Evening journal., 1891-04-03
ONE CENT.
GOV. HILL is AGAINST IT
No Sympathy with a Free
Trade Meeting.
HE DECLINES TO ATTEND ONE.

He Believes in TariG Reform, but Thinks
Absolute Free Trade Would BE a sui
cidnl Policy-Its Advocates should Ma
Longer Masquerade as Democrats.
NEW YORK, April 3-The free trade mass
meeting at Cooper Union last night was
largely attended. Louis F. Post, the presi-
dent of the Single Tax club, presided, and
announced that the meeting was held in
celebration Of the birth Of Thomas JefEer-
son. Mr.. Post, in his opening address.
made reference to ex-President Cleveland
and his free trade message. Mr. Clcve-
lands name was applauded TO the echo
Letters Of regret were then read from Con-
gressmen johnson, Stout, Breekinridge ot
Arkansas Harter, Naux and Springer
Governor Davis, Of Rhode Island, and
Henry George Mr.. Post announced that
he would read the only letter received IN
opposition TO the meeting. 1t WAS from
Governor Hill and was as follows;
Governor INNS Letter
ALBANY, April /, 1891.
Louis r. Post:
DEAR slR~I am in receipt Of your letter Of
March 2S inviting me to attend FREQ trade
llt@Ai Nlttiiilk 10 PC Htid NJ 1poItI Union Oh
Thursday evening, April 2. While thanking
you for your courtesy cannot attend ihe meet
ing because 1 have no sympathy with Its pro
fcssed purpose / had supposed that my opin.
ions on the tariff question had been So frequent
ly expressed In public that nobody could expect
me consistently TO attend meeting intended
% prumulgato the doctrine Of free trade. am
not an advocate OF free trade and never have
been / stand with the Democratic party in
favor Of tariff reform, which means a reduction
Of the present excessive and iniqniiuus tariff
4 and the retention Of the tariff limited 10 the
necessities OF the government economically adj
ministered. | do not believe in reforming the
tariff by wholly aboliahing il. believe that
the best interests Of our country Industrial
agricultural and commercial demand the es.
tahlishment Of that tariff policy declared and
i particularly defined In the national Democratic
| platforms Of 1876, 1894 and lssS, and ! am
| nestly opposed 10 the attempt which is now bo-
| ing made in some quarters to undermine the
| sound and conservative position OF the Demo.
/ cratic party upon this question aud TO commit
| II irrevocahly 10 the doctrine of free trade.
Only Blind Theorists See lt.
The men who engaged in this effort. no mat
| ter how honest or sincere they may be in their
individual convictions have no rigll 70 longer
masquerade as true Democrats while seeking
70 commit the party 10 policy which il has
always distinctly repudiated and which II
adopted must inevitably, ia my judgment, af-
feet injurinusy the welfare Of the country, and
unfit the Democratic party for the maintenanc0
| Of those principles OF government Of which IL
has for nearly century been the proud and
| unyielding representative. They greatly mis-
, take public sentiment who assume TO cor tinue
z the revelation last autumn at the prlls as a
popular manifestation in favor Of rnf cal tariff
legislation. II wsa. 80 far aa the r.gim was an
issue popular outhnrst against excessive du-
/ ties, against restricted m,arkgts against war
taxation for the benefit Of fgvored Industries,
but only blind theorists ooVsd SEQ IN II any indl
cation that the people are apatient q ell tariffs
] and desire 70 resort 10 y. NJ taxatio sssecufs
i, the necessary reyepr-,s for M suprort Of ths
government
N A Suicidal Policy. ~
4 As Democrat must respectfully decline Il
4 support any government no matter by whom
lnstigatcd or championed, having FOR its pur
pose the adoption Of any such suicidal policy a,
$ u sought to be promoted by the meeting q
4 which you have invited me- In my opinion
such movements only embarrass and cndangel
4 the cause Of tariff reform. ] remain very truly
4 yours, DAVID L. HILL.
Il Jerry simpson scores Hit.
s Congressman Jerry Simpson, the speaker
e Of the evening, said II was like the dawn
4 ! ing Of new era 10 see so maly people
come out. He said that protection meant
that the government mistrusted the people
and was afraid that they might make bad
d trades In the speakers opinion. tariff re-
form by a reduction Of the taxation was
! | anything but proper. Free trace was ths
! only reform that was needed TIM speaker
4 said il was time for the coming Of a new
/. Thomas jefferson and for the adoption Of
a new Declaration Of Independence Mr.
, Simpson took occasion to score senator.
I Governor Hill for his anti-.iee trade
, tactics, and deprecated the fact that So
\ many members Of the Farmers Alliance
/, still believed that they were being pro
i tected. MF Simpson thought that an the
\ tariff should be removed and the railroads
\ managed by the government.
1 Thomas G. Shearman was the only other
speaker He said that Major Mckinley
\ had accomplished some good, aud that was
4. the taking Of duty off sugar. He regarded
I, the free sugar act as a great step toward
I the accomplishment Of tree trade