The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-15
A ROMAN LETTER.
MIR. Thurman'S Formal Acceptance.
A Brief Document, But Forcible in
Every Detail.
Tho Very Essence of the Issue In a
Few Lines.
The Case Put So Plainly That
Everybody Can Understand.
An Utterance Emlnsntly Characteristic
ofthe Wise Old Statesman Who
Has Served the People
SO Well.

NoLVMbuS, W., OCt Ia. GLOWING is
Judge Thurman's letter of acceptance as
given to the press this evening. The first
draft OF the letter was in the judges hand
writing and the typewriter copies showed
only few changes in punctuation from
the original. The letter is as follows
CoLuNBus, o., Oct. 70. 1885
Hon. Pntrick A. Collins ard others, Committee:
Gentlemen--In obedience to custom, l
send you this formal acceptance of my
nomination for the Office OF Vice-President
OF the United States, signed by the national
committee OF the national 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
toyou my sense Of obligation to the conven.
tion and stated that, although | had not
sought the nomination, did not feel at
liberty under the circumstances TO decline
1t. thought then, as ! still think, that
whatever l could properly do 10 promote
the reelection Of President Cleveland /
ought to do His administration has been
marked by such integrity, good sense,
manly courage and exalted patriotism that
just appreciation Of these high qualities
seems TO call for his reelection.
am also strongly impressed with the
belief that his reelection would powerfully
tend TO strengthen that feeling Of fratcr-
nifty among the American people that is so
essential TO their welfare peace and hap
piness, and to the perpetuity Of the Union
and Of our free institutions.
lapproyc the platform OF the st. Louis
convention, and | cannot too strongly ex-
press my dissent from the hcrelical teach
ings Of the monopolsts that the welfare of
people can be promoted by a system Of
exorbitant taxation far in excess Of the
wanls Of the government.
The idea that a people can be benefited
by heavy and unnecessary taxation; that
mans condition can be improved by
taSing him on all he wears, ON all his wife
and children wear, on all his tools and
implements OF industry is an obvious all
surdity.
To till the vaults Of the treasury with IN
idle surplus for which the government has
no legitimate use, and TO thereby deprive
the people Of currency needed for their
business and daily wants. aud to create
powerful and dangerous stimulus Of cx-
trayagancc and corruption in the cxpcnd.
iturcs 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 10
prevent such an accumulation Of surplus
revenue and the consequent depletion Of
the circulating medium, is NO apparent
that no party denies it, but when We come
to consider the modes by which the rcduc.
ton may be- made We find n wide aniago.
nism between our party and the monopo.
lislic leaders Of our political opponents.
We seek 10 reduce taxes upon the ncccs-
sarics Of life; our opponents scck TO in.
crease them. We say, give TO the masses
Of the people cheap aud good clothing,
cheap blankets, cheap tools and
cheap lumber Tho Republicans, by
their platform and their leaders
in the Senate, by the proposed bill,
say, increase the taxes on clothing
and blankets aud thereby increase the
cost, maintaining high duty on the tools
OF the farmer and mechanic, and upon the
lumber which they need Tor the consiruc-
ton Of their modest dwellings. shop and
barns aud thereby prevent them obtain.
ing those ncccssarics ~ reasonable prices.
Can any sensible mln doubt as to where
he should stand In this controversy Can
any well-uiormcj man be- deceived by
the inlse prcignsc that q system 80 unrcas
enable aud NO unjust Is for the bcu,f, Of
the laboring man?
Much Is said about competition Of
Americans with the paupcr labor OF
England, but DOESN'T every man scc and
know that a majority Of the laborcn In
America are not engaged in what are called
the protected industries? And 70 those
who are employed In such industries, is Il
not undcniablo that thc duties proposed
by the Democratic measure, called the
Mills bill, FAR exceed this difference be.
tween American and European wages and
that, therefore, II Il were admitted that
our wOrkingm n can bc protected hy
iari1 against cheaper labor, they would be
fully protected and more than protected
by that bill?
Docs not every wcll.iniormcd man know
that the increase In lhc price of home
manufactures produced boy a high tariff
docs not 90 into the pockets Of laboring
men, but only tends to swell the profits Of
othcr2
It seems TO me that Il the policy Of the
Democratic party Is plainly presented all
must understand that We seek 10 make the
cost Of living lcss, and at the same time IN.
crease the share Of the laboringman In the
benefits Of national prosperity and growth.
am, very respectfully, your obodicut
servant, ALLEN @. TnumAN.
=--=Haaa===--
Ready Tor work Again.
CINCINNATI, o., Oct il-Ju1gc Thur.