Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-06

ter of accepting the Republican nomination
for the office of President of the United
States.
Washington, ID. c., Sept. s. 1892.
Hon William Mckinley, Jr. and others oi
the Committee, etc. Gentlemen;
now avail myself of the first period OF
relief from public duties to respond 10 the
notification you brought HE on June 20ih,
of my nomination for the office of presi-
dent of III. United States, by the Hepubli-
can National Convention, recently held at
MINNEAPOLIS.
accept the nomination and am grateful
for the approval expressed by the conyen-
ton of the acts of the administration.
have endpavored without waverlng or wear
ness so far as the direction of public af-
fairs was committed to me. to carry out the
pledges made to the people in 1855. If the
policies of the administration have not been
dis,inctiyely and progressively American
and Republican policies, the faul, has not
been in the purpose, but in the execution.
\ vote of want of confidence is asked by
our adyersaries and this challenge of review
of what has been done We promptly and
gladly accept. The great work of the 5lst
Congress has been subjected to the revision
of the Democratic House of Representa-
tiyc., and the acts of the Executive depart
ment i. its scrutiny and investigation A
Democratic national administration was
succeeded by Republican administration
an, the freshness of the events gives un-
usual facilities for fair comparison and
judgment.
There has seldom been time | think
when the change from the declared policies
of the Democratic party involved such Sc
rious results TO the business interests of the
country \ brief review of what had been
done and of What the Democratic party pro-
poses to undo, will justify this opinion.
The Republican party during the civil
war devised u national currency, consisting
of nited States notes issued and redeem
able by the government, and of national
bank notes. based upon the security of
I-r'tcd States bonds \ tax was levied
upon the issues of state banks and the i'll
tended result that all such issues should be
withdrawn, was realized.
Our money is all national money.
might almost say international, for these
bills are not only equally and indiscriml-
nately accepted at par in all states, but IN
some foreign countries. The Democratic
party. if entrusted with the control of the
government i, now pledged to repeal the
tax on state bank issues, with the view to
putting into circulation again, under such
diverse legislation as states may adopt, Il
food of local bank issues.
only those who in wears before the war,
experienced the inconvenience and losses
attendant upon the use of such money, can
appreciate what a return to that system IN
wolves.
The President saws few subjects have eli
cited more discussion or excited more gen
eral interest than the recovery by the
Uritcd States of its appropriate share of
the american carrying trade.
rhis subject touches not only
onr pocket, but our national pride.
Great steamship lines of Europe have been
built up and are now in part sustained by
direct or Indirect government aid. the latter
taking the form of liberal pay for carrying
the mails. or IN annual bonus given in con-
sileration of agreements to construct ships.
to adapt them for CARRYING armament and
turn them over to the government on de
maml, upon specified terms.
1t is plain to every 'ntelligcnt american
that the United States should have such
lines and similar policy must be entered
upon. The 5lst Congress enacted such II
law and under its henctcieni influence, lb
american steamships of an aggregate ton
mage of 400 tons, costing 100 600
were built in American ship yards.
In addition to this it is now practically
certain that We shall soon have, under the
american flag, one of the finest steamship
lines sailing ont 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 costing about s. 900 600, and
will add to onr naval reserve SIX steam
ships the fastest upon the sea.
In speaking of the establishment of lines
from our south Atlantic and gulf ports the
President declares that the Democratic
party found no place in it platform for ~
mention of this important subject, and has
shown its hostility to the general policy by
refusing to cxpenl the appropriation, made
during the last administration. for ocean
mail contracts with American lines.
The President makes lengthy staten ent
in regard to the reciprocity policy. 1t Is
now in practical operation, he says, with
five nations of Central and South America
Sah Domingo. Spanish and British Yves
India Islands. German and Austria, under
special trade arrangements with each,
lie says: We have only begun to rea-
lizc the benefit of these trade arrange
ments. The work of creating new agencies
and adapting our goods to new markets has
necessarily taken time; but the
results already attained are such
| am sure as to establish in
popular favor the policy of reciprocal
trade based upon free importation of such
articles as do no injuriously compete with
the products of our own farms. mines u.
factories, in exchange for the free OF
favored introduction of our products IN
other countries.
The declaration of the plat form in favor
of the American doc,;ine of protection
meets my most hearty approval. The con
vention did not adopt a schedule, but The
principle that is TO control all tarih sched-
ules. There may be a difference of opIn-
ion among prOtectionists as to the rste upon
the particular articles necessary to effect
an equalization between wages abroad an
at home.
In some not remote nationa II campaigns
the issue has been or more correctly has
been made to appear to he high and low
protective tariff-hoth parties eNpressin2
snme .ol;citious regard for the wages oi
onr working people. and for the prosperity
Of our domestic industries.
Hnt under more courageous leadership.
tbe democratic marty has now PRACTICAL,
iec,ared, thai If even the power. it vii
an,ct , tarie law without any regard to it,
o1cc, mon the WAGES or npon the capita
;nve.,.d /, onr creat industries.
4 Democratic Cong ;ess holding this view
cannot enact. nor a Democrat Presiden. ap
move anv tariff schedule. the purpose o.
e,fec, Of which Is 10 liuit the importation