Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-11-04
GEN. STEVENSON'S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE.

GEN. SYEV ENSONS LETTER III
ACCEPTANCE.
CORDIAL SUPPORT OF THE PLAT
FORM.
AN ABLE PRESENTATION OF THE PENDING IS
SUES, WRITTEN IN INTERVALS OF AN ACTIVE
CAMPAIGNING ToUR-TARIFF REFORM, FL
NANCEs AND THE FORCE BILL
Gen. Adlai E. Stevenson, Democratic can
didate for the Vice Presidency, has sent the
following letter of acceptance to the Presi-
dent of the National Democratic Convention:
"CAarleston, W. Va., Oct. 29.-To the Hon.
VIM. L. Wilson, Chairman etc.; When in the
presence of twenty thousand of my country
men, l accepted the honor conferred upon me
by the convention over which you presided,
promised to indicate by letter in more form
al 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 con-
tinually in the discussion before the people of
many States Of the Union of the issues empha-
sized by the convention and represented by
our candidate for President, Grover Cleve-
land Opportunity has thus been denied me
to write with the care would like the more
formal answer promised your committee.
The full discussion of public questions COM
monty expected from a candidate for Vice
President has been rendered less imperative
by the complete presentation of the democrat
ic creed by the gentleman with whom I have
the honor to be associated as a candidate on
the national ticket. His treatment of the is
sles now before the country for discussion and
settlement was so complete that I can do little
more than indorse his position and give it the
emphasis of my unqualified approval.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF.
1.-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 toward the limitation Of
this power bv right to tax, right which should
always be limited by the necessities of gov
eminent and to benefits 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 a people are oppressed
in order that the remainder may prosper un-
duly, equality is lost sight of, injustice hard
ems into precedent, which is used to excuse
new exactions, and there arises artificial dis
tinctions which the benefciaries come to look
upon in due time as vested rights, sacred to
themselves.
sit is plain that our present inequitable
system of tariff taxation has promoted the
growth of such conditions in our land, favor
ed though it has been by an industrious and
enterprising people, a friendly climate, pro-
ductive soil and the highest development OF
political liberty. If the beneficaries of this
| system shall be able to add new tenure of
power to those they have already enjoyed, the
| development of these unfavorabie conditions
must continue until the power to tax will be
| lodged in those who are willing and able to
pay for the perpetuation of privileges origi-
nally conferred by confding people for the
preservation inviolate of their own govern
ment. There is no longer pretext OF excuse
| for the maintenance of war tariff in times Of
peace and more than quarter of a century
| after armed conflict has ceased. The platform
of the national democratic convention de.
mands the reform of this system and the adop-
ton in its place of one which will insure
equality to all our people. am in full and
hearty accord with these purposes.
SOUND CURRENCY.
| "The convention also declared its position
on the currency question in no unmeanine
words when it said in its platform I'VE hold tt
the use of both gold and silver as the standard
money of the country and to the coinage OF
both gold and silver without discriminating
against either metal or charge for mintage
but the dollar unit for coinage OF both metals
must be of equal intrinsic and exchangeabls
value. or be adjusted through international
agreement or by such safeguards of legsla
ton as shall insure the purity of the two met
ais and the equal power of every dollar al
all times in the markets and in the payment:
of debts, and we demand that all paper cur
rency shall be kept at par with and redeema-
| Bile in such coin.
''TO this plan and unequivOcal declaration
| in favor of sound, honest money 1 subscribe
without reservation or qualification. A safe
circulating medium is absolutely essential tt
the protection of the business interests of oul
country, while to the wage Garner. the farmer
| it is all-important that every dollar, whatev
er its form, that finds its way into his poke
shall be of equal. unquestioned and unver
sally exchangeable value and of equal pur
chasing power.
THE FORCE BILL.
"Another issue of great moment in thu
pending contest is the force bill, the magni
| tude of which cannot be overstated. 1t may
mean the control of the election of Represen
tatives in Congress by the bayOnet. The Re
publican party, by its acts in the Fifty-frs
Congress, and by its platform in its late ma
tional convention, stands pledged to the pas
sage of this bill. That it will pass it when i
has the power, no sane man can doubt. II
all our people who desire the peace and
prosperity of our country this question is all
important.
"Since my nomination have been in eigh
of the Southern and Southwestern States O.
the Union, and have talked with men of all
classes and conditions there. I found gen
eral and growing apprehension of evils which
! it is believed would result from the passage o.
the Lodge bill or similar threatened legisla
ton. found the industries established by
Northern capital during Mr.. Cleveland's ad
ministration in a languishing condition, ant
that the immigration Of labor and the invest
ment of capital invited to those States by thei
then peaceful condition had in large meas
ure ceased. The enactment of the force bill
into law, while it would threaten the liber
ties of the entire people, would undoubtedly
retard the material growth OF the States al
which it is specially aimed, would incite in
many communities race trouble and invite re-