Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-27
PLAIN TRUTHS SIMPLY TOLD,
Grover Cleyeland's Letter of
Acceptance.
1t Contrasts Favorably With Harri-
sons Labored Effort.
He Is willing to Go Before the Country
on His Ofiicial Record and the
Platform of the National
Democracy

Democracy
By the Associated Press.l
New YORK, Sept. 26.-Followipg is
Hyncpsis of Cleveland's letter of accept
ance:
Hon. william L. Wilson and others of the com.
mittee, ETC.. 80
In responding to the formal notifca-
ton OF my nomination to the presidency
by the national Democracy, l hope |
may be permitted to say at the outset
that continued reflection and observance
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 time, above all others, when
these questions should be considered in
the light afforded by a sober apprecia-
ton OF the principles upon which our
government is based, and clear under
standing of the relation it bears to the
people for whose benefit it was created.
We shall thus be supplied with test
by which the value of any proposition
relating to the maintenance and admin
istration of our government can be as,
certained. and by which the justice and
be Judged. If doctrines or theories
are presented which do not
satisfy this test, loyal Ameri-
canism must pronounce them false,
and mischievous. The protection of the
people in the exclusive use and enjoy
ment of their property and earnings,
concededly constitutes the especial pur-
pose and mission of our free govern
ment. This design is 60 interviewer
with the structure OF our plan of rule
that failure to protect the citizens in
such use and enjoyment, or of their
uniustifable domination by the govern
ment itself, is betrayal of the peoples
trust. We have undertaken to build a
great nation upon plan of our own.
To furnish means for the accomplish
ment of national objects, the American
people are willing, through federal tax
alton, to surrender part of their earn
ings and income.
A TARIFF is TAX.
Tariff legislation presents familiar
form of federal taxation, and results as
surely in tax upon the daily life of our
people, as tribute paid directly into
the hands OF the tax gatherer. We feel
the burden of these tariff taxes too pal
pably to be persuaded by any sophistry
that they do not exist or are paid for by
foreigners. Such taxes are only justif-
able for the purpose of maintaining the
government and furnishing means for
the accomplishment of it's legitimate
purposes. This is taxation under the
operation OF tariff for revenue. 1t man
ifestedly enjoins strict economy in pub
lie expenditures, and their limitation to
legitimate public uses, inasmuch as it
exhibits as absolute extortion, any ex-
action by way of taxation, from the sub
stance of the people, beyond the neces-
sites of careful and proper admins
tration of the government.
THE DOGMA OF PROTECTION.
Opposed to this theory, the dogma is
now bodily presented that tariff taxation
is justifable for the express purpose and
intent of promoting especial interests
and enterprises. Such proposition is
SO clearly contrary to the spirit of our
constitution, by selishness and greed,
of patriotic sentiment, that its state
they have not already been insidiously
allured from the safe landmarks of
principle. Never have honest desire for
the country and sincere regard for those
who toll, been go betrayed to support
pernicious docorine. The plea that our
infant industries should be fostered, did
service until discredited by our stalwart
growth. Then followed the exigencies
of terrible war, and now, after long
period of peace, when our over
purdened country men ask for relief and
restoration to a fuller enjoyment of
their incomes and earnings, they are
met by the claim that tariff taxation for
the sake of protection is an American
system, the continuance of which is
necessary in order that high wages may
be paid our workingmen, and home
ma, ket be provided for farm products.
These pretenses should no longer de-
ceive. The truth is, that such system
is directly aDtagonized by every senti.
ment of juetice and fairness, of which
Americans are pre-eminently proud,
1t is also true that while our working
men and farmers can least of all of our
people defend themselves against the
harder home life, which such tariff
taxation DEGREES, the workingman is
suffering from the importation and en-
ployment of the pauper labor, instigated
by his professed friends, and is seeking
security in organized cooperation, and
still waits for division of the advant.
ages secured his employer under the
cover Of generous solicitude for his
wages while the farmer is learning that
the prices of his products are fixed in a
foreign market where competition in
vited and built up by the system he is
asked to support.
Every governmental concession to
clamorous favorites invites corruption
of political affairs, by encouraging the
expenditure Of money to debauch the
suffrage in support of policy directly
favorable to private and selfish gain.
This, in the end, must strangle patriot
ism and weaken popular confidence in
the rectitude OF republican institutions.
Recognizing these truths, the national
Democracy will seek, by the application
of just and sound principles, to equalize
to the people the blessing due them
from the government they support pro-
mote among our countrymen clever
community of interests, cemented by
patriotism and national pride, and point
out a fair field where prosperous and di-
Eod 10 4,