The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-04
HILLS TARIFF LETTER.
TEXT OF The ATTACK ON TIE
FREE TRAD RS.

The Governor Classes Them as Trait
ors to the Party-Tariff Reform De-
clared the Am OF TIE Democratic
Party-Hs Expressed Surprise at the
Invitation.
NEW YORK, April S.-Following is the
text of the letter from Gov. Hill received at
The meeting Of the Manhattan Single Tax
Club, held In Cooper Union last night.
STATE OF NEW YoRK,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
ALBANY, n. Y, April /, 1891.
Louis Post, ESQ, President:
DEAR SIR am in receipt OF your letter of
March z, inviting me TO attend a free trade
mass meeting TO be held at Cooper Union Thurs
day evening. April 2 While thanking you for
your courtesy, cannot attend the meeting be-
cause have no sympathy With its professsd
purpose. bad supposed my opinions upon the
tartlf question had bsen so frequently expressed
IN pL bic that nobody could expect me con
sistently TO attend meeting intended TO pro
mulgate the doctrine OF free trade.
am not an advocate of free traee and never
have been; stand with the Democratic party
IN FAVOR OF tariff reform, which means a reduc-
ton OF the, resent excessive and iniquitions
tarin and the retention of
JarlH limited TO the necessities
OF the government economically administered.
l do not believe in reforming the tariff by
wholly abolshing it. believe that tue best
interests OF the country-industrial. agricul-
tural and commercial-demand the establish
ment OF the tariff politely declared and particu-
larry defined in the national democratic plat
forms of 1876, 1884 and 1885, and am earnestly
opposed TO the attempt which is now being
made In some quarters to undermine the sound
and conservative position of the democratic
party upon this question, ard to commit il ire
vocably to the doctrine Of free ira ie The men
who ARE engaged in this effort, no matter how
honest or sincere they may be in their indi-
vldual convictions. have no right to longer mas
querade as true democrats, while seeking to
commit the party to policy which it has
always distinctly repudiated, and which, IL
adopted, must inevitably, in my judgment affect
lnJurlously TIE welfare or the country and unfit
the Democratic party for the maintenance Of those
wise principles of government of which 1t has
for nearly century been the proud and I'M
yielding representative. They greatly mistake
public sentiment who assume to construe the
revolution last autumn at the polls as popu-
lar manifestation in favor of radical tariff egs-
lation IL was, SO far as the tariff was the issue
popular ontourSt against excessive duties,
war taxation for the benefit of fav-
ored industries, but only blind theorists
could see in il any indication that the people
are impatient of ell tariffs and desire resort to
direct taxation to secure the neces -ary revenues
Tor the support of the government As DEM
ocrat must respectfully decline to support any
movement no matter by whom instigated or
championed, having for its purpose the adop-
ton 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 endanger the cause OF tariff
BAviD b. HILL.
An incorrect statement that Gov. Hill, by
his letter to the free trade meeting 10 this
city had declared "fat-footedn for protec-
tion was sent from here last night The
text Of the governors letter corrects the
error