Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-31
IT'S A LITTLE LATE,
But Here's the Long-Awaited
Stevenson Letter.
BEEN TOO BUSY TO WRITE EARLIER.

Short Acceptance of the Nomination
and the Reason for Brevity-The Chi
cago Platform acknowledgements on
the Power ofTaxation as Applied to the
Tariff Question-The Force" Bill Issue
DweIt Upon as One ,of Great Moment
Text of the Letter.
CHARLESTON, w Va, Oct. 31.-The fol-
lowing letter of acceptance was sent Satur-
day to the president of the national Demo-
cratic convention, dated Charleston, w.
Va, Oct. 90, and addressed to the Hon.
William L. Wilson, chairman:
when, in the presence of my country
men, l accepted the honor conferred upon
me by the convention over which you pre-
sided, promised to indicate by letter in a
more formal manner my acceptance of the
nomination rendered me by the assembled
representatives of the Democratic party of
the United States. Since that time have
been engaged continually in the discussion
before the people of many states of the
Union of the issues emphasized by the
convention and represented by our candi-
date for president, Grover Cleveland.
Approved of CIeveIand's Position.
Opportunity has thus been denied me to
write with the care l would like to the
more formal answer promised TO your COM
mittee. The full discussion of public oues-
tions, commonly expected from a candi-
date for vice president, has been rendered
less imperative by the complete presenta-
ton of the Democratic creed by the gentle
man with whom have the honor to be as
sociated as candidate in the national
ticket. His treatment of the issues now
before the country for discussion and set
tlement was so complete that can do little
the emphasis of unqualified approval
The Power of Taxation.
"The greatest power conferred upon
human government is that of taxation. All
the great struggles of the past for a
broader political liberty have looked
towards the limitation of this power by
right to taxa right which should always
be limited by the necessities of the govern
ment and the benefits of which may be
shared by all Whenever this power is
used to draw tribute from the many for
the benefit of the few, or when part of the
people are oppressed in order that the re
mainder may prosper unduly, equality is
lost sight OF. injustice harslenS into prece-
dent which il used to excuse new eX-
actions, and there arises artificial dis
tinctions which beneficiaries come to look
upon in due time vested rights, sacred
to themselves.
The Tariff Declared InequitabIe.
pIaln tldU our present lnSCt QlJtiDlc
system of tariff taxation has promoted the
growth of such conditions in our land. ia
vored though il has been by an industri
Gus and enterprising people, a friendly eli
mate, a productive soil and the highest de-
velopment of political liberty If the bene-
ficiaries of this system shall be able to add
a new tenure of power to those they have
already enjoyed the development OF these
unfavorable conditions must continue un-
til the power to tax will be lodged in those
who are willing and able to pay for the
perpetuation of privileges originally con-
ferred by a confiding people for the preser-
walton inviolate of their own government.
Indorses the Chicago Platform.
"There is no longer pretext or excuse for
the maintenance of a war tariff in times of
peace and more than a quarter of a century
after armed conflict has ceased. The plat
form of the national Democratic conven-
ton demands the reform of this system and
the adoption in its place of one which will
insure equality to all our people. i am in
full and hearty accord with these pur-
poses. The convention also declared its
position on the currency question in no
meaning words when il said in its plat
form: We hold to the use of both gold and
silver as the standard money of the coun-
try and to the coinage of both gold and
silver without discriminating against either
metal or charge for mintage, but the dollar
unit OF coinage OF Dotn metals must De OF
equal intrinsic and exchangeable value. or
be adjusted through international agree
ment, or by such safeguards of legislation
as shall insure the parity of the two met
ais and the equal power of every dollar at
all times in the markets and in payment of
debt, and we demand that all paper cur
rency shall be kept at par with and redeema-
BILE in such coin. To this plain and une-
quivocal declaration in favor of sound,
honest money, l subscribe without reserva-
tion or qualification. A safe circulating
medium is absolutely essential to the pro-
lection of the business interests of our coun-
try, while to the wage-earner or the farmer
it is all important that every dollar, what
ever its form, that finds its way into his
pocket shall be of equal unquestioned, and
purchasing power.
AN iSSlJE OF GREAT MOMENT