Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-26

Esopus, N. Y, Sept. 26.-The letter
accepting the nomination for presi-
dent on the democratic ticket was
given out for publication by Judge
Alton B. Parker, today. In it he refers
to his speech delivered to the nottfica-
ton committee and reiterates what he
said then with further remarks upon
the main issues Of tariff. governments
expenses, trusts and reciprocity. On
the main issues he declares himself ~
follows:
wish here, however, again to refer
my Views there expressed as TO the
gold standard, to declare again my un-
qualified belief in said standard, and
to express my appreciation Of the ac-
ton of the convention in reply to my
communication upon that subject.
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform is one Of the cardlnaI
principles of the democratic faatn, aho
the necessity for it WAS never greaIsrs
than at the present time. 1t snouio g
undertaken at once in the interest," "
all our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive IN
MANY of it's rates. and. as to them as
least, unjustly and oppressively DUR
dens the people. 1t secures to domestlc
manufacturers, singly or in c0mbina-
ton. the privilege of exacting excess
siye prices at home and prices far
above the level of sales made regularly
by them abroad with profit, thus giv.
ing bounty to foreigners at the exs
pense Of our own people. Its unjusi
taxation burdens the people generally.
forcing them to pay excessive prices
for food. fuel, clothing and other nec.
essaries of life It levles duties on
many articles not normally imported
in any considerable amount, which are
made extensively at home. for which
the most extreme protectionist would
hardly justify protective taxes ana
which in large amounts are exported.
Such duties have been and will contin-
ne to be a direct incentive to the for
nation Of huge Industrial combina.
tions which, secure from foreign conn
petition, are enabled to stifie domestic
competition and practically to monop-
olize the home market.
IT contains many duties imposed for
the express purpose only, as was OPEN
Nv avowed. of furnishing a basis for
reduction. by means of reciprocal trade
treaties. which the republican admin
istration, impliedly at least, promised
to negotiate. Having, on this promise,
secured the increased duties, the re-
publican party leaders, spurred on BY
protected interests, defeated the treat
les negotiated by the executive. and
now these same interests cling to the
benefit Of these duties which the peo@
ple never intended they should have,
and to which they have no moral
right.
Even now the argument most frs
nuently uraed in behalf of the Dingley
tariff. and against tariff reform gener-
ally. is the necessity OF caring for our
infant Industries Many OF these in-
dustries, after hundred years OF lusty
growth, are looming up as industrial
giants. In their case, at least, the
Dingley tariff invites combination and
monopoly, and gives justification to the
expression that the tariff is the mother
of trusts.
For the above mentioned reasons,
among many others, the people demand
reform Of these abuses, and such re-
form demands and should receive i'm.
mediate attention.
The two leading parties have always
differed as to the principle OF customs
taxation. Our party has always ad-
yanced the theory that the object is
the raising of revenue for support OF
the government, whatever results may
incidentally flow therefrom. The re-
publican party, on the other hand, con-
tends that customs duties should be
levied primarily for protection. So
called, with revenue as the subordf-
nate purpose. thus using the power OF
taxation to build up the business ana
property Of the few at the expense Of
the many.
The difference Of principle still SUBJ
sists but our party appreciates that
the long continued policy of the coun-
try, as manifested in its statutes.
makes it necessary that tariff reform
should be prudently and sagaciously
undertaken, on scientific principles, to
the end that there should not be an
immediate revolution In existing condi-
tions.
In the words Of our platform we de-
mand "a revision and a gradual re-
duction OF the tariff by the friends OF
the masses and for the common veal
and not by the friends of its abuses,
its extortions and determinations
1t is true that the republicans who
do not admit in their platform that the
Dingley tariff needs the slightest alter
alton, are likely to retain a majority
of the federal state thruout the next
presidential term, and could, therefore,
IL they chose, block every attempt at
legislative relief But 1t should be
remembered that the republican party
includes many revisionists. and l be-
leve 1t Will shrink from defylng ths
popular will. expressed enthusiastically
and peremptoriIy at the ballot box.