The Portland daily press., 1898-08-03
HIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
Sent to the Notification Committee by
Rev. IF. Mckinney.

rev. l.. II. NAcNtuhSy'
The Rev. Luther h. Mckinney, the
Democratic nominee for Congress In tnls
district, has sent to the modification COM
mittee the following letter of acceptance:
To the Chairman and Members of the
Notification Committees:
Gentlemen-Your official communica-
ton informing me of my unanimous
nomination for Congress in the First
Maine District. was duly received.
This high honor that the convention
conferred upon me, as many of your as
sociates know, came to me without So
licitatlon on my part, and in fact, direct
ly against my personal wishes, as repeat
eddy expressed to those who solicited me
to accept the honor, before the conven-
ton assembled.
But the unanimity of the members of
the convention which placed me in nomt-
nation, prevented me from following my
own inolinations Mt the time, to decline
the nomination, but believing it to be
the duty of every American to answer
the call of his fellow citizens when he is
asked to lead them in a political contest,
l accept the honor the convention has
conferred upon me, fully realizing it's
responsibilities, and with n full determi-
nation to make the best of the opportuni-
ties that may come to the party in this
campaign, relying on the Democrats OF
UAlS ttlSuElCu w SIfo liiCt NAth oAO Op11St
candidates of the party, loyal and
united support.
1t is unnecessary to discuss hore the
platforms of the district and state con-
ventions; they have been promulgated,
and every Democrat should support the
principles therein expressed, whether
they are in all respects in harmony with
his personal preferences or not. 1t would
be impossible to formulate a platform
that would in all respects, meet tho per-
sonal views of every member of political
party. However, as long as we believe
in the principles of Democracy, we can
unite in opposing the common enemy
and place IN power, II victorious those
who will carry out the will of the con-
stituency which is responsible for their
election.
The candidate of a party, is q servant
of the party; when elected it is his high
est duty. to endeavor by all honorable
means, to represent the party. and II his
Office be legislative one, he should ad-
vocate such legislation as will be In har-
mony with party principle, and for the
best interests of the people. No honest
legislator will act upon issues of nation
al Importance without consulting the
wishes of mis- constituency and following
the Judgment of the majority thereof To
such line of conduct pledge myself, in
case shall be elected.
Our ChQQludU6 1OI 0Ob6lAOIy AAOls OhtA-
uel L. Lord, has in an able manner dis
cussed state issues in his letter OF accep-
tanoe, which fully endorse, and there
fore it Is unnecessary for me to refer to
the subject here. g
The Republican party was placed in
full control of the executive and legisla-
tive branches OF the government. by the
fought on the financial issues then be-
fore the country. The leaders of the
party then admitted that some financial
legislation was necessary, and promised,
il placed in power, to give the country
such legislation as would protect our
treasury from the necessity of repeated
bond sales, in order to keep our various
more elastic currency for the people.
The Republican leaders also promised
that if returned to power, they would
not enact tariff legislation that would
place SO heavy burden on imports as did
the Mckinley bill.
The first act of the President after his
Inauguration, was to call Congress TO-
revenues sufficient for the support of the
governments. The present Dingley law
was the result; the bill was not passed
simply with the idea Of revenue, but was
formulated with the idea Of protection.
every interest in the country being con-
suited regarding the protection they de-.
sired on their particular business; In
many cases the rates are much higher
than they were in the Mckinley law.
The present tariff law has been in force
more than year,yet it has not furnished
as much revenue from imports, as did
the Wilson law. and has come far short
of producing sufficient revenue for the
support of the government. 1t has utter
ly failed to restore our manufacturing
| ;rI vi To thoir or, "a
the party claimed it would. New Eng
land has never had greater industrial de-
preston than since the Dingley law was
enacted.
There has been universal cut in
wages and during the last winter there
was untold suffering caused by strikes,
that were brought about by reduction Of
wages Thus as regard the tariff, the
Republican party has utterly failed to
fulfil its promises, both as to the nature
of the law and the results that were
claimed for it.
The present Congress has been in ses-
sion since it came into power for more
than ten months. yet it has given the
country no financial legislation. except
the ssniorage," and that too in direct
violation of their pledges regarding a
question that they claimed to be para
mount.
Will the voters Of this country continue
party in power that has utter failed to
fulfil its pledges, on every important
issue before the country, while business
depression is the rule in all industrial
centres and labor is begging for living
wages?
The legislation of the Republican party
for 80 years, has tended to foster trusts
and monopolies, and under the influence
of that legislation tho rich have grown
constantly richer while the poor have
grown constantly poorer. Yet this legis-
lation has always been passed under the
plea of protection of the laboring classes.
With the present condition of our New
England manufactures and the reduced
wages Of labor; with the party in power
having broken it's pledges to the people,
we may enter upon the present cam
paign with confidence and ask the voters
to support the candidates of our party, a
party that has always believed in and
advocated equal rights for all.
The Democratic party is proud of the
brave men, both North and South, who
| SO promptly answered. the cali OF the
country in defence of humanity and
civilization, and who have SO bravely
borne the flag to victory. 1t is the duty
of every loyal citizen to support the ad-
n, in istratiOD Regardless of his politics in