Democratic messenger., 1888-10-27
THURMAN'S LETTER OF AC-
CEPTANCE.
DEMOCRATIC TRUTHS PLAINLY PUT.
Integrity Good Sense and Manly
Courage Ascribed to President
Cleveland.


The following letter of acceptance by
Allen u. Thurman Is charactcIislical lOgi.
cal and full Of profound thought. What
il likes in length 10 made up in substance.
"CoiUmbas, o., Oct. f2, lsss.--lIon. Pat
rick a. Collins and Others, Committee
Gentlemen: In obedience to custom send
you this formal acceptance of my nomi-
nation for the office of Vicc-prcsi,lcnt of
the United States. made by the national
convention o. the Democratic party at
ST Louis
When you did me the honor To call
upon me at Columbus and Officially notify
me oi my nomination I 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. 10 decline il.
thought then. as still think. that what.
ever could properly do to promote the
reelection ofPrcsideni Cleveland ought
10 do. Ills administration has been mark.
cd by such integrity, good sense, manly
courage and cxhaulted patriotism tina, u
jus, appreciation Of these high qualities
seems 10 call for his reelection.
II am also strongly impressed with the
belief that his reelection would power
fully tend to strengthen that feeling Of
fraternity among the American people
that is so essential to their welfare. peace
and happiness, and to the pcrpctuity Of
the Union and Of our free institutions.
"Iappiove the platform OF the st. Louis
convention, and cannot too strongly cx.
press my dissent from the hcrctical teach.
ings Of the monopolis,s that the welfare
of the people can he promoted by sys.
ten of cxhorbitant taxation far in excess
Of the wants OF the government.
"Thc i'lea tha; people can hc enrich
ell 10y heavy and unnecessary taxation,
that u mans condition can be improved
by taxing him on all he wears, on all hls
tools and implements of industry. is an
obvious absuriity.
TO I'LL the vaults Of the treasury with
an idle surplus for which the government
has no legitimate use. and to thereby de.
privc the people Of our currency needed
for their business and daily wants. aud TO
create u powerful aud dangerous stimulus,
extravaganza and corruption in the cx'
pcnliturcs of the government, seems To
me To I've II policy nj variance with every
sound principle Of government anil Of pO-
litical economy
The necessity oi reducing taxation Ia
prevent such an accumulation of surplus
revenue, and the consequent depletion "f
the circulating medium, Is so apparent
tina, no party darcs To deny it, hut when
we come to consider the modes by which
the reduction may bc made we find wide
antagOnism between our party and the
monopolistc leaders nf our political OPP
poncn,s.
we seek to reduce taxes upon the
neccssarics of life; our opponents seek la
increase them. We say, give Ia the masses
oi III, people cheap and good clothing,
cheap blankets. cheap tools aud cheap
lumirr The republicans by their plat
form and ,hci. 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 dwell
ings, shops and barns, AMI thereby pre-.
vent their obtaining these nccessarics at
reasonable prices.
Can any sensible man doubt as To
where he should stand in this controversy.
Can any wellinformcd man be deceived
hy false prc,cnsc tina, system so un'
reasonable aud unjus, is for the benefit OF
laborlng men:
Much l. said about competition Of
American laborcrs with the paupcr labor
~ Europe, hui does no, every man who
looks around him see AMI know than an
immense majority of the laborcrs in
America are not engaged in what are
called the protected industries: And as
to those who are employed In such indus
tries, i II not undcniablc that the duties
proposed by the democratic measure call
ed the Mills bill far exceed the difference
between American and European wages,
and that, therefore, il Il were admitted
that our workingmen can be protected by
tariffs against cheaper labor, they would
he fully protected and more than protect
cd by that hill :
Does not every well-infOrmed man
know that the increase In price Of home
manufactures produced by high tarih
does no, go into the packets Of laboring
men, hut only tends to swell the profits
~ others,
1T seems io me that il the policy OF the
democratic party Is plainly presented, all
must understand that we seek Ia 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.
4 am. very respectfully, your obe'lient
servant. ALLEN c. THURMAN.
OCTOBER.