The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-12
GEN. HARRISON'S EPISTLE
PROTECTION MADE ITS MOST
PROMINENT FEATURE.

ANoO0 AZ
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 1l-Following is
Gen. Harrison's letter accepting the repub-
lican presidential nomination:
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Sept. H. 1883.
To Hon. H. ~ Estee aud Others, Committee
GENTLEMEN: When your committee visited
me on the Fourth Of July, last, and presented
the official announcement of my nomination
for the Presidency of the United States by the
republican convention, | promised as soon as
practicable TO communicate to you more
formal acceptance of the nomination. Since
that time the work of receiving and addressing
almost daily large delegations of my fellow-cit-
liens has not only occupied all of my' time,
but has in some measure rendered 1t unneces
sary for me TO use this letter as a medium of
communicating 10 the public my views upon the
questions involved in the campaign. appre-
cate very highly the confidence and respect
manifested by the convention, and accept the
nomination with a feeling of gratitude and full
sense of the responsibilities which accom-
pany IL.
llt is matter of congratulaton that the declar
atons of the Chicago convention upon the ques-
tons that now attract tho interest OF our peo-
pie are so clear and emphatic. There Is further
cause of congratulation that the declarations
and convention utterances of the Democratic
party, il in any degree uncertain or contradic-
tory, can now ue judged and interpreted by ex-
eoutive acts and messages, and by definite prop
ostions in legislation.
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
This is especially true of what is popularity
known as the tariff question. The issue cannot
now be obscured. IL lS not contest between
schedules but between wide apart principles
The foreign competitors of our market have
with quick instinct seen how one issue OF
this contest may bring them advantage, aud our
own people are not SO dull as to miss or neglect
the grave interests that are involved for them.
The assault upon our protective system is open
and definite. Protection is assailfd as unconsti-
tutional as law or aS an issue in principle. ana
those who hold such views sincerely cannot
Of CT ofa ahl alip 1iytQ
tariff laws of the principle of protection. The
Mills bill is only step, but it is towarfanother
object that the leaders of democratic thought
and legislation have clearly in mind.
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
The important question is not so much the
length of the step as the direction of IT, judged by
the executive message of December last, by the
Mills bill, by the debates In Congress, and by the
st. Louis platform, the Democratic party will,
If supported by the country, place the tariff
laws upon purely revenue basis. This is prac
teal free trade-fr trade in the English sense.
The legend upon the banner may not be: Free
trade" it may be the more obscure Tariff
reforn;" but neither the banner nor inscription
is conclusive, or, indeed, very important The
assault itself is the important fact Those who
teach that the import duty on foreign goods
sold in our market Is paid by the
consumer, and that the price of
the domestic competing article Is
enhanced to the amount Of the duty on the
imported article-that every million of dollars
collected for customs duties represents many
| millions more which do net reach the treasury,
| but are paid by our citizens as the increased
| cost of domestic productions resulting from the
| tariff laws may not intend to discredit In the
minds of others our system OF levying duties on
competing foreign products, but 1t is clearly
already discredited in their own.
WHERE THEY WOULD LAY THE DUTY.
We cannot DOUBT without impugning their in
| tegrity that IL free to act upon their convic-
tions, they would 80 devise our laws
as to lay the burden Of the customs
revenue upon articles that are not produced
in this country aud to place upon the free list
articles OF competing foreign product. | do not
stop TO refute this theory as to the effect OF our
tariff du les. Those who advance 1t are students
of a maxim aud not Of the markets. They may
be safely allowed to call their project 'tarin
REFORM If the people understand THAI the argtI-
ment oontemplates free trade In all competing
products.
MAY NOT CONE ABRUPTLY.
| This end may not be reached abruptly. and
its approach may be accompanied with some
| expressions Of sympathy for our pro.
| tected Industries, and our working people,
but 1t will certainly come If these
| early warnings do not arouse the people 70
holds that tho protective tariff is constitutional
| and necessary We will revise the schedule,
modify rates, but always with an intelligent
| provision as to the effect upon domestic pro-
| duction and the wages Of our working people.
We believe 1t to be one of the worthy objects of
| tariff legislation TO preserve the American
market for American producers, and to main
| tain wages by adequate discriminating duties
| upon foreign products.
The effect Of lower rates and larger importa-
| tions upon the public revenue is contingent and
doubtful, but not 20 tho effect upon American
productions and wages.
LRss WORK AND LOWER WAGES.
| Loss work and lower wages must be accepted
as the inevitable result OF the increased Offering
of foreign goods in our market. BY way OF
recompense for this reduction in wages, and
I al nrlra a
that the diminished wages of the worltngnnan
will have undimnished purchasing power, and
that he will be aOle 10 make UP for the loss OF II
home market by an charging foreign market.
Our workin3men have the settlement Of the
question in their hands. They now
obtain higher wages and live more
comfortably than those Of any other
country They will make the choice
between the substantial advantages they have
in hand, and the deceptive promises and fore
casts of those theorjzing reformers. They will
decide for themselves and for the country
whether tho protective system shall be contin-
ued or des troyed The fact Of the treasury
surplus, the amount of which is variously
stated, has direct ID public attention 10 consid-
income may best be reduced to the level OF wise
and necessary expenditure. This condition has
been seized upon by those who are hostile 70
protective customs duties as an advantageous
base OF attack upon our tarif laws.
CHARGE or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
They have magnfed aud nursed the surplus,
which they affect 10 deprecate, seemingly for
tho purpose Of exaggeratirtg the evil in order TO
reconcile the people TO the extreme remedy
they propose. Proper reduction OF the revenue
does not necesgitate, and should not suggest,
abandonment or impairment Of the protective
system. The methods suggested by our conven-
tion will not need to be exhausted In order to
effect the necessary reduction We are not
likely TO be called upon. think. TO make pres
ent choice between surrender OF our protective
system and entire repeal OF internal taxes
r4lp
ton Of the expenditures TO the revenue, is re-
mote.
Inspection and regulation Of the manufacture
and sale Of oleomargarne IL important and the
revenue derived from ii IS not 50 great that
repeal OF the law IL necessary.
The surplus now In the treasury should be
used H. tue purchase of bonds. The law author
ICES the use of It, and il IL not needed for cHr-
rent .or deficiency appropriations. The people,
and not the banks In which IL has been de-
posted. should have the advantage of its use by
stopping Lue interest upon the public debt. AT
least those who neede essy hoard II should not
be allowed TO use the fear OF monetary strin-
gency thus produced TO coerce public sentiment
upon other questions.
IMPORTED CONTRACT LABOR
Closely connected with the subject of the
tariff Is that of the importation Of foreign la
Dor under contracts of service 70 be performed
here. The law now In force prohibiting such
contracts received my cordial SUI port in the
Senate, and such amendments as may be found
necessary to deliver our wOrklngmen and women
from this most Inequitable form OF competition,
will have my sincere advocacy. Legislation
prohibiting tho importation of laborers under
contracts 10 serve here WILL however.