VoLIIL \ SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,1888. No. 5
CLEVELAND’S LETTER.
HE MAKES A STRONG AND ABLE
DOCUMENT.
|t If an Unanswerable Argument in
Favor Tariff Reform.
Washington, D. C., Sept. 8,1888.
H on. Patrick A. Collins and OTH
ERS, COMMITTJSH, &C.:
Gentlbken:—in addressing to
you my formal acceptance of the
nomination to the presidency of
the United States my thoughts
persistently dwell upon the im
pressive relation of such action
to the American people, whose
confidence is thus invited, and to
the political party to which I
belong, just entering upon the
contest for its continued supre
macy..
'fhe world does not afford a
Spectacle more sublime than is
furnished when millions of free
and intelligent American citizens
select their Chief Magistrate and
hid one of their number to find
the highest earthly honor and
the foil measure of public duty
in a ready submission to will.
Jt follows that a candidate for
ibis high office aan never forget
that when the turmoil and strife
■which attend the selection of its
Incumbent shall be heard no more
there must be a quiet calm
which follows a complete and sol
emn self-consecration by the
people's chosen President of every
•faculty slid endeavor to the ser
vice of a confiding and generous
nation of freemen.
BIS LOVE FOB AHEBICA.
• These thoughts are 'intensified
by the light of my experience
in the Presidential office, which
has solemnly impressed me with
the severe responsibilities which
it imposes, while it has quicken
ed njy love for our American
institutions and taught me the
priceless value of the trust of
my countrymen. It is of the
highest importance that those
-who administer our Government
should zealously protect and
maintain the rights of American
citizens at home and abroad,
nnd strive to achieve for our
country her proper place among
the nations of the. earth; but
there is no,- people whose home
interest awr'of so great concern de
serves so much watchfulness
and care. Among these are the
regulations of a sound financial
• system suited to our needs, thus
securing an efficient agency of
national wealth and general
prosperity; the< construction and
.equipment of the means of de
fence to insure our national
safety and maintain the honor
beneath which such national
safety reposes; the protection. ot
our national domain, still
stretching beyond the needs of
the country’s expansion, and its
preservation for the settler and
pioneer of our marvellous
growth; a sensible and sincere
recognation of the value of
American- labor, leading to a
scrupulous care and just appre
ciation of the interests of our
workingmen; the limitation and
checking of such monopolistic
tendencies and schemes as inter
fere with the advantages and
benefits which tho people may
rightly claim; a generous regard
and
CARE FOR OUR SURVIVING SOLDIERS
AND SAILORS,
and for the widows and orphans
of such as have died, to the
end that while the appreciation
of - their services uird sacrifices
is quickened tho application of
their pension fund to improper
cases may bo prevented; protec
tion against the servile immi
gration which injuriously com
petes with our laboring men in
% the fields of toil and adds to
our population an element ig
norant of their institution and
4.' laws, imposible of assimilation
with our people and dangerous
to pence and welfare; » strict
and steadfast adherence to the
principles of civil service reform
and a thorough execution of
the laws passed for their
enforcement, thus permitting to
our people the advantages of
business methods in the operation
of their government; the guaran
ty to our colored citizens of all
their rights of citizenship, and
their just recognition and en
couragement in all things per
taining to that relation; a firm,
patient^and humane poliey, so
that in the peaceful relations
with' {he government the civiliza
tion of the Indian may be pro
moted with, resulting quiet and
safety to the settlers on our
frontier arid the curtailment of
the public expenses by the in
troduction of economical meth
ods in every department of the
government.
T1IE PLATFOltM AND TAXATION.
The pledges contained in the
platform adopted by the late
convention of the National
Democracy lead to tho advance
ment of these objects and insure
good government—the aspiration
of every true American citizen
and the motive for every patri
otic action and effort.
In the conciousness that much
has been done in the direction
of good government by the
present administration that if I
am again called to the Chief Mag
istracy there shall lie the continu
ance of a devoted endeavor lo ad
vance the interest of the entire
country.
