The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-08
HE ACCEPTS.
Grover Cleveland DiSsectS the
Issues Of the Day.
Tariff Taxation Beyond the Necessi-
ties of Economical Government
In Times of Peace UnJusti1able-He Says;
"Tarifr Reform Is still Our Purpose"
The Force Bill, The Currency,
Pensions, Nicaragua Canal.


Cleveland has given out his letter of
acceptance of the democratic presiden-
tial nomination. He says:
"Gentlemen-In responding to your
formal notification of my nomination
to the presidency by the national de-
mocracy, 1 hope l may be permitted to
say at the outset, that continued reflec-
ton and observation have confirmed me
in my adherence to the opinions which
/ have heretofore plainly and publicly
declared touching the questions involved
in the canvass.
"This is the time, above all others,
when these questions should be consid-
cred in the light afforded by a sober
apprehension of the principles upon
which our government is based and a
clear understanding of the relation it
bears to the people for whose benefit it
was created. We shall thus be supplied
with test by which the value of any
proposition relating to the maintenance
and administration of our government
can be ascertained, and by which the
justice and honesty 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-
chievous.
1.-THE protection of the people in the
exclusive use and enjoyment of their
property and earnings concededly con-
stitutes the especial purpose and
mission of our free government
This design is so interwoven
with the structure of our plan of
rule that failure to protect the citizen
in such use and enjoyment, or their un-
justifable diminution by the govern
ment itself, is betrayal of the peoples
trust
1--WE have, however, undertaken to
build a great nation upon plan espe-
cially our own. To maintain it and to
furnish, through its agency, the means
for the accomplishment of national OBJ
jects, the American people are willing
through federal taxation to surrender
part of their earnings and income.
''Tarif legislation poesents familiar
form of federal taxation. Such legisla-
ton results as surely in tax upon the
daily life of our people as the tribute
paid dir ectly into the hand of the tax
gather. We feel the burden of these
tariff taxes too palpably to be persuad-
ed by any sophistry that they do not
exist, or are paid by foreigners.
"Such taxes, representing diminu-
ton of the property rights of the peo-
pie, are only justifable when laid and
collected for the purpose of maintain
ing our government, and furnishing
la lo 1ich ~
its legitimate purposes and functions.
This is taxation under the operation of
a tariff for revenue. 1t accords with
The professions of American free insti-
tutions, and its justice and honesty
answer the test supplied by correct
appreciation of the principles upon
which these institutions rest.
"The theory of tariff legislation man
ifestly enjoins strict economy in public
expenditures, and their limitation to le-
g innate public uses, inasmuch as it ex-
iibits as absolute eXtortion any exac-
lion by way of taxation, from the sub
stance of the people, beyond the neces-
sites of careful and proper admins
tration of government.
Opposed to this theory, the dogma Is
now boldly presented that tariff tax
alton is justifable for the express pur-
pose and intent of thereby promoting
especial interests and enterprises. Such
proposition is so clearly contrary to
the spirit of our constitution, and so di-
rectly encourages the disturbance, by
selfishness and greed, of patriotic senti-
ment, that its statement would rudely
shock our people if they had not al
ready been insidiously allured from the
safe landmarks of principle. Never
have honest desire for the National
growth, patriotic devotion to country
and sincere regard for those who toll
been so betrayed to the support of a
pernicious doctrine.
'In its behalf, the plea that our in
FAINT industries should be .fostered did
service until discredited by our stall
wart growth then followed the eXi-
gencies of a terrible war, which made
our people needless of the opportunities
| for ulterior schemes afforded by their
willing and patriotic payment Of un-
precedented tribute; and now, after a
long period of peace, when our over
burdened countrymen ask for relief and
a restoration to fuller enjoyment OF
their incomes and earnings, they are
met by the claim that tariff taxation
! for the sake of protection is an Ameri-
can system, the continuance of which is
necessary in order that high wages NAV
/ be paid to our worlIingmen, and home
market be provided for our farm prod.
| ucts.
"These pretenses should no longer
deceive. The truth is that such sys.
tenn is directly antagonized by every
sentiment of justice and fairness OF
which Americans are pre-eminently
proud. 1t is also true that, while our
workingmen and farmers can, the leas,
of all our people, defend themselves
against the harder home life which
such tariff taxation increases, the work
ingman suffering from the importation
and employment of pauper labor, in
stigated by his professed friends, anc
seeking security for his interests
in organized cooperation, still
waits for division of the ad
vantages secured to his EN-
ployer under cover of a generous, so
licitude for his wages, while the farmer
is learning that the prices of his prod
ucts are fixed in foreign markets, wher,
he suffers from a competition invited
and built up by the system ne is asked
to support.
''The struggle for unearned ndvan
tage at the doors of the government
tramples on the rights of those wht
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