Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-10-07
Mr. Cleveland's Letter Of Acceptance
Is Given to the
Public. FL 1
In 1t He Expresses His Views on M.
merous Questions Of the
Day. ,ai@~,
Not In Favor Of Free Silver Nor Abso.
lutte Free Trade - Other
Issues,

SNS 0AAoSN SV0VO6s
TO Hon. William L. Wilson and Others, Com
mittee, ETC.:
GENTLEMEN-In responding to your formal
notification of MY nomination to the presi-
dency by the national Democratic convention,
I hope I may be permitted to say at the outset
that continued reflection and observationh 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 q time, above all others, when these
questions should be considered in the light at
forded by q sober apprehension of the prin-
c1ples upon which our government 10 based and
q clear understanding of the relation it bears
to the people for whose benefit it was created.
We shall thus be supplied with q test by which
the value of any proposition relating to the
maintenance and administration Of our gov
eminent can be ascertained, and by which the
justice and honesty of every political question
can be judged. II doctrines or theories are
presented which do not satisfy this test, loyal
Americanism must pronounce them false and
misohiev0us.
,at The Tariff.
The protection of the people in the exclusive
use and enjoyment of their property and earn
1ngs concededly constitutes the especial pur-
pose and mission of our FREQ government.
This design is 80 interviewer with the struc-
ture of our plan of rule that failure to protect
Wan }SAsAASA AL DULL 0HO ~ ohJOy "CAVSO VI Gu6lx
unjustifable limitation by the government
Itself, is q betrayal of the peoples trust.
We have, however, undertaken to build a
great nation upon a plan especially our own.
To maintain it and to furnish through its
agency the means for the accomplishment of
willing, through federal taxation, to surrender
q part Of their earnings and income.
Tariff legislation prevents a familiar form
Of federal taxation. Such legislation results
Is surely In q tax upon the daily life of our
people as q tribute paid directly into the hands
Of the taxgatherer. We feel the burden of these
tariff taxes too palpable to be persuaded by
any sophlstry that they do not exist, or Are
paid by foreigners.
For Revenue Only.
Such taxes, presenting a diminution of the
property rights of the people, are only justifi-
able when laid and collected for the purpose
j OF maintaining our government. and furnish
ing the means for the accomplishment of it's
legitimate purposes and functions. This is
taxation under the operation Of a tariff for
revenue. 1t accords with the professions Of
American free institutions, and its justice and
honesty answer the test supplied by a correct
appreciation of the principles upon which
these institutions rest.
This theory Of tariff legislation manifestly
enjoins strict economy in public expenditures
and their limitation to legitimate public. uses,
inasmuch as it exhibits as absolute eXtortion
any exaction, by way of taxation, from the
substance of the people, beyond the necessities
of q careful and proper administration of gov
m
Opposed to this theory, the dogma is now
boldly presented that tariff taxation is justif-
able for the express purpose and intent of
thereby promoting especial interests and en-
terprises. SUCH q proposition is so clearly con-
trary to the spirit of our constitution and SO
directly encourages the disturbance by selfish
ness n greed Of patriotic sentiment, that its
statement would rudely shock our people if
they had not already been insidiously allured
from the safe landmarks of principle. Never
have honest desires for national growth, pa-
triotic devotion to country and sincere regard
for those WIN toll been so betrayed to the sup
port Of a pernicious doctrine. In its behalf
the plea that our infant industries should be
fostered did service until discredited by our
stalwart growth; then followed the exigencies
of q terrible wal which made our people heed
less Of the opportunities for Interior schemes
afforded by their willing and patriotic pay
ment of unprecedented tribute; and now, after
q long period of peace, when our overburdened
countrymen ask for relief and a restoration to
q fuller enjoyment of their incomes and earn
ings, they are met by the claim that tariff tax
alton for the sake of protection is an Ameri-
can system. the continuance of which is neces-
sary in order that high wages may be paid to
our workingmen and q home market be pro.
vided for our farm products.
Should No Longer Deceive.
These pretenses should no longer deceive.
The truth is that such a system is directly an
tagoniZed by every sentiment Of justice and
fairness of which Americans are pre-emi-
nently proud. It is also true that viii Q our
workingmen and farmers can, the least OF all
our people, defend themselves against the
harder home life which such tariff taxation
DEGREES, the w~orkingnan suffering from the
81 S,,r Cvfo<sD a I'D w, 20 49,
instigated by his professed friends, and seek
ing security for his interests in organized CO.
operation, still waits for a division Of the adj
vantages secured to his employer under cover
of . generous solicitude for .his wages, while
the farmer is learning that the prices Of his
products are fixed in foreign; markets, where
h he suffers from q competition invited and
built up by the system he is asked to support.
sI tn struggle for unearned advantage al the
doors Of the government tramples on the
rights Of those who patiently rely upon assur-
ances of American equality. Every govern
mental concession to clamorous favorites in
;V1tes corruption In political affairs by encour-
aging the expenditure Of money to debauch
suffrage In support Of q policy directly favor.
sgsAbie to private and selfish gain. This in the
end must strangla patriotism and weaken pon-
plar confidence in the rectitude Of Republican
institutions. @
Equalixe the blessings and Burdens,
Though the subject of tariff legislation In.
wolves 9 question Of markets, 1t also involves
2 question Of morals. We cannot with Inn
punity permit injustice 10 faint the spirit Of
right and equity which is the life Of our re-
public, and we shall fail to reach our national
destiny il greed and selflshness lead the way.
Recognizing these truths, the national
Democracy will seek by the application OF
Just and sound principles to equaIize to our
people the blessings due them from the gov
srnment they support, to promote among our
n countrymen ac.oser community Of interests
eementeds by patriotic and national pride. and
to point out o fair field, where prosperous and
diversified American enterprise may grow and
thrive In the wholesome atmosphere ofAmeri-
can industry, ingenuity and intelligence.
Tariff reform is still our purpose. Though we
i oppose the theory that tarin laws may be
Passed having for their object the granting OF q
n discriminating and unfair governmental aid
70 privsts ventures, we wage 10 exterminatinx
war against any American interests. We be-
n leye q reimbursement can be accomplished ID
accordance with the principles we profess,
without disaster or demolition. We believe
That The advantage of freer raw materials
\ should be accorded to our manufacturers and
~ contemplAts . fair md careful distribu-