The Abilene Reporter. (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 13, 1888 Page: 1 of 9
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Abilene Reporter.
' VOL. VII.
ABILENE TEXAS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13 1888i
NO. 37.
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R TfcE DEMOCRATIC SIGNAL GUN.
Cleveland's Lottor of Acceptance.
Xho filtlo ritcbe4 qn Tariff Reform Civil
Sorvios and Protection of American In-
torotti 17 Ittiall&tory'Mcaiurei.
Washington Sept. 9 The
ing !s the president's letter'of r
follow
accept
ancc:
Hon Patrick A Collins and! others
committect etc.: 'Gentlemen In ad-
dressing to you my formal acceptance
of the nomination to the presidency of
the United States my thoughts per-
sistently dfrcll t'ipon the impressive re-
lations of'such action to the American
people .whose confidence is thus invit-
ed and to the political party to which
1 belong just entering upon a contest
for continued supremacy. The world
does not afford a spectacle more sub-
lime than is furnished when millions of
free and intelligent American citizens
select their chief magistrate an J bid
one of their number to fill the hiahest
kffl e'drthly honor and the full measure of
nubile dutv in a readv submission to
their will. It follows that a candidate
for his high office can never forget
that when the turmoil and strife which
attend the selection of its incumbent
shall be heard no more there must be
in the quiet calm which follows com-
plete and solemn self-consecration by
the people's chosen president of every
faculty and endeavor to the service pf
a confiding and generous nation of
freemen. These thoughts are. intensi-
fied by the light of my experience in
presidential office Which has s'oberly
impressed me with the severercsponsi-
"billty which it imposes while it has
quickened my love of American insti-
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
jealously protect and maintain the
rights of American citizens at home
and abroad and should strive to
S achieve for our country her proper place
among the nations of the earth. But
therejis'no people-whose home inter-
estsTfire so great and whose numerqjus
objects of domestic concern deserves
so much watchfulness and jL dare.
.Among these are the regulatiorOfdf " a
fdurla financial'system suiteT&Hmr
v needs thus Tseciiring an efficient agency
f of national wealth and general posper-
r ity; the construction and equipment of
a means of defense to insure our nat-
ional safety and maintain the honor
f beneath which such national safety re
poses; the protection of our national
domain still stretching-beyond the
needs of the centurv's exnansioji and
its preservation for the settler and
pioneer of our marvelous growth; a
sensible and sincere recognition of the
value of American labor leading to a
scrupulous care and just appreciation
of the interests of our workingmen;
limitation and checking of such mono-
polistic tendencies and schemes as in-
terfere with the advantages and berie-
fits which the people may rightly claim";
Xi generous regard and care for our
surviving soldiers and sailors and for
the widov and orphans of such as
have served their country to the end
that while appreciation of their ser-
vices and sacrifices it quickened the ap-
plication of their pension funds to im-
proper causes may be prevented ; pro-
tection against servile immigration
which injuriously competes with our
laborers in the field of toil and adds to
our population an element ignorant of
our institutions and laws impossible
of assimilation with our people and
dangerous to our peace and welfare ;
strict and steadfast adherence to the
principles of civil service reforms and
the thorough execution of the laws
passed for their enforcement thus per-
mitting to our people the advantages
of business methods in the opera-
tion of their government ; a guaranty
to our colored citizens of all the rights
of citizenship and their just recognition
and encouragement in all things per-
taining to the relation; a fhjm paU'ent
and humane Indian policy so that in
peaceful relations with the go'vernment
the civilization of the Indians may be
promoted with the resulting quiet and
safety to the settlers on our frontiers
and the curtailment of the public ex-
pense by the introduction of economi-
cal methods in every department of the
government.
The pledges contained in the- plat-
form adopted by the late convention
of the national.dcmocracy lead to the
advancement of these objects and in-
sure good government. This is the
asperation of ever' true American
citizen and the motive for every pat-
riotic action and effort In the con-
sciousness that much has been done
in the direction of good government
by the present administration and
bubmhting its record to a fair inspec-
nion of my countrymen I indorse Ufa
platform thus presented with a deter-
mination that if I am again called to
the chief magistracy there shall tbe a
continuance of devoted endeavor to"
advance the interests of Jthe cntirje
country.
Our scale of federal taxation and Its
consequences largely engross at this
time the attention of our citizens and
the people are soberly considering the
necessity bf measures of relief. Our
government is the creation of the people-
established to carry out their de-
signs and accomplish their good. It
was founded on justice and was majje
good for a free intelligent and virtu-
ous pcdple and it is only- useful when
within their control and only serves
them when well regulated and guided
by their constant touch. It is a free
government because it guarantees to
every American citizen the unrestricted
personal use and enjoyment of all the
reward of his. toil and of his income
except what may be his fair contribu-
tion to necessary public expense.
