Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-18
THURMAN ACCEPTS.

Letter OF Hon. Allen g. Thurman Formal.
" Accepting the Nominations for the
Democratic National Conventions 1t Sc.
Louis.
CoLUEBUs, o., Oct Ia Following Is
Judge Thurman's letter OF acceptance.
COLUMBUS, O.. Oct II, 1888.
HON. PATRICK A. C0LLINS AND. OTHERS,
CoMMrTTEE-G sntIsmen: In obedience to Gus
TOM send you this formal acceptance Of my
nomination for the Office OF ce-President OF
the United States, made by the National con-
ventton of the Democratic party at ST. Louis.
When you did me the honor to call upon me ut
Columbus and officially notify me OF my NOM
nation depressed to you my sense OF ohliga-
ton to the convention, and stated that, al
though 1 had not sought the nominal
ton, / did not feel at liberty, under
the circumstances, to decline 1t. I
thought then. as still think. that whatever I
could properly do to promote the reelection OF
President Cleveland fought TO do. His admin
istration has been marked by such integrity.
good sense, manly courage and exalted patriot
ism that just appreciation of these high quail
tiles seems to call for his reelection. am also
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 essential to the welfare, peace
and happiness, and to the perpetulty of the
Union and of our free institutions. approve
the platform OF the St. Louis convention, and
can not too strongly express my dissent from
the heretical teachings of the monopolist
that the welfare of people can be promoted
by q system of exorbitant taxation far in excess
of the needs of the Government. The idea
that a people can be enriched by heavy and UNI
necessary taxation; that mans condition can
be improved by taxing him on all he wears, on
all his wife and children wear, on all his tools
and implements of industry, is an obvious ABB
snrdity. To fill the vaulrs of the treasury with
an idle surplus, to deprive the people OF cur
rency needed for their business and daily wants,
and to create a powerful and dangerous stimu.
lus to extravaganza and corruption in the eX-
penditures of the Government, seems to me to
be wholly at variance tn every sound prn-
ciple OF government and political
economy. The necessity of reducing
taxation to prevent such an accumulation
OF surplus revenue. and the consequent depre-
citation of the circulating medium is SO obvious
that no party dareS to deny it; but when we
come TO consider the modes by which the re.
duction may be made, we find a wide antago-
nism between our party and the monopolistic
leaders of our political opponents. We seek to
reduce taxes upon the necessities 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 a 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 neces-
saries 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 a system |
SO unreasonable and unjust is foz the benefit of
laboring men? Much is said about competition |
of American laborers with the pauper labor of |
Europe but does not every man who |
looks around him see and know that an |
immense majority Of the laborers in |
America are not engaged in what are called the |
protected industries: and as to those who are |
employed in such industries, is it not undenia- |
BILE that the duties proposed by the Democratic |
measure called the Mills bill far exceed the I
difference between American and European
wages, and that therefore, il it were admitted |
that our workingmen can be protected by tariff |
against cheaper labor, they would be fully pro-
tected, and more than protected, by that |
bill? Does not every well-informed man know
the increase in price of home manufactures
produced by high tariff does not go into the
pockets of laboring men, but only tends to swell
the profits of others. 1t seems to me that II the
policy Of the Democratic party is plainly pre-
sented, 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 tn~F
the benefits of National prosperity and groxT i
am very respectfully, your obedient SEN 4
ant. ALLEN G. THURMAN.