Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-10-31
STEVENSON'S ANSWER
The Democratic Candidate
Formally Accepts.
CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS DISCUSSED

voted to the Lodge Bill and Similar
Attempted Legislation.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Oct. 30.-The
letter of acceptance has been sent to the
President of the National Democratic
Convention by Gen. A. E. Stevenson:
CHARLESTON, Oct. 30.
To THE Hon. WILLIAM l. WILSON, CHAIR
MAN, ETC.
When, in the presence of my country.
men accepted the honor conferred upon
me by the convention over which you
presided, promised to indicate by letter
in more formal manner my acceptance
of the nomination rendered me by the as
sembled representatives of the Democratic
party of the United States.
Since that time 1 have been engaged
continually in the discussion before the
people of many States of the Union of the
issues emphasized by the convention and
represented by our candidate for Presi-
dent, Grover Cleveland. Opportunity has
thus been denied me to write with the
care l would like to the more formal
answer promised to your committee.
The full discussion of public questions,
commonly expected from a candidate for
Vice President, has been rendered less
Imperative by inc
of the Democratic creed, by the gentle
man with whom 1 have the honor to be
associated as a candidate on the National
ticket. His treatment of the issues now
before the country for discussion and
settlement, was complete that can do
little more than endorse his position and
give it the emphasis of my unqualified
approval.
The greatest power conferred upon
h,,,N, SC. bat 81
All the great struggles of the past for a
broader political liberty have looked to-
wards the limitation Of this power by
right to taxa right which should always
be limited bV the necessities of the gov
ernment-and.t the benefits of 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 tn Q
remainder may prosper uuduly, equality
is lost sight sight of, injustice hardens
into precedent which is used to excuse
new eXactions, and there arises artificial
distinctions which the beneficiaries come
to look upon in due time as vested rights
sacred to themselves.
1t is plain that our present inequitabls
system of tariff taxation has promoted
the growth of such condition in our land,
favored though it has been by an indus
trious and enterprising people, friendly
climate, productive soil and the highest
development of political liberty. If the
benefciaries of this system shall be able
to add new tenure of power to those
they have already enjoyed, the develop
ment of unfavorable conditions must con-
tinue until the power to tax will be
lodged in those who are willing and able
to pay for the perpetuation of privilege
originally conferred by a contiding people
for the preservation inViOlate n thair own
government.
There is no longer preteXt or excuse for
the maintenance of war tariff in times
of peace and more than a quarter of a
century after armed conflict has ceased.
The platform of the National Democratic
Convention demands the reform of this
system and the adoption in its place of
one which will insure equality to all our
people l am in full and hearty accord
| with these purposes.
| The convention also declared its posi-
| tion on the currency question in no I'M
| meaning words, when it said in the plat
| form: I'VE 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 discriminating
| against either metal or charge for mint
age, but the dollar unit of both metals
must be of equal intrinsic and exchange
able value, or be adjusted through inter-
| national agreement, or by such safe
| guards of legislation as shall insure the
| parity of the two metals and the equal
power of every dollar at all times in the
markets and in payment of debt, and we
demand that all paper currency shall be
| kept at par with and redeemable in such
| COIN"
TO this plain and unequivocal declara-
ton in favor of sound, honest money, l
| subscribe without reservation or qualifi-
| cation. safe circulating medium is
/ absolutely essential to the protection of
| the business interests of our country,
| while to the wage Garner or the farmer it
is all important that every dollar, what
| ever its form, that finds its way into his
pocket should be OF equal unquestioned,
and universal exchangeable value and of
| equal purchasing power.
| Another issue of great moment in the
| pending contest is the I orce bill, the
magnitude of which cannot be over
stated. 1t may mean the control of the
election OF Representatives in Congress
by the bayonet. The Republican party,
by its acts in the Fifty first Congress, and
| by its platform in its late national con-
vention, stands pledged to the passage OF
this bill. That it will pass it when it
has the power no sane man can doubt.
70 all our people who desire the peace
and prosperity of our common country
this question is all-important.
Since my nomination l have been in
eight of the Southern and Southwestern
States of the Union, and have talked
with men of all Glasses and conditions
there. L found general and growing
apprehension of the evils, which, it is be-
heved, would result from the Lodge bill
or similar threatened legislation.
found the industries established by
Northern capital during Mr.. Cleveland's
administration in n languishing condi
} ton, and that the immigration of labor
and the investment of capital invited to
those States by their then peaceful con.
dition had ceased.
The enactment of Force bill into law
while it would threaten the liberties of
the entire people, would undoubtedly re
tard the material growth of the States at
which it was specially aimed, would in
cite in many communities race troubles
and invite retaliatory legislation, which
would discontinue and destroy the secur
| ity of Northern investments.
Its reflex action upon the Northern
| States would result in q CONSIGNMENT los