Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-30

so vast a number of the people of the United States, is a most distinguished honor, for which I would not conceal my high appreciation, although deeply sensi- ble of the great responsibilities of the trust and my inability to bear them without the generous and constant sup port of my fellow countrymen.
 As is the honor conferred, equally arduous and important is the duty im- posed. and in accepting the one assume the other, relying upon the patriotic de- votion of the people to the best interests of our beloved country and the sustain ing care and aid of Him without whose support all we do is empty and vain. Should the people ratify the choice of the great convention for which you speak, my only aim will be to promote the public good, which in America is always the good of the greatest number, the honor of our country and the welfare of the people.
 The questions to be settled in the na- tional contest this year are as serious and important as any of the great gov ernmental problems that have confront ed us in the past quarter of century. They command our sober judgment and a settlement free from partisan preJu- dices and passion, beneficial to ourselves and befitting the honor and grandeur of the republic. They touch every interest of our common country. Our industrial
  business and our commercial prosperity, our labor and its rewards, our national credit and currency, our proud financial honor and our splendid free citizenship the birthright of every American-are all involved in the pending campaign, and thus every home in the land is directly and intimately connected with their proper settlement. Great are the issues involved in the coming election and eager and earnest the people for their. rights and determinations.
 Our domestic trade must be won back and our idle working men employed in gainful occupations at American wages. Our home market must be restored to it's proud rank of first in the world, and our foreign trade, so precipitately cut on by adverse national legislation, reopened on fair and equitable terms for our surplus of agricultural and manufacturing prod ucts. Protection and reciprocity, twin measures of @ true American policy, should again command the earnest en- couragement of the government at Wash ington. Public confidence must be re- stunned, and the skill, the energy and the capital of our country find ample employ ment at home, sustained, encouraged and defended against the unequal competition and serious disadvantage with which they are now contending.
 The government of the United states must raise enough money to meet both it's current expenses and incre1sing needs. Its revenues should be so raised as to pro- tect the material interests of our people, with the lightest possible drain upon their resources, and maintain that high stand ard of civilization which has distinguish ed our country for more than century of it's existence.
 The income of the government repeat, should equal its necessary and proper expenditures. A failure to pursue this policy has compelled the government to borrow money in time of peace to sus- tain its credit and pay its daily expenses. This policy should be reversed, and that, too as speedily as possible. It must be apparent to all, regardless of past party ties or affiliations, that 1t Is our para mount duty to provide adequate revenue for the expenditures of the government economically and prudently administered. The republican party has heretofore done this and confidently believe it will do it in the future, when the party IS agdin entrusted with power in the executive and legislative branches of our govern ment. ',..s'.-