.
In criticising the divers plans suggested
for reducing the surplus the President says,
for himself and the Democratic party:
1--WE believe that the same means which are
adopted 10 relieve the Treasury Gifts present
surplus and prevent its recurrence should
cneapen 10 our people the cost ofsupplyng
their daily wants. Both of these objects we
seek in part to gain by reducing the present
tarih rates upon the necessares of life"
MIR. Cleveland's letter ought to disabuse the
mind ofe every laboring man of the impress.
sion sedulousy inculcated by the Republicans
that the policy oft the Democratic party. If
successful, will reduce wages. The letter
says:
"True 10 the undertaking course of the
democratic party, we will not neglect the in
terests OF labor and our workingmen. In all
efforts to remedy existing evils we will fur.
nish no excuse for the loss of EMPLOYMENT or
The reduction of the wages of honest toll"
we propose, too, by extending the mar.
kets Tor our manufactures to promote the
steady employment oflabor, while by CHEAP.
ening the cost of the necessares of life we
increase the purchasing power of the work
,ngmans wages and add to the conf forts of
his home"
MIR. Cleveland condemns trusts and COM
Dnations, planting himself squarely upon
tue utterances ofthe Democratic platform on
this subject.
Under various names" says Mr.. Cleveland,
they have been punished by the common
law for hundreds years and they have lost
none of their hateful features because thew
have assumed the name of trusts instead of
conspiracies."
lie ascribes the existence of these monopo-
lies to enhance prices to a market artfcially
restricted by an Unfortunately high tariff.
I'VE have entered upon no crusade of free
trade. The reform we seek TO inaugurate ia
predicated upon the utmost care for establish
ed Industries and enterprises, q jealous regard
ior the interests of American labor and sin
cere desire to relieve the country from the
injustice and danger of q condition which
threatens evil to all people of the land.
we are dealing with no imaginary
danger. Its existence has been Repeatedly
confessed by all political parties, and pledges
Oh remedy have been made on all sides.''
He criticises the method of relief offered
by the Republicans and adds:
Our people ask relief from the undue and
unnecessary burden of taxation now resting
upon them. They are offered instead-free
tobacco and free whisky. They ask for bread
and they are given stone"
Our Republican friends who have been in
state OF feverish anxiety to see Mr.. Cleye-
lands letter will derive small comfort from
II. The people, however, will zee in il de-
termination on the part of Mr.. Cleveland to
protect not only the interests of labor, but
the right of the entire people to just and
equitable system of taxation for the support
OF the Federal government.