The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-10-06
Mr., DAVIS ACCEPST
Writes Letter to COmmitte Defining
Els Position
HIS VIEWS ON VARIOUS ISSUES
The Democratic Candidates for Vice
President Thinks the Times Are
Propitious for the Reinstatement OF
His Party in Control of the Govern
ment.

The letter OF acceptance Of Hon.
Henry G. Davis, candidate for vice
president on the Democratic ticket, has
been made public, and is in substance
as follows:
Hon. John Sharp Williams, Chairman,
and Other Members Of the Commit
tee.
Dear Sirs: In accordance with Gus
tc m. and my promise when notified by
our committee at White Sulphur
Springs, on August II, Of my nomina-
ton for the office Of Vice President,
submit the following observations upon
some of the questions now before the
country
TINES PRoPITIoUS FOR A
CHANGE.
The tmies are propitious for the re-
lnstatement of the Democratic party IN
control OF the government The public
mind Is being disillusioned o. the pre-
tension Of the Republican. party, 80
long and so arrogantly made. that the
material prosperity Of the country de-
pends upon It's own ascendancy.
Thoughtful and patriotic people are be-
coming more and more distrustfni OF
the heady and personal element OF the
present administration, and are more
than willing to see it replaced by one
that better recognizes constitutional
and other lawful restraints. They de-
mand that the present wasteful extraV-
agance In the expenditure Of the
money, drawn by taxation from the In
dustry Of the people, shall cease. and
that economy and honesty In the public
service shall be again regarded as vir-
tues in the high places OF the govern
ment.
EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT.
The expenditures per capita OF the
government are increasing at an alarm
Ing rate. When the present adminlstra-
ton went into power there was large
surplus, but notwithstanding the enor-
nous taxation, the revenues therefrom
are not now adequate to. meet the de-
nands made by reckless appropria-
tions. The revenues fell short dur r'ng
the last fiscal year, of over $4,000. 600.
In the first sixty days Of this fiscal year
the expenditures exceeded the receipts
by s24 900. 900. and If this rate OF excess
should continue, the deficit for the pres
ent fiscal year would be In the neigh
torhood Of $140000.000. This needless
deficit is due to the extravagaLce OF the
administration, and can only be met by
imposing taxes or selling bonds, there
ty increasing the interest-bearing dept
CT the government. Which course Will
the Republicans adopt? The cost OF gov
eminent during the fiscal year was
STA per capita, which means that the
average tax paid in some form or
another by every family Of FIVE persons
toward the support Of the national ad-
ministration Of public affairs was over
s25, which, in the case OF wage-earners.
is a considerable percentage OF thelr
earnings for the year. No more money
should be taken from the people by
taxation, direct or indirect, th7n Is nee
essary for the needs OF a government
economically administered. TO show
TIE rapid growth Of the cost OF govern
rnent it is only necessary to give the
total expenditures in the last fiscal year
of the following administrations:
Buchanan, 1860, S63, GOO, 900. Per cap
ita, s2.O1. "
Cleveland, 1892, ss45, 900. Per cap
II Roosevelt, 1904, s5s2, 100000. Per cap
tia, STA.
THE ARMY.
In answer to criticisms upon the size
and expense Of maintaining the army,
the President has said that the number
of soldiers now is no greater per capita
than in former times. But an army
then was necessary to protect settlers
from the Indians and to do other police
duty in the unsettled portion OF the
country-condition which do not now
exist. The army, however, has greatly
increased in cost, much faster relatively
than 1t has in numbers.
The expenses were:
Under Buchanan in 1850. ....$16, 500. .00o
Under Hayes in 1880. $4,000. 600
Under Roosevelt In 1904 lis ,O0O.000
There are strong paragraphs on the
Panama question, Imperialism, the
Tariff, Trusts, etc. On the matter OF
local self-government, Mr.. Davis says:
Local self-government, that came to
rs not as the gift of the national gov
enrment, but as the legitimate outcome
OF the reserve powers OF the State and
OF the people, is the very cornerstone
of our political structure and the best
assurance of liberty regulated by law.
It can only be maintained by strict OBJ
servance Of the limitation Of the Fed
eral constitution. The Democratic party
! has always resisted. and Will continue
&c resist, the encroachment by Its enc
mics upon the fundamental right OF the
people of the several States. All power
comes from the people and should be
surrendered only in the interests OF the
PEOPLE and whenever this power ls
used for selfish interests, 1t Is not only
abuse. but nsurpation.
On the race issue Mr.. Davis writes as
| follows:
All lovers Of their country must de-
;,reciate the rehabilitation by the Re-
publican party Of disappearing race
! ;ssue. al q time when every effort
should be rcade to promote rather than
retard the progress which was being
made in the States where slavery had
| existed. toward kindlier relations be-
tween the two races. The revival OF this
Il