Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-10-05
CLEVELAND'S LETTER OF ACCEPT
ANCE.

The following is the letter of Grover
Cleveland accepting the nomination as
the democratic candidate for President
of the United States.
To Hon. VIM L. Wilson and Others,
Committee, Etc.-Gentlemen: In re-
spending to your formal notification OF
my nomination to the presidency by
the national democracy, hope l may
be permitted to say at the outset that
continued reflection and observation
have confirmed me in my adherence to
the opinions which / have heretofore
plainly and publicly declared touching
the questions involved in the canvass.
This is the time above all others
when these questions should be con-
sidered in the light afforded by a sober
apprehension of the principles upon
which our government is based and a
clear understanding of the relation it
bears to the people for whose benefit
it was created. We shall thus be sup
piled with a test by which the value of
any proposition relating to the main
tenance and administration of our gov
eminent can be ascertained, and by
which the justice and honesty of every
political question can be judged. Ii
doctrines or theories are presented
which do not satisfy this test loyal
Americanism must pronounce them
false and mischievous.
TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
The protection of the people in the
exclusive use and enjoyment of their
property and earnings concededly con-
stitutes the especial purpose and mis-
sion of our free government. This de-
sign is so interviewer with the struc-
ture of our plan of rule that failure to
protect the citizen in such use and en-
joyment, or their unjustifiable dimlnu-
ton by the government itself, is be-
| trayal of the peoples trust.
| We have, however, undertaken to
build a great nation upon plan espe-
cially our own. To maintain it and to
furnish through its agency the means
for the accomplishment of national OBJ
jects, the American people are willing
through federal taxation to surrender
u part of their earnings and income.
Tariff legislation presents familiar
| form of federal taxation. Such legisla-
ton results as surely in tax upon the
..daily life of our people as the tribute
paid directly into the hand of the tax
gatherer. We feel the burden of these
tariff taxes too palpably to be persuad
ed by any sophistry that they do not
exist, or are paid by foreigners.
Such taxes, representing diminu
ton of the property rights of the peo
pie, are only justifiable when laid and
collected for the purpose OF maintain
ing our government, and furnishing
the means for the accomplishment Of
its legitimate purposes and functions
This is taxation under the operation Of
a tariff for revenue. 1t accords with
| the professions of American free insti
buttons, and its justice and honesty
answer the test supplied by q correct
appreciation of the principles upon
| which these institutions rest.
This theory of tariff legislation man
ifestly enjGins strict economy in public
expenditures and their limitation tc
Legitimate public uses, inasmuch as ii
exhibits as absolute extortion any ex
action, by way of taxation, from the
substance of the people beyond thf
necessities of careful and proper ad
ministration of government.
DOGMA OF PROTECTION.
Opposed to this theory the dogma is
now boldly presented that tariff taxa
ton is justitiable for the express pur
pose and intent of thereby promoting
especial Interest and enterprises. Such
Il proposition Is so clearly contrary tl
the spirit of our constitution and &C
directly encourages the disturbance by
selfishness and greed of patriotic senti
ment that its statement would rudely
shock orr people if they had not al
ready been insidiously 4llEred from the
safe landmarks of principle: Meyer
have honest desire for national growth
patriotic devotion to country and sin
cere regard for those who tell been sc
| no IN, + 10 nf
doctrine. In it's behalf the plea that
our infant industries should be foster
ed did service until discredited by oul
stalWart growth; then followed the ext
gencies OF {. terrible war, which made
our people needless of tbs opport4ni
ties for Interior schemes afforded by
their willing and patriotic payment OF
unprecedented tribute, and now, after
a long period of peace, when our over
burdeHed conptrymen ask for relief
and restoration 20 faller enjoyment
of their incomes and earnings, they are
met by the claim that tariff taxation
for the sake of protection is an Ameri-
can system, the continuance of which
is necessary in order that high wages
may be pail to our workingmen and a
home market be provided for our farm
products.
DECEPTIVE PREpENSEs.
These pFebepses should no longer de-
ceive. The truth is that such system
is directly antagonized by every senti-
ment of justice and fairness, of which
Americans are pre- eminently proud.
1t is also true that while our working
| men and farmers can, the least of all
our people, defend themselves agains
the harder home life which such tariff
| taxation DEGREES, the workingman, suf-
| fering from the importation and en-
ployment of pauper-labor instigated by
his professed friends and seeking secur-
| ity for his interests in organized CO.
operation, still waits for a division OF
the advantages secured to his employ
er under cover of a generous solicitude
! for his wages, while the farmer is learn
| ing that the prices of his products are
| fixed in foreign markets, where be suf-
| fers FROM II competition invited and
built up by the system he is asked to
support.
QUESTION OF MORALS.
| The strlIs, lie for unearned advantage
at the doors of the government tram
piles on the rights of those who patient
| ly rely upon assurances of American
equality. Every governmental conces
ciOii ~ tIiN'i''uo ltlfoIltOo IICS COI
ruption in political affairs by encour-
aging the expenditure of money to de-
bauch suffrage in support of a policy
directly favorable to private and selfish
gain. This in the end must strangle
patriotism and weaken popular conf
dence in the reetitude Of republican
institutions.
Though the subject of tariff legisla-
ton involves a question of markets, it
also involves question of morals. We
cannot with irnpunity permit injustice
to faint the spirit of right and equity,
which is tie life of our republic, and
we shall fail to reach our national de-
stiny if greeI and selfishness lead the
way.
TAXATION MUST BE EQUALIZED.
Recognizing these truths, the nation
al democracy will seek by the applica-
ton of just and sound principles to
equalize to or people the blessings due
them from the government they sup
port; to promote among our country
men a closer community of interests
cemented by patriotism and national