The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-19
Accepting Republican Nomina-
tiOn for Vice President.
PERIL IN DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
State Banks and Free Trade Would
Paralyze the Country's Business.
Tammany Boss Gilroy for Mayor OF Now
York-Senator Proctor Reelected
Speech by Foraker at New York
Stones Thrown At Gov. Mckinley.


Whitelaw Reid, Republican candidate for
vice president The letter is addressed to
Hon. W. I. Durbin, Anderson, Ind, and
begins:
When the nomination with which the ma.
nonai convention has honored me was formally
announced by your committee j accepted it at
once. In so doing l also accepted tho prn-
clpies set forth IN the resolutions adopted by
tne convention as the basis Of its appeal TO pop
uiar suffrage. There Will be no misunderstand-
ing ms TO the purposes of the Republican party
IN this contest. and no doubt a. TO the attitude
OF It's candidates.
The party pl atforms are more imrortaut this
year than usual. Tho declarations by our op-
ponents demand close scrutiny, as their victory
now would give them the first opportunity they
nave hao since 1859 to put in practice their
policy. 1t is obvious that in the common judg-
ment OF the people the really vital issues this
wear are those relating to the taF fl and currency.
fortunately both sides have stated their posi-
uons on these subjects with directuess, sim
piicity and frankness. The issues thus made
between the rival candidates is especially sharp
anu distinct We maintain that the tarif should
cover the difference in cost of homo and foreign
productions caused by the difference in home
ana foreign wages. Our opponents distinctly
repudlate the proposition that American wages
should be considered in the matter, and declare
instead that tariff levied lor anything but
revenue only is unconstitutional. AS the Lon
don Times naturally remarked, this policy is not
to be distinguished from free trade. Should
the American peop'e now choose the Republican
candidates tho present tariff would etand,
or when amended would only be so changed IS
to insure closer conformity to the principles on
which 1t was made If our opponents are
chosen. their congress is pledged to the repeal
OF the present tariff and to the adoption of one
arranged for revenue only, and their executive
is pledged to the doctrine that a tariff having
regard also for American wages, is unconstitu-
tional. We maintain that the present tariff
has worked we'll, developed American
manufactures, stesdied and increased
American wages, and promoted general
Prosperity. Our opponents deny all this, and
denouuce the Republican policy, which they
say fosters no other industry so much as that of
the sheriff.
We favor q system by which when We think
the country is really for reduction or abolition
of duties, we can insist upon getting correspond
ing and reciprocal advantages from foreign
countries. Our opponents denounce reciprocity
as a sham, and therefore inferentiaily pledge
themselves to its repeal.
Ihe corstitutionality of protective tariff has
heretofore been thought to be established. A
tariff bill was carried through the First con-
gress and signed by Washington. One-third of
a century later Andrew Jackson maintained the
had Jefferson and Monroe, who each repeatedly
recommended the exercise of this right under
the constitution. To this testimony from the
men who made the constitution, and from the
father of the modern Democratic party
may be added that of a later high
authority of the Democratic party on
constitutional law, Hon. George Ticknor
Curtis, who recently said he could not subscribe
to the doctrine: that the protective tariff had
been vindicated by the experience OF the last
thirty years. the most wonderful period OF
financial success oyer unheard iiiculties in the
record of modern civilization. Under it aud
by its aid the Republican management of our
finances has resulted in the payment OF q ma
tional debt in the shortest time known to his
tory, and in the simultaneous development of
the industries of the country and TIE prosperity
OF the people on a scale without parallel.
Eight years ago. in a mastery public paper,
James g. Blaine called attention to the revela-
tions of the United states census as to the net
results of the labor and savings of the American
people under the system of protection. The
true value of all property in the United States,
excluding slaves, was set down in the census of
1850 at $4,000, 10000, that being what there
was TO show for go years of toll. With the
success of the Republican party that year
the Republican protective policy (which
has since prevailed was introduced. In the
census OF 1850 the true value of property in the
UUiteu states was SET QDWu At $1i.
making the increase over double tho eutire
growth of the previous go years. 1t appears
that the property of the United States has still
further increased in the last ten years by sl4-
0CJ, ,000,010 making . total increase in thirty
years of Republican rule and under a Repub-
lican protective tariff of $4,000, ,0o0coo, against
3li.0lO.ooo0oo earned in the previous 80 years.
Our opponents deny that .herc has been any
increase OF prosperity; declare that wages have
dana .
been fortunate Circumstance for an impartial
public that in the regular course OF official duty
a number OF Democratic officers have been re-
qured TO report statistics in
eral departments bearing upon the sub
iect These reports show an increase
during the year 1891 in wages, in value of
products, in deposits n savings banks or build
ing and loan associations, and in the vaIne OF
real and personal property. These official Demo-
cratic refutatIons OF Democratic denials that
the country is prosperous are confirmed by
the personal experience and observation Of the
people at large.
At the close of the fiscal year in June last, tho
reciprocity policy had been in operation but
few months, and under ali the disadvantages
attending the opening of new lines of trade in
fore gn countries II has increased our trade
with the foreign countries to which
il has been applied 1913 per cent
There has been a still greater increase.
amounting on September l TO 2..os per cent
The net value of The sham reciprocity, there
FORE TO the United states. in brief period and
during its infancy. Was 81. .5Ge.o4 To abandon
this system, which Is absolutely equitable on
both sides. which costs US nothing aud which
brings such results. would be madness, while TO
denounce II as a sham is ar untguth.
On the subject OF the currency tho issue be-
tween the Republican party ard ita opponents
are almost as sharply defined as on the tariff
We demand that every dollar, paper, silver or
gold, shall lie made and kept as good any
other dollar. Our opponents, while protesting
the same desire. demand that the national
bank currency shall be broken down By the
repgal Of the 10 per cent tax On
the issues of stste banks No human being
ever lost a dollar by the note OF national bank,
solvent or otherwise, while the losses by state
banks are counted by tens OF millions 1t is
true that the gradual payment OF government
bonds may require some change in the securi-
ties demanded as guarantee for national bank
notes buttne party which devised the system
and made IL a magnificent success may De relied
upon
There il good reason to hope for sons practi-
eal union OF effor, for common solution OF the
silver: problem. with the increased use OF sii-
vsr through the international silver confer
ence bu. in any event, the country has learned
to trust the financial skill and integ rity OF the
Repn biican party and 10 distrust its opponents,
Itissstatement which no candid business
.uthori v, " ha;ever its political tendencies. can
deny, that the adoption now OF the policy pnr-
sued by our opponents Ia thei. declaration OF
principles as repeal OF the present tariff for
the passage OF . tasi1 for revenue Only ana