Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-08-24

The Washington correspondent of the
Albany Journal furnishes what is prob
ably the true explanation of the mysteri-
Gus delay in the appearance of Mr.. Cleve-
lands letter of acceptance. He says that
the letter was written over six weeks ago,
and draft of it was shown to Chairman
Brice, Senator German and Postmaster
General Dickinson, who at once informed
him that to print it as 1t was written
would, in the present condition of the
public mind on the tariff question, put an
end at once to the democratic canvass.
They said the revolt of protection demo-
Gratis in Connecticut and New Jersey and
New York especially had grown to such
formidable proportions that it must be
checked at once or the canvass would end
as dlsastrously as that of Greeley. Mr.
Cleveland was thunder-struck at the facts
laid before him and agreed to delay the
publication of his letter and give the
workers a chance to see what was to
be done. They called consultation
of some other leading democrats
who finally decided that the only way ont
was to so increase the expenditures of the
government rs to make it probable that
there would be no surplus, and soremove
the chief occasion for reduction of the
tariff. The matter was again laid before
Mr.. Cleveland, who was made to see that
ii the river and harbor bill, appropratng
$22, 100000, became Il law, and if some
heavy appropriations that were pressing
upon Congress were made, the surplus
revenues during the current fiscal wear
would be less than SIS, 900, 900, and might
not exceed Sl0,000,0C0. The president
thereupon agreed to permit the river and
harbor bill to become law without his
signature, and to delay his letter of ac-
ceptance until it could be made clear
that the surplus revenues will be
too small this year to warrant
a reduction in the tariff, With this new
fact in view, he will then say in his letter
of acceptance that the necessity for re-
duction of the tariff at present has ceased,
and will simply advise that the emergen-
cy be met when it again arises, and that
only such revision as may be needed to
correct irregularities be now made This
information is declared to be from relia
bic source and it certainly has some strong
elements of probability, us an explanation
of Mr.. Cleveland's silence. But this de-
vice comes too late to save Mr. Cleveland
from defeat. Such a change of front from
his position of forcing the political tight
on the Mills bill and tariff reduction will
show most conclusively the insincerty
and hollowness OF his loud professions of
principle, and will only serve to disgust
aud ALLEVIATE the large free trade wing of the
party, while it will amount to an endorse
ment of the republican platform aud
policy But what, oh, what Will
be left for the democracy to shout
about No free trade, after all no SUI
plus no republican extravaganza , for
republican expenditures will look small
in comparison with these democI attic APP
preparations No freezer raw materials no
alleged reduction OF expenses for the
people or for the government !!
AS for poor Cleveland he will present the
spectacle of making bold and clustering
advance, waving his free trade banner
till he catches sight of the opposing line
of battle, when he drops his English ban
danna, turns tail and HES him hot foot
to Il bomb-proOf ! There is little doubt
that the tricksters who take the place of
statesmen in the democratic party, are
putting up the president to something of
this sort but the plain people will see
through it all and will stand by the party
and the candidates which have fixed
policy, and not by the political jugglers