Our scale of Federal taxation and
its consequences largely engross at
this time the attention of our citi
zens and the people are soberly con
sidering the necessity of measures of
relief.
Our government is the creation
of tHS people established to carry
out their designs and accomplish
their good. It was founded on just
ice and was made for the free, in
telligent and virtuous people. It is
only of use when within their con
trol, and only serves them well
when regulated and guided by their
constant touch. It is free govern
ment because it guarantees to every
American citiezn the unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment of alt
the reward of his toil and of his in
come, except what may be his fair
contribution to necessary public ex
pense. Therefore it is not only the
right, but the duty of a free people
in the enforcement of this guaranty
to exist that such expense should be
strictly limited to the actual public
needs.
THE TARIFF INCREASES PRICES.
It seems perfectly clear that
when the government, this instru
mentality created and maintained by
the people to do their bidding turns
upon them, and through utter per
vertion of its powers extorts from
their labor and capital a tribute
largely in excess of the public nec
essities, the creature has rebelled a
gainat th$ creator .and musters, are
robbed by their servants. The cost
of the government must continue to
be met by the,tariff duties collected
at our custom houses upon import
ed goods and by the internal reven
ue taxes assessed upon spiritous and
malt liquors, tobacco, and oleomar
garine, I suppose it is needless to
explain that all these duties and as
sessments are added to the prices of
the articles upon which they are
levied, nnd thus become a tax upon
those who buy these articles for use
and consumption. I suppose, too, it
is well understood that the effect of
this tariff taxation is not limited to
the consumers of imported articles,
but that the duties imposed upon
such articles permit a correspond
ing increace in price to be laid
upon domestic productions of the
same kind, which increase is paid
by all our people as consumers of
our homo productions, and enter
ing every American home consti
tute* a form of taxation as certaiir
and as inevitable a* though the
amount \vi** - _
ANNUALLY PAID INTO THU HAND OP
THE TAX GATHERER.
These results are inseparable
from the plan we have adopted
for the collection of our revenue
by tariff duties. They are not
mentioned to discredit the system,
hut by way of preface to the state
ment that every million of dollars
collected, at our customhouse for
duties upon imported articles and
paid into the public treasure rep
resent many millions more,
which, though never reaching
the National treasury, are paid by
our citizens as the increased cost
of domestic productions resulting
from our tariff laws. In these cir
cumstances and Th view of this
necessary effect of the operation
of our plan for raising revenue the
absolute duty of limiting the rate
of tariff charges to the necessities
■ of a frugal and economical admin
istration of the government seems
to be perfectly plain. The con
tinuance upon the pretext of meet
ing the public expenditures of such
a scale of tariff taxation as draws
from, the substance of the people
a sum largely in excess of the pub
lic needs is surely something which,
under a government based upon
justice, and which finds its strength
and usefulness in the faith and
trust of the people, ought not to
be tolerated. <
the surplus is ?130,000,000.
While the heaviest burdens inci
dent to necessities of the govern
ment are' uncomplainingly borne
light burdens become grievous and
intolerable when not justified by
such necessities. Unnecessary tax
ation is unjust taxation, and yet
this is our condition. We are an
nually collectitg at our custom
houses and by means of our inter
nal revenue taxation many mil
lions in excess of all legitimate
public needs. As a consequence
there now remains in the Natioual
Treasury a serplus of more than
§130,000,000. No better evidence
could be furnished that the people
are exorbitantly taxed. The extent
of the superfluous burdens indica
ted by this surplus will be better
appreciated when it is suggested
that such surplus alone represents
a taxatiou aggregation more than
§108,000 in a country containing
50,000 inhabitants.
THE SURPLUS RETARDS PROGRESS.
