Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-11-03
ADLAI E. STEVENSON
His Formal Letter of Acceptance
Published.
IN FULL ACCORD WITH CLEVELAND.
He Thoroughly Believes In the Democratic
Economic Policy and Denounees
the Lodge Bill and SINH
lar Legislation

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Oct. 31.-Adlai
| E. Stevenson. democratic candidate for
vice president, has sent the following
| letter of acceptance to the president of
| the national democratic convention:
=. CHARLESTON, W. Va. Oct g, 1892
To Hon. William L. Wilson. chairman:
When, In the presence OF 10000 of my coun-
trymen. accepted the honor conferred upon
me by the convention over which you presided
promised TO indicate by letter in a more for
mai 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 continu-
ally in the discussion, before the people of
many states of the union. of the issues empha-
sized by the convention and represented by
your candidate for president Grover Cleye-
land.
opportunity has thus been denied me to write
with the care would like the more formal an
swer promised to your committee. The full
discussion Of public questions commonly ex-
pected from candidate for vice president has
been rendered less impossible by the complete
presentation of the democratic creed by the
gentleman with whom have the honor to be
associated as a candidate on the national ticket
His idea of the issues now before the country
for discussion and settlement was so complete
that more than indorse his position and give
1T the emphasis of my unqualified approval
The greatest power conferred upon human gov
eminent is that of taxation. All the great
struggles of the past for broader political lib
erty have looked toward the limitation of this
power of the right to tax q right which shouts
De always limited by the necessities of govern
ment 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 the people are oppressed in order
that the remainder may prosper un6uly, equal
1ty Is lost sight of and injustice hardenS into
precedent which is used to excuse new eXac-
tions, and there arise artificial distinctions
q hpr fiPiar iQ lfo1-
due time, as vested rights sacred to themselves
1t IS plain that our present inadequate sys
tenn OF tariff taxation has promoted the growth
of such conditions in land favored though
1t Is by an Industrious and enterprising people,
friendly climate, a productive soil and the
highest development of political liberty. If the
benehciarieS of this system shall be able to add
a new tenure of power to those they have al
ready enjoyed the development of those un-
favorable 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 originally conferred by confid-
ing people for the preservation inviolate of
their own government There is no longer
preteXt excuse for the maintenance of the
war tariff in times of peace and more than
quarter of century after armed conflict has
ceased
The platform of the national democratic con-
Vention demands the adoption of tariff which
will insure equality to all our people /
in full and hearty accord with these purposes.
The convention also declared its position on
the currency question in unmeaning words
when it said in its platform: 1--WE hold to the
use of both gold and silver as the standard
money of the country and to the coinage of
both gold and silver, without discrimina ting
against either metal or charge for mintage, but
the dollar unit of coinage of both metals must
be made of equal intrinsic and exchange value
by such safeguards of legislation shall in
sure the purity OF the two metals. and the equal
power of every dollar at all times in the market
and in the payment of debt and we demand that
all paper currency shall be kept a par and
deemable in such coin
To this plain and unequivocable declaration in
favor of sound, honest money. 1 subscribe
without reservation or qualification. safe
circulating medium is absolutely essen tial to
the protection of the business in the interests
OF our country, while to the wage Garner and
the farmer it is all important that every dollar,
whatever its form, that finds its way into his
pocket, shall be of equal. unquestioned and uni
ersally eXchangeable value ana of equal pur-
chasing power.
Another issue of great moment in the pend
ing contest is the force bill. the magnitude of
which cannot be overeStimated 1t may mean
the control of the election of the representa-
tiveS in congress by the bavonet The repub-
1ican party by its acts in the Fiftyfirst con-
greSs, and by its platform in the late national
convention stands pledged to the passage of
this bill. That it will pass it when sit has the
power sane man can doubt To all poo
pie who desire the peace and prosperity of our
common country this question is all important
Since my nomiua ton L have been in eight of
the southern and southwestern states of the
union, and have talked with of all classes
and conditions there. 1 found q general and
growing apprehension of evils which it is be-
lieved would result from the passage of the
Lodge bill or similar threatened legislation
found that the industries established by
northern capital during Mr. Cieveland'S admin
iStration were in languishing condition and
that the immigration of labor and the invest
ment of capital invited to those states had in a
large measure ceased
The enactment OF the force bill into law,
while it would threaten the liberties Of the
tire people, would undoubtedly retard the ma
terial grow tn of the states at which it was es-
pecially aimed, would incite in many commun-
tiles race troubles and invite retaliatory legis-
la ton which would disturb property values and
discontinue and destroy the security OF north
ern inves tmentS.
L appeal TO the instinct of self interest ami to
the sense of common justice in the American
people The era of good feeling and renewed
commercial relations commenced with the ad-
minis tn ton of Mr.. Cleveland in 1884 should
not be interrupted by the Inauguration of a
policy which tends to destroT popular repre-
sentation and the purity of local self-covern-
Inent which furnishes an instrument to discred-
tied power to perpetuate itsc to keep alive
sectional jealouSieS and strife, which threatens
important and material interests and which
offers no excuse palliation for its existence
except the perpetuation in power of a political
party which has lost public confidence.
L accept the nomination rendered me- and
should the action of the convention meet the
approval of my countrymen, will. to the best
of my ability, discharge with fidelity the duties
of the important trust confded TO me. Very
respectfuIly ADLAI E STEVENSON.
Landmark burned
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Oct. 31.-Fire COM
pletely honeycombed the historic State