The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-19
ABLY SPOKEN.
Nj. Reid's Acceptance Of
His Nomination.
THE TWO GREAT ISSUES
CLEARLY DEFINED.
Republican Doctrines Of Protection
and Sound Currency
VERSUS DEMOCRATIC FREE TRADE
AND WILD CAT MONEY.

Mr.. Reid Describes this as Contest in
Which Issues and Not Candidates Are
Out that the Democratic Leader,
Whatever May Be His Personal De-
sires, Must Follow the Mandates of His
Party.
New YORK, October 1S.-Whitelaw
Reid has sent his letter of acceptance to
w. L. Durbin, chairman of the commit
tee appointed to notify him of his nomi-
nation as Republican candidate for Vice
President In the letter Mr. Reid states
that when his nomination was formally
announced by the committee, he accept
ed it at once. In doing so, he accepted
also the principles set forth in the reso
lutions adopted by the convention. Mr.
Reid continues substantially as follows:
There will be no misunderstanding as to
the purpose of the Republican party in
this contest; no doubt as to the attitude
of its candidates. What it intends it has
set forth in language that cannot be mis-
TAKEN Since my interview with your
committee, further reflection and careful
attention to the arguments on both sides
in the current public discussion have con
frmed my belief in the wisdom of the
Republican declarations, as well as in
the lucid candor with which they are
presented Party platforms are more
important this year than usual. Both
leading candidates have once command
ed the approval of the American people
in the highest form of expression. At
tention is, therefore, concentrated less
on the men themselves, and more on Ithe
principles each is put forward to repre-
sent, and would, in case of his election,
be required to carry out.
The declarations of our opponents de-
mand still closer scrutiny, since their
victory now would gives them the
first opportunity they have had since
1859 to put in practice their policy.
Never, since that date, have they had
control at once both in the executive and
legislative departments of the govern
ment. This year, the election of the
President clearly carries with it
Majorities in Both Houses of Congress.
1t is obvious that, in the common judg-
ment of people in all parts of the coun-
try, the really vital issues which this
year divide the parties. and demand pop
ular decision, are those relating to the
tariff and currency We favor a protec-
tive tariff and, when in full power, made
the present one. Our opponents favor
tariff for revenue only, and prom
se the repeal of the present one. We
maintain that the tariff should cover the
difference in cost of the home and for
eign product, caused by the difference in
home and foreign wages for labor en-
ployed upon it. Our opponents have
distinctly repudiated the proposition
that American wages should be consid-
cred in the matter. and have declared in
stead that tariff levied for anything
but revenue only was unconstitutional.
AS the London Times remarked: 'sThis
| policy, if fairly and logically carried
out, is not to be distinguished from free
| trade in the practical form in which we
are familiar with it.
| We maintain that the present tariff has
worked we'll; that it has developed Amer
| lean manufactures, steadied and in
creased American wages, and promoted
| general. prosperity. Our opponents deny
| that there has been any increase of pros
| perity under the present tariff, declare
| that wages have been reduced and
| tlenounce the Republican policy which,
as they say, fosters no other industry so
much as that of the sheriff. We favor a
system by which, when we think the
country ready for reduction or aboli-
tion of duties, we insist upon getting
Corresponding and Reciprocal Advantages
from foreign countries as the condition
of their enjoying these advantages in
| our own markets. Our opponents de-
nounce this reciprocity as sham, and
| therefore inferentially pledge themselves
| to it's repeal. The sharp issues thus pre-
| sented for the decision of the American
| people cover more comprehenslvely and
more specifically than ever before the
| whole range of considerations relating
| to the protective tariff. The cohstitu-
tionality of the protective tariff was
| heretofore thought to be established. A
| tariff bill avowedly for 1.-THE encourage
ucnt and protection of manufactures, -
was carried through the First Congress
| by James Madison and signed by George
| Washington. "A third of a century later,
| Andrew Jackson, i'll q message to Con
seress maintained the constitutionality of
| the protective system. To this testimo-
nv may be added the high authority OF
tie Democratic party on constitutional
law, the Hon George Ticl1nor Curtis.
The expediency Of protective tariff has
| been yindicated by the experience OF the
| past 30 years, that most wonderful peri
| cd of financial success over unheard OF
| difficulties in the record of modern civil
zation. Underit and by its aid, the
| Republican management of our finances
has resnlted in the largest paymen5 OF a
| national debt in the shortest time known
to history, and in the simultaneous dc
velopment of the industries OF the coun-
Try and the prosperity Of the people on
| scale without parallel. Eight years
ago, in mastery public paper
James G. blaine Called Attention
to the revelations of the United States
lal,