Taxation has always been the
feature of at} organized government
the hardest to reconcile with the
people’s ideas of freedom and hap
pinessT' When presented in direct
form notliiug will arouse popular
discontent more quickly and pro
foundly than unjust and unneces
sary taxation. Our farmers, me
chanics,^ laborers and our citi
zens closely scan the slightest in
crease in the taxes assessed upon
their lands and other property, and
demand a good reason for such in
crease; and yet they seelu to be
expected in some quarters to regard,
as unnecessary the volume upon
them by; our present rate of tariff
duties With indifference, if not with
[favor. The surplus revenue now
remaining in the Treasury not on
ly furnishes conclusive proofs of un
just taxation, but it its existence
constituteS-a separate and indepen
dent menace to the prosperity of
the people. This vast accumula
tion of idle funds represents that
much money drawn from the cir
culating medium of the country
which is needed in the channels
of trade and business. It is n
great mistake to suppose that the
1 consequences which follow the con
tinual withdrawal uud hearing hy
the government of the currency of
the people are not immediate im
portance to tho mass of our citi
zens and only concern those engaged
in large thiuneial transactions. In
the restless enterprise and uctivity
which free and ready money among
the people prejudice is found that
opportunity for labor and employ
ment and Unit impetus to business
and production which bring in their
train,
PROSPERITY TO OUR CITIZENS IN EVE
RY STATION AND VOCATION.
New ventures, now investments
in business and manufactures, con
struction of new and important
works and enlargement of enterpri
ses already established depend large
ly upon obtaining money upon easy
terms with fair security, and all these
things are stimulated by the abun
dent volume of acirculatingmedium.
Even the harvesta^^rain of the far
mer remains without a market un
less money is forthcoming for its
movement and transportation to the
seaboard.
The first results of the scarcity of
money, among the people is the ex
action of severe terms for its use.
Increasing distrust and ti&idity is
followed by a refusal to loan or ad
vance on any terms. Investors re
fuse all risks and decline all securi
ties, and in the general fright the
money still in the hands of the peo
ple is persistently hoarded. It is
quite apparent that when this per
fectly natural, if not inevitable,
stage is reached, depression in all
business and enterprise will, as a
necessary consequence, lessen the
opportunity for work and employ
ment und reduce the salaries and wa
ges of labor. Instead, then, of be
ing exempt from the influence, and
effect of the immense surplus lying
idle in the National Treasury,- our
wage earners and others who } rely
upon their labor f >r support are
most of all directly concerned in the
situation. Others,
SEEING THE APPROACH OF THE DAN
qeb
they provided against it, but it will
find those depending upon their dai
ly toil for breac|uiiprepared, helpless
and defenceless. Such a state of
affairs does not present a case of
idleness resulting from disputes be
tween the laboring man and his em
ployer, but it produces an absolute
and enforced stoppage of nnploy
meut and wages.
In reviewing the bad effects of this
accumulated surplus and the scale of
tariff rates by which it is produced
we must, not bverlook the tendency
towards gross and scandalou public
extravagance which a congested
treasury induces, nor the fact that
we are maintaining without excuse,
In the time of profound peace, sub
stantially tht1 rate o£_t*iriff duties
imposed in the time of war. when
the necessities of the government-jus
tified the imposition of the weight
iest burdens upon the -people.
Divers plans have been suggested
for the return of this accumulated
surplus to the people and the chan
nels of trade. Some of the devices
are at variance with all the rules- of
good finance, some are delusive,
some are absurd, and some betray by
their reckless extravagance.
TUB DEMORALIZING INFEEEOF OE A
GREAT SURPLUS
of tlie public money upon the judge
ments of individuals. While such
efforts should be made as are consis
tent with public duty and sanction
ed by sound judgement to avoid
danger by a useful disposition of the
surplus now remaining in the Treas
ury, it is evident that if its distribu
tion were accomplished another ac
cumulation, would soon take its place.
If the constant flow of redundant
income was not checked at its source
by reform in our present tariff laws,
we do not propose to deal with these
conditions by merely attempting to
satisfy the people of tlu* truth of ab
stract theories, nor by alone urging
their assent to political doctrines.
