St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-03
OPPOSES FREE TRADE.
An Emphatic Letter From New
York'S Governor

An Emphatic Letter From New
York's Governor.
New Y DIRK, April 2.-The free trade
mass meeting at Cooper Union tonight
was largely attended. Louis f. Post,
president of the single tax club,
presided. Letters of regret were
read from Congressman john
son, Stout, Breckenridge, of
Ark; Harter, NauX and Springer David
A. Wells. Gov. Davis, of Rhode Island,
and Henry George. Mr.. Post announced
that he would read the only letter re-
ceived in opposition to the meeting. 1t
was from Gov. Hill and was as follows:
State or New York, Executive Chamber.
Albany, n. Y, April l. 1S91.-Louis F. Post,
President, Etc.-Sir: am in receipt OF your
letter OF March Is inviting me to attend
free trade mass meeting to be held April =.
While thanking you for your courtesy, l can
not attend the meeting because have no
sympathy with its professed purpose. l had
supposed that my opinions on the tariff
question had been so frequently expressed in
public that nobody could expect me consist
emily to attend meeting intended to pro
mitigate the doctrine of free trade. am not
an advocate of free trade and never have
been. 1 stand with the Democratic
party in favor of tariff reform, which
means Il reduction OF the present
excessive and Ubiquitous tariff and the
retention of the tariff limited to the necessi-
ties of government economy administered. l
do not believe IN reforming the tariff by
wholly abolishing it. l believe that The best
interests OF our COMPREHENSIVE, agri-
cultural and commercial - demand the
declared and particularly defined in
the national Democratic platforms of
1876, 1854 and 1888, and l am earnestly op-
posed to the attempt which is now being
n t6nrY 1ir1a fbea
sound and conservative position of the
Democratic party upon this question, and
then commit it irrevocably TO the doctrine of
free trade.
The men who are engaged in this effort, no
matter how honest or sincere they may be in
their individual convictions, have no right
TO longer masquerade as live Democrats. while
seeking to commit the party to policy which
ii Las always distinctly repudiated, and which
if adopted, must inevitably, in my Judgment
affect In u riously the welfare of the country.
and unfit the Democratic party for the main
tenance of those wise principles of govern
ment of which it has for nearly a century
been the proud representative. They mis-
take public sentiment who assume to con-
strue the revelation last autumn at the polls
as peculiar manifestation OF radical tariff
legislation; 1t was SO far as the tariff was
an issue, popular outburst against
excessive duties against restricted markets.
against the war taxation for the benefit OF
favored industries, but only blind theorists
could see IN IL any lndlcauon that the people
are impatient of all tariff, and desire
to resort to the direct taxation to
secure the treasury revenues for the
support of the government AS
Democrat, l must respectfully decline to
support any government. no matter by whom
instigated or championed, having for its pur-
pose the adoption of any such suicidal policy
as is sought to be promoted by the meeting
to which you have invited me- In my opinion
such movements only embarrass and en-
danger the cause OF tariff reform. | remain,
very truly yours, DAVID B. HILL.