The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-27

Mr.. CLEVELANO'S LETTER
In Hearty Accord With the Platform
Adopted by the National
Convention.
Terse Statement Of His Ideas on
the Various Questions
at Issue.
fHH
Tho Tariff Is the Loading Subject of the
Campaign-other Matters Receive
His Attention.

synopsis of Grover Cleveland's letter of
acceptance Of the nomination for the pres-
idency. given him by the national demo-
! cratic convention at Chicago;
| Hon. Vim. j.. Wilson and others, COM
| mittee, etc.: In responding to the formal
notif1 cation of the nomination to the presi
| dency by the national democracy, I hope /
may be permitted to say at the outset that
| continued reflection and observation have
confirmed me in my adherence to tho
opinions which / have heretofore plainly
and publicly declared touching questions
| involved in the Canvass. This is the time,
above all Others when these questions
should be considered in tbs light afforded
by sober apprehension of the principles
upon which our government 10 based, and a
clear understanding OF the relation it
bears to the people for whose benefit it was
created. We shall thus he supplied with a
test by which the value of any proposition
relating to the maintainancs and admins
tration Of our government can be ascer-
tanned. and by which the Justice and hones-
ty of every political question can be judged.
If doctrines or theories are presented which
do not satisfy this test, loyal Americanism
must pronounce them false and mis-
chievouG.
The protection of the people in the ex-
elusive uso and enjoyment of their prop
erty and earnings oonoededly constitutes
the especial purpose and mission of our
free government. This design 10 SO inter
woven with the structure Of our plan of
rule that failure protect its citizens in
such use and enjoyment, or their unjusti-
fable dimunition by the government itself,
is betrayal of the peoples trust. We
have undertaken to build q great nation
upon plan of our own. 10 furnish the
means for the accomplishment of national
objects, the American people are willing,
through federal taxation, to surrender a
part of their earnings and income. Tariff
legislation presents peculiar form of fed
eral taxation and results as surely in tax
upon the daily life Of our people as the
| tribute paid directly into the hands of the
tax gatherer. We feel the burden
OF 5fhDse tariff taxes too palpa-
bly, to be persuaded by any sophis-
try that they do not exist, or are
paid by Foreigners. Such taxes are only
| justifable for the purpose of maintaining
| the government and furnishing means for
| the accomplishment of its own legitimate
purposes. This is taxation under the oper-
alton of II tariff for revenue. 1t manifestiy
enioins strict economy in public expendi-
lures and their limitation to legitimate
public uses inasmuch as 1t exhibits as ab-
| solute extortion any eIaction by way of
! taxation from the substance of the people,
beyond the necessities of the careful and
proper administration of the government.
Opposed to this the dogma is now boldly
presented that tariff taxation is justitiab!a
for the express purpose and intent of pro-
noting especial interests and enter
prises. Such proposition is so
clearly contrary to the spirit of
our constitution and 30 directly
encourages disturbance by sefshness and
greed of patriotic sentiment that its state
ment would rudely shock our people if they
had not already been insidiously Injured from,
safe landmarks of principle. Never have
an honest desire for national growth,
patriotic devotion to country and sincere
regard for those who toll, been 30 betrayed
TO support psrnioious doctrine. The
plea that our infant industries should be
tostered did service until discredited by
our stalwart growth. Then followed the
exigencies of ter ible war, and now, after d
long period of peace, when our overbur-
dened countrymen have asked for relief
their incomes and earnings, they are mes by
the claim that tariff taxation for the sake of
protection is an American system, the con-
tinuance of which is necessary i'll order
that high wages may be paid our working
men and Il home market provided for our
farm products. These pretenses should nc
longer deceive. The truth is that snch a
system is directly antagonzed by every SEN
timent of Justice and fairness of which
Americans are prominently proud.
1t is also true that while our working
men and farmers can least of all our peo-
pie defend themselves against the harder
home life which such tariff taxation de-
crees, the working man, suffering from the
Importation and einporment of paupei
labor. instigated by professed fliends. and
seeking security IN organized cooperation,
still waits for division of the advantages
secured by the employer under cover OF
gene GUS solicitude for his wages, while the
farmer is lea ming that ths ptices of his
products are fixed In foreign markets where
he suffers from competition invited and
built up by the system he is asked to sup
port. Every governmental concession to
clamorous favorites invites corruption in
political affairs by encouraging the ex-
penditure of money to dehauch the suffrage
in support of the policy directly favorable
to private and selfish gam. This, in the
end, must strangle patriotism and weaken
popular confidence Ill the reotitude of re-
| publican institutions.
| Recognizing these truths, the national
democracy will seek by the application of
just and sound principles to equalize to the
people the blessings due them from the
government they support, promote among
our countrymen n closer community of in
terests csmented by patriotism and ma
tional pride, and point out Il fair field
where prosperous and diversified American
enterprises thrive i'll the wholesome atmos-
phore of American ingenuity and intelli-
genoe.
| Tariff reform ia still our purpose. We
wage no exterminating war against any
I, American interest. Ws believe that read
iustment can be accomplished without dis
aster or demolition. We believe the advan-
tages of freer raw material should be
acco ded our manufaotur rers. and contem-
plate the ca eful distribution of necessary
tariff burdens. rather than the preoipita-
tion of free trade. We anticipate with
calmness the Misrepresentation of our mo-
tives and purpose and rely upon the intelli-
gence OF our fellow countrymen TO reject
the charge that party comprising the ma
jo'ity of our people is planning destruo-
tion or injury TO American interests, and
we know they cannot be frightened by the
spocter OF impossible fee trade.
The administration and management OF
our government depends upon popular will.
Federal power is the instrument of shas
will, not it's master. Therefore, the at
tempt of the opponents of democracy to iu-
tsrfsrs with and control the suffrage OF
states through federal agencies develops u
design, whioh no explanation can mitigate.
to revise the fundamental and safe relations