We present to them the propositions
that they are unjustly treated in the
extent of the present Federal taxa
tion; that ns a result a condition of
extreme danger exists, and that it is
for them to demand the remedy and
that defence and safety promised in
the guaruutee of their free govern
ment.
We believe that the same means
which are adopted to relieve the
Treasury of the present surplus and
prevent its recurrence should chea
pen to our people the cost of suppty
iugrtheir daily wants. liofch of these
objects we seek in part tp gain by
reducing the present tariff rates
upon the necessities of life.
BADICAL CUAN0K8 NOT rNTKNDBI).
We fully appreciate the im]H>r
tance to the country of our domestic
industrial enterprises. In rectifica
tion of the-existing wrongs their
maintenance and prosperity should
be carefully and in a friendly spirit
considerd. Even such reliance upon
the present revenue arrangements as
have been invited or encouraged
should be fairly and justly regarded.
Abrupt and radical changes, which
might endanger such enterprises and
injuriously affect the interest of the
labor dependent upon their success
aud continuance, are not contempla
ted or intended; butwe know the
cost of our manufatured domestic
products is increased and their price
to the consumer enhanced by the
duty imposed upon the raw materal
used in their manufacture. We
know that this increased cost pre
vents the sale of our productions at
foreign markent in competition with
those countries which have the ad
vantage of free raw material We
know that confined to the home
market our manufacturing opera
tions are curtailed, their demand for
'labor irregular, and the rate of wa
rden paid uncertain .
We propose, therefore tostimulate
our domestic industrial enterprises
by freeing from duty the imported
raw materials which by the employ
ment of labor are used in our home
manufactures, thus extending the
markets for.their sale aud permitting
an increased and steady prddueton,
with the allowance of abundant
profits.
TRUE TO T1IE UNDEVIATING COURSE
OF THE DEMOCRATIC rARTV.
we wili not neglect the iutercste of
i lahor mid our wurliingmcn. Ill nil
efforts to remedy the existing evils
we will furnish no excuse for loss of
employment or reduction of the
! wages of honest toil. On the con
trary, we pro]>ose in any adjustment
of our rerenue laws to concede such
(encouragement and advantage to the
employers of domestic labor as will
easily compensate for any difference
$hat may exist between the standard
(of wages which should be paid to
our laboring men and the rate al
lowed in ot(jer countyes. We pro
pose, too, by extending the-markets
tfor our manufacturers to promtite
the steady employment of labor;
while by cheapening the cost of the
necessaries of life we iifcrease the
purchasing power of the working
men's wages and add to the comforts
of his homeland before passing from
this phase of the question I am con
strained to express the opinion that
while the interests of lahor should be
always sedulously regarded in any
modification of our tariff laws, addi
tional and more direct and efficient
protection to these interests would ;
be afforded by the restriction and
prohibition of immigration or the
importation of laborer's from other!
countries, who swarm upon our;
shores, having no purpose or intent ,
of becomings our fellow-citizens, or
of acquiring any permanent interest
in our country, but who crowd
every field of employment with
unintelligent labor at wages which
ought to satisfy those who make
claim to American citizenship.
Tuners ark. conspiracies.
The platform adopted bv the late
National Convention of our party i
contains the following declaration:
“Judged liv Democratic principles,
the interests of the people arc be
trayed when, by unnecessary taxa
tion, trusts and combinations are
permitted, and fostered, which, while
uuduly enriching the few that conf-j
bine, robs the body of our citizens!
by depriving them as purchasers of
the benefits of National competi
tion.’’
Such combinations have always
been condemned by the Democratic
party. The declaration of its Na
tional Convention is already made
and no member of our party will be
found excusing the existence or be
littling, the pernicious results of these
devices to wrong the people. Under
varioiiH names they have been pun
ished by the common law for hun
dreds of years, and they have lost
none of their hateful features be
cause; they leave assumed the name
of trusts instead of conspiracies.
