The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-09-30
The x-President Accepts the
Democratic Nomination.
Issues Of the Campaign.
Tariff Reform and Other Questions.


On Monday Ex.President Cleveland ISSUED
his letter of acceptance Of the Democrat,
nomination for President. 1t is addressed tc
William l.. Wilson, chairman Of the noitica
tion committee, and is as follows.
GENTLEMEN In responding to your for
NAL notification Of my nomination to the
Presidency by the national Democracy,
hope may be permitted to say at the out.
set that continued reflection and observation
have confirmed me in my adherence to the
opinions, which have heretofore plainly and
publicly declared. touching the questions in.
volved 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 rea.
tion it bears to the people for whose benefit
it was created. We shall thus be supplied
with test by which the value of any propo.
si,ion relating to the maintenance and ad-
mnlstratlon OF our government can be as.
certained and by which the justice and hon.
esty OF every Political question can be Judged.
IL doctrines or theories are presented which
do not satisfy this test loyal Americanism
must pronounce them false and mischievous.
The protection Of the people in the exclu.
sive use and employment of their property
, and earnings, concedcdly constitutes the es.
pecial purpose and mission Of our free GOV.
ernment. This design is so interviewer with
the structure Of our plan OF rule that failure
to protect the citizen in such use or enov.
ment, or their unjus,ihabe diminu,ion by the
government itself, is betrayal of the peo.
| pies trust.
TARIFV LEGISLATION.
We have, however, undertaken to build a
great nation upon plan especially our own!
To maintain 1t and to furnish through lis
agency the means for the accomplishment of
national Objects the American people are
willing, through Federal taxation, to surren.
| der part OF their earnings and income.
Tariff legislation presents familiar form
OF Federal taxation. Such legislation results
as surely tax upon the daily life of our peo.
pie 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.
On by any sophistry that they do not exist,
or are paid by foreigners.
such taxes, representing diminution OF
the property rights Of the people, are only
)ustihable when laid and collected for the
purpose OF maintaining our government and
furnishing the means for the Accomplishment,
OF It's legitimate purposes and functions. This
is taxation under the operation of tariff for
revenue. 1t accords with the professionr OF
American free institutions, 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 manifestly
enJo'ns strict economy in public expenditure
and their Limitation to legitimate public uses,
| inasmuch as it exhibits as absolute extor,ion
any exaction, by way Of taxation, from the
substance OF the people, beyond the necessi.
ties OF careful and proper administration Of
government.
THE REPUBLICAN DOGMA
Opposed to this theory the dogma is now
boldly presented, that tariff taxation is iusti
fable for the express purpose and intent Of
thereby promoting especial interests and en-.
terprses. Such a proposition is so clearly
contrary to the spirit OF our Constitution and
SO directly encourages the disturbance by
selhshness and greed of patriotic sentim ent
that its statement would rudely shock our
people ii they had not already been insidious-
ly allured from the safe landmarks of princi.
pie.
Never. have honest desire for national
growth, patriotic devotion to country and
sincere regard for those who toll been so be.
trayed to the support of pernicious doc
trine. In its behalf the plea that our infant
industries should be fostered did service un.
I'll discredited by our stalwart growth then
followed the eSigencies Of a terrible war,
which made our people needless of the op.
portunities for ulterIor schemes afforded by
ihelr wiling and patriotic payment of unpre-
cedented tribute; and now, after a long
period OF peace, when our overburdened
countrymen ask for relief and a restoration
to fuller enjoyment Of their incomes and
earnings, they are met by the claim that tar
III taxation for the sake Of protection is an
American system, the continuance of which
is necessary in order that high wages may be
paid to our Workingmen and home market
be provided for our farm products.
HOW LABOR is AFFECTED.
These pretenses should no longer deceive.
The truth is that such a system is directly
antagonized by every sentiment of Justice and
fairness OF which Americans are pre- eminent
ly proud. 1t is also true that while our
workingmen and farmers can, the least of all
our people defend themselves against the
harder home life which such tariff taxation
decrees, the workingman, suffering from the
importation and employment of pauper labor
instIgated by his professed friends, and seek.
ing security for his interests in organized CO.
operation, still waits for division of the adj.
ylniages secured to his employer under cover
Of generous solicitude for his wages, while
the farmer is learning that the prices of his
products are fixed in foreign markets, where
he suffers from competition invited and
Luilt up by the system he is asked to sup.
port.
The struggle for unearned advantage ot