Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-09-09
HARRLSONiS LETTER OF ACCEP-
TANCE.

President Harrison's long delayed letter
OF acceptance has at last been given to the
public, and is possibly more remarkable for
what it doesn t say than for what it does.
It also enjoys the distinction Of being the
longest document Of the kind on record,
and resembles more a message to congress
than declaration of principles upon the
acceptance of political candidacy. Many
minor subjects are treated at length. but
those upon which most stress are laid is the
protective tariff and reciprocity. The for
mer he regards under the provis ions of
the Mckinley bill-as the source of Ma
tional prosperity, which among other bless
ings raises the price of farm products, and
at the same time lowers the cost of articles
that the farmer has to buy. With glaring
inconsistency with the protective idea he I'M
dertakes to defend reciprocity, furnishing
statistics to prove the good which has re-
suited from our expanded commercial rela-
lions with other countries, forgetting that
if unrestricted commerce with a few ma
lions has proven SO beneficial, an extension
of that policy would be more so. Reciproc-
ity is nothing more nor less than free trade.
Another significant mistake of
Mr.. Harrison is his admission that the
placing of sugar upon the free list has saved
the consumers of the country $S7,OOO,OOO
When the duty is taken off the price to the
consumer is reduced. This shows the
American voter avho pays the tao, and gives
him an idea of what might be saved if the
duty on some of the other necessities of life
were reduced, as is the policy of the Dem
ocratic party. In reference to the Force
bill the President evidently recognizes that
he is on slippery ground, SO treads gingerly
In the South the measure is solidifying the
democrats and estranging mango the best
republic ans. In the North, where it was
expected to prove strong hand, it has been
received with disfavor among the more
conservative element, so without dropping
the measure he suggests the appointing of
a committee of investigation. That means
nothing except that Mr.. Harrison is scared
His party out Of the full possession of the
government and himself candidate for re-
election, it is the sheer desperation of par
tlsan fright, for which the country will
give him no credit. No one believes for an
instant that MI. Harrison has undergone
any change of mind OF that he has lost any
love for his cherished idea. With Repub-
lican House and himself again in the presi-
Dental chair he would pipe !. different tune
for the helpless South to dance to.
In the Southern States which have re-
Gently held elections there seems to he
nothing to encourage OF support the Repub-
lican boast that the sold South will be bro
ken. Arkansas, with four tickets in the
field, has just swept the State with a
most decis i've Democratic majority.
In Alabama the indications are that
the factions will harmonic, and in South
Carolina the Democrats have shown such
strength that many Of the best informed
politicians think the State will give Cleve-
land her usual overwhelming Democratic
majority. North Carolina, another dainty
plum that the Republican mouth has been
watching and coyeting, has awakened to her