Gloucester County Democrat., 1892-11-03
CLEVELAND'S LETTER
a STRONG STATEMENT OF DEMO
CRATIC PRINCIPLES.

A rrief ana Pointed Lsster-The Evils
or a Protective TariG-zhe Force Eil1,
Sound Finances. Civil Service Reform
and t.se Pension Question.
70 tie Hon. wiiiie.n L. Wilson and others.
4 Committee, etc:
CENT IEsfEE-In responding to your formal
notification of my nomination TO the presidency
| by the national Democracy, I hope may be
permitted to say at the outset that continued
reelection and observation have confirmed me
4 in my adherence to the opinions which have
! heretofore plainly and publicly declared touch
1 ing The questions involved in the canvass.
1 This is time above al others, when these
questions should be considered III the light af-
4 forded BY a sober apprehension of the princi-
/ pies upon which our government Is based,
and a clear understanding Of the relation it
4 bears TO the people for whose benefit it was
created. We shall thus be supplied with a
test by which the value OF any proposition re-
lating to tho maintenance and administration
4 of our government can be ascertained and hy
which tho justice and honesty OF every politi-
cal question can be judged. II doctrines or
4 theories are presented which do not satisfy
/ this test, loyal Americanism must pronounce
them false and mischieyous.
The protection of the people in the exclusive
use and enjoyment Of their property and earn
1 ings concededly constitutes the especial pur-
pose and mission OF our free government.
This design is 50 interviewer with the strue-
ture OF our plan Of rule that failure to protect
i the citizen in such use and enjoyment, or their
I unjustiiable diminution by the government
/ itself, is q betrayal Of the peoples trust
THE TARIFr.
We have, however. undertaken to build n
4 great nation upon plan especially our Own,
TO maintain it and to furnish through its
agency the means for the accomplishment cf
national objects the American. people are
willing through federal taxation to surrender
a part Of their earnings and income.
Tariff legislation presents familiar form Of
! federal taxation. Such legislation results as
surely in tax upon the daily life of our peo-
pie as the tribute paid directly into the hand
of the taxgathercr We feel the burden Of
these tariff taxes too palpably tobe persuaded
by any sophistry that they do not exist or are
paid BY foreigners
Such taxes, representing dininution of the
4 property rights Of the people, are only iust-
fable when laid and collected for the purpose
of maintaining our government and furnish
Z ing the means for The accomplishment of its
( legitimate purposes and functions. This is
taxstion under the operation Of tariff for
revenue It accords with the professions Of
4 -i.zn-ican free Institutions and its justice and
honesty answer the test supplied BY correct
appreciation Of the principles upon which
these Institutions rest.
This theory Of tariff legislation manifestly
enjoins strict economy in public expenditures
and their limitation to legitimate public uses,
I inasinuch as it exhibits as absolute extoriioa
any exaction, BY way Of taxation, from the
substance Of the people beyond the necessities
Of a careful and proper administration Of gov
ernment.
SPECIAL INTERESTS AsD THE CONSTITUTION.
Opposed to this theory the dogma is now
boldly presented that tariff taxation is justif-
able for the express purpose and intent Of
thereby promoting especial interests and en-
terprises. Such a proposition is SO clearly
contrary to the spirit Of our constitution and
SO directly encourages the disturbance by
selfshness 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.
Never have honest desire for national growth,
patriotic devotion to country and sincere re
gard for those who toll bcen so betrayed to the
support Of pernicious doctrine.
In its behalf the plea that our infant indus
tries should be fostered did service until dis
credited BY our stalwart growth; then followed
the exigencies Of terrible which made
our people needless of the opportunities fer
ulterior schemes afforded by their willing and
patriotic payment OF unprecedented tribute,
and now, after long period Of peace when
our oyerburdened countrymen ask for relief
and restoration to d fuller enjoyment Of their
incomes and earnings, they met by the
claim that tariff taxation for the sake of pro-
lection IS an American system. The continu-
ance Of which is necessary in order that high
wages may be paid to our workingmen and a
home market be provided for our farm prod
ucts.
DECEPTION no LONGER POSSIBLE.
These pretenses should no longer deceive.
The truth Is that such system is directly an
tagonized by every sentiment of justice and
fairness of which Americans are pre-e -erninenr-
" proud. 1t is also trac that while our work
ingmen and farmers can, the least Of all our
people. defend themselves against the harder
home life which such tariff taxation DEGREES.
the workingman, suffering from the importa-
tion and employment Of pauper labor insti-
gated by his professed friends, and seeking
security for his interests in organized cooper
alton, still waits for q division Of the advan-
tages secured to his employer under cover Of a
generous solicitude for his wages, while the
farmer is learning that the prices Of his prod
ucts are fixed in foreign markets, where he
suffers from competition invited and built
up by the system he is asked to support.
The struggle for unearned advantage at tho
doors of the government tranples on the
rights of those who patiently rely upon assur-
ances Of American equality. Every govern
mental concession to clamorous favorites in
yites corruption in political affairs by encour-
aging the expenditure Of money to debauch
suffrage in support Of policy directly favor
able to private and selfish gain. This in the
end must strangle patriotism and weaken
popular confidence in the reetitude Of repub-
lican institutions.
MARKETS AID MORALS.
Though the subject Of tariff legislation in
wolves a question Of markets, it also involves
d question OF morals. We cannot with i'm
punity permit injustice to taint the spirit Of
right and equity which is the life Of re
public, and we shall fail to reach our national
destiny If greed and selfshness lead the way.
iyip frpf hc ia Tn-
mocracy Will seek by the application of Just
and sound principles to equalize to our people
the blessings duo them from the government
they support; to promote among our country
men closer community of interests cemented
by patriotism and national pride. and to point
out fair field where prosperous and diversi-
ned American enterprise may grow and thrive
in the wholesome atmosphere Of American in
dustry, ingenuity and and intelligence.
Tariff reform is still our purpose. Though
we oppose the theory that tariff laws may be
passed having for their object the granting Of
discriminating and unfair governmental aid
to pirate ventures. we wage no externinating
war against any American interests. We be-
ilcye feadjustment can be accomplished In
accordance with the principles we profess,
without disaster or demolition. We believe
that the advantages Of freer raw material
should be accorded to our manufacturers, and
We contemplate q fair and careful distribution
of necessary tariff burdens rather than the
precipitation OF free trade
We anticipate with calmness the misrepre-
: sentation Of our motives and purposes. insti-
gated BY q selfishness which seeks to hold in
unrecniing grasp its unfair advantage under
present tariff laws. We VIII rely upon the in
telligeace Of our fellow countrymen to rejest
the charge that party comprising majority
OF our people IL planning the destruction or in
jury of american interests, and we know they
cannot be frightened by the specter of impcs-
sbe free trade.
NO FORCE EIff-
The administration and management of our
government depend upon popular will. Fed
eral power is the instrument OF that will. not
its master. Therefore the attempt Of the oppp-
ncnts Of Democracy to interfere with and eon-
trol the suffrage Of the states through federal
agencies develops design. which no explann-
fion can mitigate, TO reverse the fundamental
and sefe relations between the peonle and