We believe that these trusts are
the natural offspring of a market
artificially restricted; that an inordi
nately high tariff, besides furnishing
the temptation for their existence,
enlarges the limit within which they
may operate against the people, and
this increases the extent of their
power for wrong doing with unal
terable hatred of all such schemes
we count the checking of their base
ful operations among the good re
sults promised by revenue reform.
While we cannot avoid partisan mis
represntations our position upon the
question of revenue reform should
be so plainly stated as to admit of
no misunderstanding. We have en
tered upon no crusade on free trade.
The reform we seek to inaugurate
is predicted upon the utmost care
for established industries and enter
prises; a jealous regard for the in
terests of American labor and sin
cere desire to relieve the country
from injustice and the danger of a
condition winch threatens evil to all
the people of the land. We are deal
ing with no imaginary its. existence
has been repeatedly confessed by all
political parties, and pledges of a
remedy have been made on all jjjdes.
Yet, when a legislative body
where, under the Constitution all
remedied measures applicable to this
Subject must originate, the Demo
cratic majority were attempting with
extreme moderation to redeem the
pledge common to both parties they
were met by detained opposition and
obstruction and the minority refus
ing to’ co-operate in the House of
ripjo'eseiitlltives or proposing anot.h
remedy have remitted the redemp
tion of their party pledge to the
doubtful power of the Senate.
The people will hardly lx- deceived
by their abandonment of the field of
legislative action to meet in a politi
cal convention and flippantly declare
in their party platform that our con
servative and careful effort to relieve
the situation is destructive to the
American .system of protection.
Nor will the people be mislead by
the appeal of prejudice contained in
the absurd allegation that we serve
the interests of Europe while they
will support tht> interests of Ameri
ca. They proposes in their platform
to thus support the interests of our
country by removing the internal
revgjiue tax from tobacco and from
Spirits used in the arts and for me
chanical purposes. They declare al
so that there should be such a revis
ion of our tariff laws as shall tend
to check the importation of such ar
ticles as are jmiduced here. Thus
proposing to increase the duties
upon such articles to nearly or quite
the pi'ohibitary point, they confess
themselves willing to travel backard
in the road of eivilili/.ation and to
deprive our people of markets for
their goods which can only be gain
ed and kept by the semblance at
least of interchange of business,
while they abadon our consumers to
the unrestrained
Ul.mRKS.SION OF DOMESTIC TRUSTS
and combinations which are in the
same platform perfunctorily con
demned. They propose further to
release entirely froip 'import duties
all articles of foreign production ex
cept luxuries, the like of which can
not, be produced in this country. The
plain people of the land and the
poor who scarcely use articles of any
description produced exclusively
abroad and not already free will
find it difficult to discover where
their interests ace regarded ill this
proposition. They need in their
homes cheaper domestic necessities,
uud this seems to he entirely unpro
vided for in this proposed scheme to
serve the country. Small compen
sation for this neglected need is found
in the further purpose here announ
ced and covered by the declaration
that if after the changes already
mentioned there remains u larger
revenue than is requisite for The
wants of the government the entire
internal taxation should be repealed
'rather than surrender any part of our
protective system.
Our people ask relief from the un
due and unnecessary burdeu of tar
iff taxation how resting upon them.
They are offered instead free tobacco
and free whiskey. They ask for
bread and they are given a stone.
The implication contained in this
part of declaration that
DESPERATE MEA3I/RES
are justified or necessary to save
from destruction or surrender what
is termed our protective system
should confuse no one. The exis
tence of such a system is entirely
consistent with the regulation of the
extent to which it should be applied
and the Correction of its abuses.
WITHOUT A CHANGE THERE IS INEVI
TABLE DANGER AND DISTRESS AHEAD.
