Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-04
GOVERNOR HILLS LETTER.
Pail Tex, of tho Documsnt--pem ooratl
Dave Not rres-Trader.
ny telegraph 70 tho Dispaicl


ny telegraph to the Dispatch.l
NEw YonK, April 1.-The following is the
text OF the letter from Governor Hill re-
eeiyed at the meeting OF the Manhattan
singic-Tax Club held at Cooper Union last
night:
STATE OF New YoEK.)
EXECUTIVE CHAMBEB,
albany, N. Y. April 1, 1891.
Lt,rts y. Post, Esq.,. President, &C.:
Dear Sir, am in receipt Of your letter
OF March 18th, inviting me to attend free
trade inass-meeting 10 be held in Cooper
Union Thursday evening, April I'd.
While thanking you for your courtesy,
canRot attend the meeting because have
no sympathy with its professed purpose.
/ had supposed my opinions upon the tariff
question had been so frequently express
ed in public that nobody could expect me
consistently ~ attend a meeting intend
a 10 promulgate the doctrine Of free
tfade.
am not an advocate Of free trade aud
never have been. ] stand with the Demo-
cratic party in favor of tariff reform. which
Means o reduction Of the present Excess
sive and iniquitous tariff aud the rotsu-
tion Of the tariff limited to the necessities
OF the Government economically admins
tered.
do not believe in reforming the tariff
by wholly abolishing II. tbelieve that the
interests Of onr conutry--induStrlal agri-
cultural, and ommercial--demand the es-
tab5ishment of that tariff policy declared
and particularly defined in the National
Democratic platforms of 1876. 1884, and
1888, and ! am earnestly opposed TO the at
tempt which Is now being made IL some
quarters TO undermine the sound and con-
servative position of the Democratic party
upon this question and TO commit il ire
vocably TO the doctrine of tree 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 true Demo-
Gratis while seeking 10 commit the party to
a policy which it has always distinctly re-
pudiated, and which. If adopted, must in
evitably. III my judgment. affect injurious
IL the welfare of the country and unit the
Democratic party for the maintenance Of
those wise principles OF government OF
which it has for nearly a century been
proud and unyielding representative.
They greatly mistake public sentiment
who assume 10 construe the revolution last
autumn at the polls as popular manifesto
tiOn in favor of radical tariff legislation /;
IL was, 80 far as the tariff was the issue, a
popular outburst against excessive duties,
dgainst restricted markets, against war
taxation for the benefit of favored indus
tries, but only blind theorists could see in
il any indication that the people are impa-
tient Of all tariffs and desire to resort TO
direct taxation to secure the necessary
revenues for the support of the Govern
ment.
Asa Democrat ! must respectively de-
cline 70 support any movement, no matter
by whom instigated or championed. having
for its purpose the adoption Of any such
suicidal policy asis sought to be promoted
by the meeting TO which you have invited
me.
In my opinion such movements only en-
barrass and endanger the cause of tariff
reform.
Iremain, very truly yours,
DAVID b. HILL.