Therefore it is not only right but the
duty of a free people in the enforce-
ment of this guaranty to insist that
such expense shoiild be strictly limited
to the actual public need. It seems
perfectly c)eaf that when the govern-
ment this instrumentality created and
maintained by the people to do their
bidding turns upon them and through
utter perversion of its powers "extorts
from their labor and Capital a tribute
largely in excess of public necessities
the creature has rebelled against the
creator and the masters arc robbed by
their servants.
The cost of the government must
continue to be met by tariff duties col-
lected at our custom houses upon im-
ported goods and by international
revenue taxes assessed upon spiritu-
ous and malt liquors tobacco and
oleomargaries. I suppose it is need-
less to explain that all these duties and
assessments are added to the prices of
articles upon which they are levied
and thus become a tax upon all 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 duties imposed upon such articles
permit a corresponding increase in
prices to brlskl "Upon domestic "p"ro-
ductions and entering every American
home constitutes a form of taxation as
certain and as inevitable as though the
amount Averc annually paid into the
handJof tUe tax gatlierer.
These results are inseparable" from
the plan we have adopted for the col-
lection of our revenues by tariff duties.
They are not mentioned to the discred-
it of the system; but by the way of
preference to the statement that every
million of dollars collected at our cus-
tom houses for duties upon imported
articles and paid into the public treas-
ury represents as many millions more
though never reaching the national
treasury are paid by our citizens as
the increased cost of domestic pro-
ductions resulting from our tariff laws.
In these 'circumstances and in view
of this necessary effort of the opera-
tion of our plan for raising revenue
the absolute duty of limiting the rate
of tariff charges to the necessities of a
frugal and economical administration
of the govornment seems to be per-
fectly plain. The continuance upon
the pretext of meeting public expendi-
tures of such a tariff taxation as draws
from the substance of the people a
a sum very largely in excess of public
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
ouht not to be tolerated. While the
heaviest burdens incident to the neces-
sities of the government are uncom-
plainingly borne the light burdens be-
come grievous arid intolerable when
not justified by such necessities
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa-
tion. And yet this is our condition
We are annually collecting at our custom-houses
and by means of our inter-
nal revenue taxation many millions in
excess of nil legitimate public needs.
As a consecpiencfijliere now remains
in the national treasury a surplus of
more than $130000000 No better
evidence could be.'fumished that the
people are exorbitantly taxed. The
extent of the superfluous burden indi-
cated by this surplus will be better
appreciated when it issuggested tliaLLdelermined opposition and obstruct
such surplus alone represents taxation
aggregating more than $108000 in a
county containing 50.000 inhabitants.
Taxation has always been a feature!
ui qrganizeu government me imrucsi
to reconcile with the people's idea of
freedom and happiness.' When pre-
sented in direct form nothing will
raise popular discontent more quickly
and profoundly than unjust and un-
necessary taxation Our fanners me-
chanics laborers and al) our citizens
closely scan the slightest increase Jn
taxes assessed upon their lands and
other property and demand good rea
son for iucn increase.
And vet thev
seem m effect in some quarters to re
gard the unncessary volume of insul-
ious and indirect taxation visited' upon I
them by our present rate of tariff du-
ties with indifference if not with favor.
The surplus revenue n6W remaining
in the treasury not'Only furnishes con-
clusive proof Of unjust taxation but
its existence Constitutes a separate and
independent menace to the prosperity
of the people. 'Phis vast accumula-
itibn of idle funds represents that much
money drawn from ihc cii dilating
medium of the country which is heed-
ed in the channels of trade and busi-
ness. It is a great mistake to suppose
that the consequences which follow
the continual withdrawal and hoarding
by the govcrh'menttof the currency of
the people are not of immediate im-
portance to the mass of our citizenst
and only concerns those engaged in
large financial transactions. In the
restless enterprise and activity which
free and ready money among the peo-
ple produces is found that opportuni-
ty for labor and employment and that
impetus to business and production
which bring in their train prosperity
to our citizens in every station and
vocation. New ventures new invest-
ments in business and manufacture
construction of new and important
works and enlargement Of enterprises
already established depend largely
upon obtaining money upon easy
terms with fair security and all these
things arc stimulated by an abnndant
Volume of circulating medium. Kven
the harvested grain of the farmer re-
mains without a market unless money
is forthcoming for its movement and
transportation to seaboard.