Of course in a country as great
as ours, with such a wonderful vari
ety of interests, often leading in en*
tirely different directions, it is diffi
cult, if not impossible, to settle upon
a perfect tariff plan. But in aecom
plishenlent the reform we have enter
ed upon, tile necessity of which is so
obvious that I believe we should not
be content with a reduction of the
revenue, involving the prohibition
of importations and the removal of
the mtertial tax upon whiskey, it can
be better and more safely done with
in t\y lines of granting actual relief
-ttflfie people in their means of
: living, and at the same time giving
impetus to our domestic enterprises
and furthering our national welfare.
If misrepresentations of our purpo
ses and motives are to gain credece
and defeat our present effort in this
direction, there seems to he no rea
son why every endeavor in the fu
ture to accomplish Revenue reform
should be likewise attacked and with
a like result. And yet no thought
ful man cau fail to see in the con-,
tin nance of the present burdens of
the people and the abstraction by the
igovernment of the currency of the
country inevitable distress and dis
aster. . .,
HOW TO AVERT DANGER.
All timber will he averted IrV
timely action.' Tl-fe difficulty of ap
plying a remedy will never lie less,
and the blame should not he laid at
the door of the Democratic party if
it is applied too fate.
With a firm faith in the intelli
gence and patriotism of our coun
trymen, and relying upon the con
j vretion tluft mierepresentation will
not inflnencc' them, prejudice will
i not cloud their understanding, nnd
; that menace will not intimidate
them, let us urge the people’s inter
est and public duty for tho vindica
tion of our attemps to inaugurate a
; righteous and benelieient reform.
(i ROVER Cl.KVKI, ANT).
Atnelie Rieves -Dion Boucicault.
.\'iuC (%>1 irr's niicr ;i week, nub
listed 120th uf September, is ;i literary
and artistic marvel. Never has so many
j stans appeared in the same linuamrnt.
Never have so so many authors of higli
j est celebrity been gathered together in
I one number of one journal, while the
j magnilicent illustrations are on a par
! faseinuating literature.
AM FI, IF 11IKVKS (Chauler) ooutrite
utes a weird, thrilling and enchanting
poem, untitled Asmodeus. Dion Bor- '
cLCAULr commences an Irish-Ameri
can serial that is bound to cause a tre
mentions sensation. The list of con
tents sneaks fur itself.
Amelie Breves, poem “Asmodeus,”
Illustrated by Sterner. Marion ilar
land, Story “Dodder,” Illustrated by
Steeple Davis. .Julian Hawthorne Sto
ry "Sally Kirk’s Easy Chair,” Iflustra
ted by Hal Hurst. Benson .7.1.ossing
Painting -in America,'1
“Pioneers of
Portrait. Bill Nye “story‘ “Crononbo
is, ’ by Zimmerman. Dion
tonthologas,' .
Poucicault,Novel “Jly-IJraa- Ayhor the
nmedives i f Con O'Neil,” Illustrated
by Mcllvam. Ella AVheeler Wilcox,
Poem "Couleurde Rose.” Edgar Faw
cettv“The Pattern of Growing Fat”
U, K. Munkittrlek, Novelette “Diary
of a Giddy Girl " Illustrated by tloul
taus. James Whitcomb Hftey J'oem
"Down Around the Hivor.” Joseph
Ilnwiml Jr., “lieroiniscenees.” Mary
Kyle Dallas, “Woman’s World.” Mau
rice Thompson, Poem “America.” pH
tlence Stapleton, Story, “True to the
Heart’s Core.” Illustrated by Below
Charles Barnard, “Howto Make a Man
of a Boy.' Minnie Irving iteeui “H«i.
lcittope Continuation of serials “A
Masked Marriage,” and “A Woman’s
Mistake.” ^______
'I'liis wouderous number can lie had
for seven cents, amt we would urge our’
readers to apply to their newsdealers
without delay. Collier’s Once a
W kick has taken a lead that from all
accounts it means to keep. Such enter
prise is a credit to the- country, and
thoroughly American.
, - -v