Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-29
TARIFF REFORMERS,
The Massachusetts, League Meeting at
Boston NotableS Present.

Boston-NOtables Present.
BOsToN, Dec. 2S.-The annual banquet of
the Massachusetts Tariff Reform league
took place here at the Hotel Vendome this
evening. The principal guest of the even
ing was United States Secretary of the
Treasury Fairchild Among the others
were President-elect of Harvard College T..
W. Higginson, Hon. P. A Collins, Hon.
Geo. T. Hale, c. r. Bodman, Hon. Leopold
Morse, Jesse Metcalf and w. N. Endicott
Hon. w. f. Russell presided and in an
spening speech said that the gathering
VAS NOT one of interested capitalists to re-
ioice over a political victory, but gath
ering in the interests of the propagation OF
4 great political economic reform.
President Cleveland's letter was then
eead. 1t was as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. p.
Hessrs. Sherman. Hoar and others. committee:
Gentlemen-I am exceedingly sorry that
( cannot be present at the annual dinner
Of the Massachusetts Tariff Reform league
on 2Sth inst. This is not merely formal
common expression of regret, it truly in
iicates how much | should like meeting
the members of your league and how glad
I should be to express in person my appre-
citation of their important services IN a
cause to which ] am earnestly attached,
and to acknowledge at the same time their
frequent and encouraging manifestations
Of personal friendliness. ! know, too, that
it would be profitable and advantageous
10 be even for brief period within the in
spring influence of the atmosphere sur
rounding patriotic and unselfiSh men,
banded together in the interests OF their
fellow country men and devoted to the
work of tariff reform This reform ap-
pears TO be as far reaching in its purpose
As the destiny of our country and as broad
I'm its benefcience as the welfare of our
entire people. 1t is because the efforts or
its advocates are not discredlted by
any sordid motives that they are able
boldly and confidently to attack the
strongholds of selishness and greed.
Our institutions were constructed in
purity of purpose and love for humanity.
Their operation is adjusted to the touch
Of national virtue and patriotism, and
their results under such guidance must
be the prosperity and happiness OF
our people, and so long as the
advocates of tariff reform appreciate the
sentiments in which our institutions had
their origin, so long as they apprehe the
forces which alone can guide their opera
tons, so long as they in spirit OF true
patriotism are consecrated to the service
of their country temporary defeat
brings no Disbursements; 1t but proves
the stubbornness of the forces of combined
seIfshness and discloses how far the peo-
pie have been led astray and how great is
the necessity of redoubed efforts in their
behalf To lose faith in the intelligence
If the people Is surrender and
an abandonment of the strug-
gle; TO arouse their intelligence
and free it from darkness and
delusion gives assurance OF speedy and
complete victory In the track of reform
. aaaH hnnpC nf rNinp
and the despair of those who fall in the
march, but here will be neither despair
nor dead hopes in the path of tariff
reform nor shall its pioneers
fail TO reach the heights.
Holding fast their faith and rejecting
every alluring overture and every decep-
tive compromise which would betray their
sacred trust. they themselves shall regain
and restore the patrimony of their coun-
trymen freed from the trespaSs of grasping
encroachment and safety secured by the
genius of American Justice and equality.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Applause on the reading of the letter
having abated, President Cleveland's
health was drunk standing. Another
three cheers was given and Mr. Russell
then introduced Secretary Fairchild as
representative of the administration. Sec
rotary Fairchild, after expressing his APP
probation of the honor conferred upon
him by asking him to be guest of the league.
said that the election had by no means
decided the question of tariff and tariff re-
form. The struggle has only begun and
the end is not vet The result of the late
canvass brings no encouragement to our
cause, but, on the contrary. high hopes for
the future. Ii shows us that where intel
lect WAS aroused, thought invoked and eX-
perience appealed TO we made great gains;
that we lost only in those places where
mind was dominated 10y passion, where
craftsmanship and the blind prejudice of
race and section overcome beneyolence and
love for the whole country 1t is true
that the tariff should be settled and for
ever removed from the domain of
politics, for ii not only disturbs
business, but infinitely worse, il
prevents the simple purpose of
universal beneticence for which alone our
government is fitted. 1t converts our leg
islative halls into scenes of barter between
conflicting interests. where wrangles over
means 10 enable men to get more and still
more money from our citizens become the
chief characteristic OF the peoples repre-
sentatives. 1t degrades business and often
makes success therein the prize of dishon-
or. Il corrupts the people But how can
this question be settled? There are
Two kinds of this so-called
protective tariff - the one old
fashioned, now nearly obsolete. that of
Henry Clay, sometimes called the pro
motion Of infant industries" the under
lying principle of which was, If l rightly
understand ii, that there were certain i'm
portant industries which, if sustained by
the promise of an assured market in this
country, would in a short time, become so
established that they could give their
products 10 our people as cheaply
as they could be bought anywhere
In the world; the Others. the
modern protective tariff, the tariff which
WAS embodied in the platform of the party
successful in the late election, has as its
foundation the principle that ii is best for