The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-09-15
FOR ALL THE VOTERS.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE.
The Issues Arc Dcflncd-POlicy Of the Re-
publicans Tho Contest Lies Between
Protection and Free Tradc-Fair Elec-
tions and Reciprocity Touched Upon.
The Presidents Letter,

The Presidents Letter.
President Harrison's letter accepting
the Republican Presidential nomination
was made public Monday night. 1t con-
tains over 10000 words, is dated at
Washington, and the substance is as
follows:
The Hon. W. Mckinley. Jr.. and Others. Com
mittee, etc:
GENTLEMEN now avail myself of the first
period of relief from public duties to respond
to TIE notification which you brought to me on
idcnt of the United states by the Republican
National Convention recently held at Minnie
apolis.
accept the nomination, and am grateful for
the approval expressed by the convention of
the acts of the administration.
The great work of the Fifty-first Congress
has been subjected to the revision of a Demo
of the executive department to its scrutiny
and investigation. There has seldom been Il
time, think, when change from the declared
policies of the Republican to the declared poll
cies OF the Democratic party involved such
serious results to the business interests of the
country, brief review Of what has been done
ard OF what the Democratic party proposes to
undo will justify this opinion.
The President then at some length
compares the present system of banking
and the issuance OF money with that
which prevailed before the withdrawal
Of State bank issues, and declares that
the present plan is the safest ever yet
devised.
He touches upon the commerce upon
the seas and recognizes the fact that
our exports are carried in vessels saH-
ing under foreign flags. He says:
The merchandise balance Of trade. the treas
ury books show. is largely reduced by the an
nual tribute which we pay for freight and
passage money. The great ships-the fastest
on the sca--which are now in peace protiting
by our trade. are. in a secondary sense. war
ships of their respective governments and in
time of war would. under existing contracts
with those governments. speedily take on the
guns for which their aecks are already pre-
pared and enter with terrible efficiency upon
the work of destroying our commerce.
The undispmted fact is that the great steam
ship lines of Europe were built up and are now
in part sustained by direct or indirect govern
ment aid, the latter taking the form of liberal
pay for carrying the mails or Of an annual
bonus given in consideration OF agreements to
construct ships so as to adapt them for carry
ing an armament and to turn them over to the
government on demand. upon specified terms.
can that if the United states would
have such lines a similar policy must
be entered upon; The Fifty,frst Congress
cent influence sixteen American steam
ships of an aggregate tonnage OF 5T,40o tons
and costing s., 400 o1 have been built or con-
tractcd to be built in the American ship yards
In addition to this,l Is now practically GER
tain that we shall soon have under the Ameri-
can flag one of the finest steamship lines sail
ing out of New York for any European port.
This contract will result in the construction
in American ship-yardS of four new passenger
steamships Of 1870 tons each, costing about
Ss,wUD, and Will add to our naval reserve six
steamships the fastest upon the sea.
Mr.. Harrison favors the development
OF our South Atlantic and Gulf ports,
and the increased application of the
policy of reciprocity in South American
trade. For this latter, he ascribes all
credit to Mr.. Blaine, and in summing uE
results and prospects, says:
At meeting held in March last Of tho asso
ciated chambers of commerce of Great Brit ain
the President reported that the exports from
during the last year had decreased s2 7.0, 600
and that this was not due to temporary causes
but directly to the reciprocity policy of the
United States. Germany and France have also
shown their startled appreciation of the fact
that a new and vigorous contestant has ap.
pearcd in the battle OF the markets and has al
ready setured important advantages.
The most convincing evidence of the. tire.
mendous commercial strength of our position
IS found in the fact that Great Britain ant
Spain have found it necessary to make recip
rOcal trade agreements with MS for their West
India colonies. and that Germany and Austrit
have given us important concessions in ex
change for the continued free importation O
their beet t-sugar product.
A few details only as to the increase in oul
tries with which arrangements have beer
made, our trade to June 80 1892 had increaset
2s,s per cent: with Cuba during tn the first ter
per cent; and with Porto IicO s5a6539 or 3
per cent. The liberal participation Of on
farmers in the benefits of this policy is show
by the following report from our Consul Gen
eral at Havana under date of July 20 last:
During the first half year Of 1891, Havana re
other ports of the island about an equa
amount. or approx imateiy 2so,1l2 bags. Dur
Ing the same period Havana received 1897
bags OF American -four and other ports approx
imateiy an equal amount. making about 2s,oo
bags.
But for the first half of this year Spain ha
sent less than LOCO bags to the whole islan'
alone los 49, bags and about an equal amour
to other ports OF the island, making approx
Partly by reason of the reciprocal trad
agreement but more largely by reason of tn
removal of the sanitary restrictions agains
Germany increased during the ten month
ending June 30 last s2,o25,o74 or about 32 pc
cent.
The British Trade Journal of London, in
recent issue, speaking of the increase of Amcri
can coal exports and of the falling OFT OF tn
English coal exports to Cuba says: 1T is an
g other case of American competition. Th
United States now supply Cuba with abou
15o,o0O tons of coal annually, and there is ever
prospect of this trade increasing as the forest
of the island become exhausted and the o
steam machinery on the estates is developed
Alabama coal especially is securing a reputa
tion in the Spanish West Indies, and the rive
and rail improvements of the Southern State
will undoubtedly create an important Gul
trade. The new reciprocity policy by whic
the United States are enabled to import Cuba
sugar will OF course assist the American Goa
exporters even more effectively than the ne,
lines of railway.
The President fears the loss Of pres
ent, and endangcring of future trade
If the Democrats are successful, for h
declares they favor repeal of the reel
procity provision. He further says:
The declaration of the platform in favor q
the American & doctrine % OF protection a meet ?;
did not adopt schedule but principle that
to control all the tariff schedules. There ma
as to the rate upon particular articles neces
sary to effect an equalization between wage
abroad and at home.
In some not remote national campaigns tn
issue has heen-or more correctly, has bee
made to appear to be-bctween a high and To-
protective tariff both parties expressing som
solicitOus regard for the wages Of our wOrkir
people and for the prosperity of our domesti
Industries. But under a more courageOu
leadership the Democratic party has no
practically declared that, II given power.
will enact tariff law without any regard t
its effect upon wages or upon the capital il
vested in our great Industries.
The majority report OF the Committee o
Platform to the Democratic National Conve1
tion at Chicago contained this clause:
That when cuStOnl-hOusc taxation ~ lev1e
upon articles OF any kind produced in th
country the difference between the cost
labor here and abroad, when such a difYeren.
exists, fully measures any possible benefits
labor, and the enormous additional impOss
tions Of the existing tariff fall with crushr
force upon our farmers and workingmen."
Here we have distinct admission of the Il
publican contention that American workme
are advantaged by tariff rate equal to Il
difference between home and foreign wage
nnd a declaration only against the alleged "a,
ditional impositions" of the existing tariff la,
Again, this majority report further declare
But in making q reduction in taxes it is nj
proposed to injure any domestic industrie
but rather to promote their healthy growt
Moreover, many industries have con
to rely upon legislation for successful col
tinuance, that any change of law must be
every step regardful Of the labor and the CAP
tai thus involved.
Here we have an admission that many
our industries depend upon protective duti
for their successful continuance" and decl
ration that tariff changes should be regartlf
of the workmen in such industries and of Il
invested capital.
The overwhelming rejection of these prop
sitions which had before received the sanctit
of Democratic National Conventions was n
more indicative of the new and more courag