The first results of a scarcity of
money among the people is. exaction
of severe terms for its use increasing
distrust and timidity followed by re-
fusal to loan or advance on any terms.
Investors refuse all risks and decline
all securities and in the general fright
make claim to American citizenship.
The platform adopted by the late
national convention of our party con-
tains the following declaration:
"Judged by democratic principles the
interests of the people are betrayed
when by unncessary taxation trusts
and combinations are permitted and
fostered which while unduly enriching
a few that combine rob hc great
body of Our citizens by depriving them
as purchasers of the benefits of natu-
ral competition." Such combinations
have always been condemned by the
rTf.mnr'r.'itir ivirHr. Tlie flpr-lfirntinn
of ifs national convention is sincerely
made and no member 'of the party
will be found excusing the existence or
belittling the pernicious results of
those devices to wrong the people
under the various names under which
they have been punished by common
law for hundreds of years and they
have lost none of their hateful features
because they have assumed the nanie
of trusts instead of conspiracies. We
believe these trusts are the natural
offspring of a market artificially re-
stricted ; that an inordinately high tar-
iff besides furnishing temptation for
their existence enlarges the limit with-
in which they may operate against the
people and thus increases the extent
of their power for wrong doing. With
an unalterable hatred of all such
schemes we count checking of their
'baleful operations among the good
results promised by revenue reform
While we can not avoid partisan mis-
representation our system upon the
question of revenue reform should be
so plaihly stated as to admit of no
misunderstanding.
WeJ'ave entered upon no crusade
of free-trade. The reform we seek to
inaugurate is predicated upon the ut-
most care for established industries
and enterprises a jealous regard for
the interests of American labor and a
sincere desire to relieve the country
from the injustice and damages of a
condition which threatens evil to all
the people of the land. We are deal-
ing with no imaginary danger. Its ex-
istapce has been repeatedly confessed
uy an poimcai parties ana pieuges 01
a remedy have been made on all sides.
Yet when itithe legislative body
where under the constitution all
remedial measured applicable to this
subject must originate the democratic!
majority were attempting with extreme
moderation to redeem the pledge com-
mon to both parties they were met by
tion; and the minority refusing to co
operate in the house of representatives
or propose another remedy have re-
mitted the redemptionpfjhejrpnrty
pledge'to the doubtful power of th:
senate.
The people will hardly be deceived
by their abandonment of the field of
legislative action to meet in political
convention and flippantly declare in
their party platform that our conserva-
tive and careful effort to relieve the
situation is destructive to the Ameri-
can system of protection Nor will
! '. . . . d .
! tlie people Ue nnsLwa Jjy the appeal
iu micjuuiu; miiuimcu in me iiusuru
t allegation that we serve the interests of
Europe while they support tlie inter-
ebts of America.
They propose in their platform to
thus support tlie interests of the coun-
try by removing the internal revemie '
tax from tobacco and spirits used in j
the arts and for mechanical purposes.
They declare nisb that there should
be such a rcvisibn of our tariff laws
as shall tend to check the importation
of such articles as arc prbtluccd lieie. '
lluis m proposing to increase the
duties upon such articles to nearly or
quite a. prohibitory point they confess
themselves willing to travel backward
in the road of civilization and to keep
our people out of the market for
f goods which can only be gained and
kept by the semblance at least of ah
interchange of business while they
I abandon our consumers to the unre
strained oppression of domestic trusts
and combinations wjiich are in the
satne platform perfunctorily con-
demned. They propose further to
release entirely from import duties all
articles of foieign production (except
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 nbroad and not
already free will find it difficult to
discern where their interest-? are je-
garded in this proposition. They
need in their homes cheaper domestic
necessaries ; and this seems to bentire-
ly unprovided for in this proposed
scheme to serve the country.
Small compensation for this neg-
lected need is found in the further
purpose here announced and covered
by the declaration that if after the
changes already mentioned there still
remains a larger revenue than is
Requisite for the wants of the govern-
ment the entire internal taxation
should be repealed "rather than sur-
render any part of our protective sys-
tem." Our people ask relief from the un
due and unnecessary burden of tariff
taxation now resting upon them. They
are offered free tobacco and whisky
'1 hey ask for bread and they are given
a stone.
