Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-15
HARRISON ACCEPTS.
His Letter to the Republican Com
mittee.
He States the Position OF the Republican
Party and Tells What the Tariff Has
Done for the Country-His Views
on Many Public Questions.

afternoon President Harrison, through
Secretary Halford, gave out for publica-
ton his letter accepting the presiden-
tial nomination on the republican ticket
The letter bears the date of Septembe
s, and is as follows:
Hon. William Mckinley, Jr., and Others Com
mfttee, etc:
Gentlemen-I now avail myself OF the first
period OF relief from public duties to respond to
the Motif cation that you brought June
20. Of my nomination for the Office OF president
OF the United States by the republican national
convention recently held at Minneapolis.
1 accept the nomination and am grateful for
the approval expressed by the convention Of the
acts of the administration
have endeavored without wavering or weari-
ness, so far the direction of public affairs
was committed to me. TO carry out the pledges
made to the people in 1888 II the policies of
the administration have not been distinctly
and progressively American and republican
policies, the fault has not been in the purpose
but In the execution
shall speak frankly of the legislation of
congress and of the work of the executive de-
partments. for the credit of any successes that
have been attained Is due to others-senators
and representa- tiyes-and not the efficient heads
Of the several executive departments may
do so without impropriety A vote of want of
confidence fsasked by our adversaries and this
challenge 70 review OF what has been done we
promptly and gladly accept.
The great work OF the Fifty-first congress has
been subject to the revision OF a democratic
house of representaifv lives and the acts OF the
executive department to its scrutiny and in
SestigatiOn A democratic national admins
tratfon was succeeded By republican admin
istration, and the freshness of the events gives
unusual facilities for fair comparison and judg-
ment There has seldom been time, think.
when a change from the declared policies of
the republican to the declared policies Of the
democratic party involved such serious results
to the business interests Of the country.
fNriaf hos
the democratic party proposes to undo will just
nysthis opinion
The republican party during the civil war, de-
vised national currency, consisting of United
States notes, issued and redeemable by the
government and national bank notes based up
on the security of United States bonds. A tax
was levied upon the issues of state banks and
the intended result. that all such issues should
be Withdrawn, was realized There are men
among US now who never saw state bank note
Bank failures have brought no fright, delay or
loss to the bill holders The note of insolv-
emit bank is as good and as current as a treas
urynote-for the credit of the United States
IS behind it.
Our money is all national money! might al
most say international-for these bills are not
only equally and fndiscrimina tely accepted at
par in all the states, but in some foreign coun-
tries. The democratic party, If intrusted with
tho control OF the government, Is now pledged
to repeal the tax on state bank issues with a
view to putting I'M circulation again. under
such diverse Legislation the state may
cept, food of local bank issues. Only those
who in the years before the war experienced
the Inconvenience and losses attendant upon
the uses OF such money can appreciate what a
return to that system involves.
The denomination of a bill was then often no
indication of its value. The bank detector of
yesterday was not a safe guide to-day to
creditor values Merchants deposited several
times during the day lest the hour of bank
closing should show depreciation of the
money taken in the morning. The traveller
could not use in a jou rney to the east. the is
sues of the most solvent banks of the west, and
in consequence a money changers office was
the familiar neighbor of the ticket office and
the lunch counter. The farmer and laborer
found the money received for their products or
their labor deprecated when they came to
make their purchases, and the whole business
of the country was hindered and burdened.
Changes may become necessary but national
system of currency, safe and acceptable
throughout the whole country, is the good fruit
OF bitter experiences, and am sure our people
will not consent to the reactionary proposal
made by the democratic party.
None OF these subjects have ELECTED more
discussion or excited more general interest
than the recovery by the United States Of it's
appropriate share of its carrying
trade This subject touches not only our
pockets but our national pride. Practically
al the freightS for transporting to Europe
the enormous annual SUPPLIES OF provisions furn-
ished by.this country and for the large return
OF manufacturing products have for many years
been paid to foreign ship owners. Thousands
VI immigrants annually seeking homes under
.c0r flag have been denied the sight of Ii until
Fthey entered Sandy Hook, while increasing
thousands OF American citizens bent
European tnavel have each year stepped into
foreign Jurisdiction at the New York docks
The merchandise balance of trade, which the
treasury books show is largely reduced by the
annual tribute which we pay for freight
and passage moneys. The great ShipS-the
fastest upon the sea-which are now, in peace
10 Nv ur trad "a arg ir
war ships of their respective governments. and
In time Of war would, under existing contracts
with those governments, speedily take the
guns for which their decks are already pre-
pared and enter with terrible efficiency upon
the work of destroying our commerce
The undisputed facts are that the grea t
steamship lines of Europe are built up and are
now in part sustained by direct or indirect gov
eminent aid, the latter taking the form of
liberal pay for carrying the mails Of an
nual bonus given in consideration of agree
ments to construct ships SO as to adapt them
for carrying an armament and to turn them
over to the government on demand upon speci-
fed terms
1t plain to every intelligent American
that II the United States would have such lines
similar policy must be entered upon. The
Ffty-frst congress enacted such q Law and
under its benefcent influence, sixteen Ameri-
can steamships at an aggregate tonnage
OF $500 tons and costing S7,4)0,0Oo have
been built or contracted to be built in
American shipyards. In addition to this ii
Is now practically certain that we shall soon
shave un3er the American flag one OF the finest
steamship lines sailing out of New York for any
European port This contract will result in
the construction in American yards of four new
passenger steamships of 10000 tons each cost
Ng about SIS, coo 900 and will add to our naval re
Aerve six steamships, the best upon the sea.
The Tariff.
Mr.. Harrison is satisfied with the re-
suits of the reciprocity movement
which he says has alarmed Europe with
the fact that n new commercial contest
ant is in the field. He refers to the
pressure brought to bear under it upor
Germany and other countries to compel
the resembling of discriminating law.
and duties On the tariff he saws:
The democratic platform promises a repeal Of
the tariff law containing this provision ans
especially denounces as sham the reciprocit,
section of the law under which these trade ar
rangements have been made. II no other issu.
were involved in the CAM aign this alone would
give it importance Are the farmers of tn,
great grain growing states willing to surrende
these new. large and increasing markets 70
their surplus? Are we to have nothing in ex
change for the free importation of sugar anc
coffee and at the time TO destro,
the sugar planters of the south ans
the beet sugar industry OF the northwest and
OF the Pacific coast, or are we to have the taxes
sugar and coffee which tariff for revenu,
only" necessarily involves with the added los.
Of the new markets which have been made a.