St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-02
CHAMPION OF REFORM.
Ex-President Cleveland Talks
Upon the Tariff.

NASHVILLE. Tenn, Feb. 1.-The
American tomorrow morning will con.
tain a lengthy interview with ex.
President Cleveland, held by E. w.
Carmack, editor of that paper.
In the course of which occurs the fol.
lowing; Of course the tariff question
came up in the course of conversation.
l said to Mr.. Cleveland that as no other
man had been kept so closely in con.
tact with the tariff reform senti.
ment OF the country as he, no
other, perhaps, could speak with more
knowledge as to the progress Ii
was making in the minds of the people.
Mr.. Cleveland said that he felt more
confident than ever before of the tri-
umph OF tariff reform on the lin es
marked out by thd Democratic party.
Democratic defeat in the last pres.
idential campaign. instead of dis
couraglng, had only strength
ened the purpose and increased
the energy of tariff refOrmers and con-
fidenee in the result of the next contest
appeared to grow as signs of dissentions
appeared in the prOtectionist ranks. He
thought that one of
THE MOST SERIOUS TROUBLES
the Republican party would have to en-
counter was the revolt of the New Eng
land manufacturers against the Repu6-
Hcan policy, while several Northwest
ern states were now held doubtfuIIy in
the Republican column only by reason
of sectional prejudices. The bloody
shirt, he said, had done valiant service
In the last campaign in counteracting
the effect of tariff reform arguments,
and unless that could again save the
republican party from defeat, nothing
else could. The Republicans of the
New England and Northwestern states.
who have been hoping for reduction of
tariff duties at the hands of the Repub-
lican party, were bound TO realize
sooner or later that this hope is
vain. What, then, would they do about
it? Continue the folly of robbing them-
selves by supporting the Republican
party and Of obstructing and defeating
the very reform they are clamoring forP
"fhese people," said Mr.. Cleveland,
'.are already beginning to realize that
the party which persists in
course hostile to their inter-
ests is their enemy, and that the
party which is fighting to give them
what they want is their friend. no mat
ter it it does contain some Confederate
brigadiers. Mr.. Cleveland said that he
had thought the Republican party
might make some effort to conciliate
the low tariff sentiment in its
now appeared to be to the con-
trary.. The party leaders evidently
thought it wiser to stand by the con-
tract with the protected manufacturers
than to endanger the solidity of the
rich and powerful combination which
had helped it so often to victory by de-
parting hairs breadth from the letter
of the bond. The Republican party, he
said, is driving
STRAIGHT UPON THE ROCKS
and could not change its course. In
the course of the conversation the ques-
ton of "ballOt reform' was touched
upon, and MI. Cleveland interrogated me
in regard to the details of the DOrtch
law in Tennessee. He is intensely in
terested in this question. and said
it was one of the most important
reforms that had been attempt
ed for years, and that it's import
saults upon the purity Of the ballot be-
came iercer. asked him if he thought
the cause of tariff reform would profit
by such legislation. Honest govern
ment would profit by it," said Mr..
Cleveland; land so would every
worthy cause which depends upon
honest and not upon corrupt methods
for success. The franchise is noS de-
debauched in the interest of good laws
ailu uOuCoG SOFtIllIlOIlG. III is Dy ClOS0
who have special interest to subserve
at the peoples expense and not by
those whose interests are in common
with the masses that the ballot is cor
rupted. There are no rich and power
full corporations interested in buying
''fioaters" OF coercing employees to vote
for reformation of our tariff laws. The
powers of corruption are employed upon
the other side, and tariff reform, as all
other reforms, must depend upon the
suffrage of the people. If the people are
capable of self-gevernmeEt and are to
remain so, there cannot be too many
aboutthe expression of their
will