Huntsville gazette., 1892-10-01
OF ACCEPTANCE.
CLEVELAND GIVES HIS LETTER
OUT FOR PUBLICATION.
Here Are His Views On ALI the Vital
Issues of the Campaign for
Political Supremacy.

NEW YORK. september 2o.-Ine IOl-
lowing is the letter of Grover Cleveland
accepting the nomination as the Demo
cratic candidate for president of the
United States:
GRAY GABLES, Mass, Sept q.
To Hon. William l.. Wilson and Others.
Committee:
GENTLEMEN-Tn responding to your for
NAL notification of my nomination to the
presidency by the National Democracy, l
hope may be permitted to say at the out
set that continued reflection and observa-
tion have confirmed in me my adherence
to opinions which / have heretofore plain
ly and publicly declared, touching the
questions involved in the canvass. This
is a time, above all others, when these
questions should be considered in the light
afforded by the sober apprehension OF
principles upon winch our government is
based and 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 mainte-
|
ment 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 salts
| fly this test loyal Americanism must pro-
nounce them false and mischieyous. The
protection of the people in the exclusive
use and enjoyment of their property and
earnings concededly constitutes the es
pecial purpose and mission of our free
government. This design is so interwov-
en- with the structure of our plan of rule
| that failure to protect citizen in such
| use or enjoyment or their justifiable dimi-
mutton by the G )vernment itself is a be-
trayal of the pe )ple's trust.
Tariff Reform.
| We have, however, undertaken to build
a great nation upon plan especially our
| own. To maintain it and to furnish,
| through its agency, means for the accom-
! plishment Of national Objects the Ameri-
can people are willing, through federal
| taxation, to surrender part of their earn
| ings and income. Tariff legislation pre-
sents familiar form of federal taxation.
| Such legislation results as surely in a tax
upon the daily life of oar people as the
1 tribute paid directly into the hands Of the
tax gatherer We feel the burden of these
tariff taxes too palpably to be persuaded
by any sophistry that they do not exist, as
they are paid by foreigners. Such taxes
representing diminution of the property
| rights of the people are only justitiable
when laid and collected for the purpose of
maintaining our government and furnish
| ing means for the accomplishment of it's
legitimate purposes and functions. THIS
is taxation under the operation of tariff
for revenue. 1t accords with the profes-
sions of the American free institutions,
and its justice and honesty answer the test
|supplied by correct appreciation of the
principles upon which these institutions
rest. This theory of tariff legislation
| manifestly enjoins strict enconomy in
public expenditures and their limitation
to legitimate public uses, inasmuch as it
prohibits absolute extortion and exaction,
by way of taxation, from the substance of
the people beyond the necessities of care
full and proper administration of the gov
| ernment.
Opposed to this theory, the dogma is
now boldly presented that tariff taxation
is justifable for the express purpose and
intent Of thereby promoting especial in
terests and enterprises. Such q PROPOSE
ton is SO clearly contrary to the spirit OF
our constitution and so directly encour-
ages disturbance by selfishness and greed
of patriotic sentiment that it's statement
would rudely shock our people, if they
had not already been insidiously allured
from the safe landmark of principle. Nev-
err has an honest desire for national
growth, patriotic devotion to country and
sincere regard for those who toll, been SO
betrayed by the support of pernicious
doctrine. In it's behalf, the plea that our
infaut industries should be fostered, did
service until discredited by our stalwart
growth; then followed the exigencies of a
terrible war which made our people heed
less of opportunities for the ulterior
schemes afforded by their willing and pa
triotic payment of unprecedented tribute;
and now, after long period of peace,
| when our overburdened countrymen ask
for relief and restoration to the fuller en-
joyment of their incomes and earnings,
they are met by the claim that tariff taxa
ton for the sake of protection is an Amer
ican system, the continuance of which is
necessary in order that high wages may
be paid to our workingmen and a home
market be provided for our farm pro
ducts These pretenses should no longer
deceive. Truth is such that the system is
directly antagonized by every sentiment
of Justice and fairness, of which Ameri
cans are pre-eminently proud 1t is also
true that while our people defend them
selves against the harder home life, which
such tariff taxation DEGREES, the working
man, suffering from the Importation and
employment of pauper labor instigated by
his professed friends and seeking security
for his interests in organized cooperation
still waits for division of the advantages
secured to his employer under the cover
of generous solicitude for his wages, while
the farmer is learning that the prices OF
his products are fixed in foreign markets
where he suffers from competition invited
and built up by the system he is asked tx
support. The struggle for unearned ad
vantage at the doors of the government
tramples on the rights of those who pa
tiently rely upon the assurance of Ameri
G can equality. Every governmental con
cession. to clamorous favorites invites cor
ruption in political affairs by encourag
Il ing the expenditure of money to debaucf
, suffrage in support of policy directly ia
vorable to private and selfish gain. Thi:
in the end must strangle patriotism anC
, weaken popular confidence in the recti
tude of republican institutions. Though
! the subject of tariff legislation invo.ve
the question of markets: it also involve
J the question of morals.
We cannot with impunity permit injus
tice to taint the spirit of right and equit,
(which is the life of our republic. and w
shall fail to reach our national destiny i
greed and selishness lead the way. Rec
ognizing these truths, the National De
mocracy will seek, by the application 0
: Just and sound principles. to equalize T.
Our peODle the blessings due them from