Tile implication contained in this
paity declaration that desperate meas-
ures are justified or necessary to save
from destruction or surrender what is
termed our protective system should
confuse no one. The existence of such a
system is entirely consistent with the
regulation of extent to which it should
be applied and the correction of its
abuses.. . Of course in a country as
great as ours with such a wonderful'
variety of interests often leading in
entirely different directions it is diffi-
cult if not inpossible to settle upon
a perfect tariff plan. Hut in accom-
plishing the reform which we have
entered upon the necessity of which
is obvious I believe we should not be
content with a reduction of revenue
involving the prohibition of importa-
tions and the removal of the internal
the money still in the hands of the
people is persistency hoarded. It is
quite apparent thatnvhen this perfectly
natural if not inevitable stage is
reached depression in all business
and enterprise will be the necessary
consequence lessening the opportu-
nity for work and employment and
reducing the salaries and wages of
labor. Instead then of being exempt
from the influence and effect of an
immense surplus lying idle in the
national treasury our wage-earners
and others who rely upon their labor
for a support are. most of all directly
concerned in the situation. Others
seeing the approach of danger may
provide against it but it will find those
depending upon their daily toil for
bread unprepared helpless and de-
fenseless. Such a state of affairs does
not present a case .of idleness result-
ing from disputes between the labor-
ing man and his employer but it pro-
duces an absolute and enforced stop-
page of employment 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 overlook the tendency toward
cross and scandalous public extrava-
ganccr-wluch a conjested treasury in4
duces in tune of profound peace by
substantially the same rate of tariff
duties inposcd in time of war when
the necessities of the government justi-
fied the imposition of the weight of
burdens of the people. Divers plans
have been suggested for a return of
this accumulated burplus to the people
and channels of trade. Some of these
devices are at variance with all rules of
good finance some are deIusiVe-some
are absurd and some betray by their
reckless extravagance the demoralizing
influence of a great surplus' of public
money upon the judgment of individ-
uals. While such efforts should be
made as are consistent with public
duty and sanctioned by sound judg-
ment to avoid danger by a useful dis-
position of the surplus now remaining
i in the treasury it is evident that if its
I . ' . - . . .
distribution were accomplished another
accumulation wouiu soon tune us
place if the constant flow of redund-
ant income was not checked at i(s
Conflnutd on tightb fogt.
TltBO HEYOK Proildent WM CAMERON V.cePrildeat.
J. 0. LOWDON Cttshior.
rp-pr-rn
1 ... '
A hi ivtt lVTniiAYini Dnnlr
llMiOTj imiMiai DdLllk
The Largest Banking Institution
V
IN THE
Capital Stock and Undivided Profits $150000.
Accounts of Merchants Farmers and Stockmen solicited.
Accommodations consistent with judicious banking: cheer-
fully extended. The Collection Department of this Bank
is an important feature. Collections made on all points and
promptly remitted for on day of payment.
J. H. PABBAMORE
President.
OTTO W.
First
National
OF ABILENE
ABILENE - - TEXAS.
CAPITAL $50000.00.
SURPLUS 85000.00.
Transacts a General Banking
cialty and Promptly Remitted for.
4Wv
DIRECTORS ; J. H. Parramore G. A. Kirkland R. K. Wylie
Brooke Smith Otto W. Steffens T. S. Rollins E.H. Sintenis.
Any correspondence in regard
have prompt
J. G. Currie.
Will
CURRIE & STITH
Insurance Land and Live Stock Agents.
. . .
"Old Reliable' ' insurance companies represented
time tried and fire tested.
Representing American and British. Loan Companies we are
prepared to effeot all sorts of loans on ranohoB farms and
city property in sums from $200 to $200000. The land and
live stock departments are under the special supervision of
our Mr. Stephenson who will take pleasure tof' showing:
lands and negotiating for the purchase sale ana exchange
of all sorts of live stock. Correspondence in any of our lines
rospoctfully solioitod. .
Jno. Stromberg
MANUFACTURER OF
Saddles and Harness.
Is now making the best
Saddles and Harness in the Abilene
Country and will duplicate
any prices. ft.
Corner Second and Chestnut Street South of Railroad
T. 3VE1 JVC'KIEE-
PHOTOGRAPHER.
Second Street
tl'qiisc Sign and Cam:iae Painting
3Paper Hanging and Interior Decoration a SpiaUy.
E SIHTENIS
Ant Caihlerl
OLDEST BANK IN
WEST TEXAS.
:o:-
Businosa. Collections a Spe
to the Abilene Country shall
attention.
J. L. Stephenson.
Stith.
Abilene Texas.
vvv
SA
STEPHENS
Cashier.
MM
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Hoeny, John, Jr. The Abilene Reporter. (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 13, 1888, newspaper, September 13, 1888; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth330592/m1/1/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.