The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-29
CLEVEI.AND'S LETTER
FRANK EXPOSITION OF THE PRINCI
PILES OF DEMOCRACY.
Arrangement Of the Republican Party for
Its Tariff Robbery and Force Bill Out
rage-Reform Is Promised Under
Democratic Government.
NEW YORK, Sept. 26.

NEW YORK, 0epG. 70.
Hon. william L. Wilson and others, committee
| etc.
GENTLEMEN: In responding to your
formal notification of my nomination
to the presidency by the national
Demo cratic party 1 hope I may be
permitted to say at the outset thai
continued reflection and observation
have confirmed me in my adher'
ence to the opinions which I have
heretofore held and publicly declared
touching questions involved in the
canvass. This is a time above all
others when these questions should be
considered in the light afforded by
sober apprehension of the principles
upon which our government is based
and a clear understanding of the re.
lation 1T 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 maintain
ance and administration of our gov
eminent can be ascertained and by
which justice and honesty of every
political qestion can be judged. If
doctrines or theories are represented
which do not satisfy this test the loyal
Americanism must pronounce them
| false and mischievous.
The protection of the people in the
exclusive use and enjoyment of their
property and earnings is the especial
purposes and mission of our free gov
eminent. This design is so inter-
woven with the structure of our plan
of sule that failure to protect citi
zens in such use and enjoyment or
their unjustiiable diminution by
government itself is be-
trayal of the peoples trust.
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
We have, however, undertaken to
build great nation upon plan es-
pecially our own. To maintain it and
furnish through it's agency means for
the accomplishment of our national
objects, the American people are
willing through federal taxation to
surrender a part of their earnings,
and tariff legislation presents ia
miliar form of federal taxation. Such
Legislation results as surely in a tax
upon the daily life of. our people as a
tribute paid directly into the hands of
the tax gatherer. We feel the burden
of these tariff taxes too palpably to be
persuaded by any sophistry that they
do not exist or are paid by for
eigners. Such taxes representing
a diminution of the property
rights of the people, are only
justifiable when laid and collected for
the purpose of maintaining the gov
eminent and furnishing means for the
accomplishment of it's legitimate pur-
poses and functions. This is taxation
under the operation of a
TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
1t accords with the professions OF
American free institutions and its JUS
tice and honesty answers the test sup.
piled by correct appreciation of the
principles upon which these institu
tions rest. This theory of the tariff
legislation manifestly enjoins strict
economy in public expenditures and
their limitation to legitimate public
uses, inasmuch as it exhibits as abso-
Lutte extortion any eXaction by way
of taxation from the substance
of the people beyond the neces-
sities of a careful and proper
administration of the government
Opposed to this theory the dogma is
now boldly presented that tariff taxa
ton is justifiable for the express pur-
pose and intent thereby of promoting
especial interests and enterprises.
Such proposition is so clearly contrary
to the spirit of our constitution and SO
directly encourages disturbances by
selfishness and greed of patriotic
sentiment that its statement would
rudely shock our people if they had
not already been insidiously allured
from the safe landmarks of principle.
THE PEOPLE BETRAYED.
Never have honest desire for nation
al growth, patriotic devotion to coun-
try and sincere regard for those who
toll been so betrayed to the support of
a pernicious doctrine. In it's behalf
the plea that our infant industries
should be fostered did service until
discredited by our stalwart growth;
then followed a terrible war which
made our people needless of opportun-
tiles for Interior schemes afforded by
their willing and patriotic payment of |
an unprecedented tribute; aud now,
after long period of peace, when
our overburdened cuuntrymen
ask for relief and restoration
to a fuller enjoyment of their
income and earnings, they are met by
the claim bariff taxation for the sake |
of protection is the American system
of continuance which is necessary in
order that high wages may be paid |
workingmen and a home mark ct be |
provided for farm products. These
pretenses
SHOULD NO LONGER DECEIVE.
The truth is, such a system is d.
rectly antagonized by every sentiment
of Justice and fairness of which Amer
leans are pre-eminently proud. 1t it
also true that whileourworking mems |
and farmers can least of all of our
people defend themselves agains
harder home life which such tariff