The sun., 1893-07-15
BIr. Cleveland's Inaugural Pledge.

AK o -
= BIr. Cleveland's Inaugural Pledge.
n Those injudlcious friends or secret foe,
-nof Mr.. CLEVELAND, who are industriously
81 engaged in sowing the report that he if
opposed to the Democratic tariff doctrine
and inclined to q mere revision OF the tarif
upon lines essentially protectionist and Re
publican. seem to have forgotten the ear.
nest and solemn language In which he af-
firmed that doctrine in his Inaugural Adj
: dress. THE people OF the United States.
=, he said. have decided that on this day the
control OF their Government in its legisla-
{ tive and executive branches shall be given
: TO political party pledged in the most posi-
tice terms to the accomplishment of tariff
veform They have thus determined in faror
ofd more just and equitable system Of Federal
taxation. The agents they hare chosen are
bound BY their promises. no less than by the
command of their masters. to derotc them
seipes unremittin0ly to this seruice."
When zoe proclaim that the necessity for
seve,ue to support the Government furnishes
fAe only justification for ta.ri~g the people. ge
announce truth 80 plain that its denial could
seem to indicate the ertent to rhich judgment
may be influenced by familiarity ,cith perper-
sions Of the taring po,cer.'
We cannot see how there can be any
doubt about Mr.. CLEvELAND's meaning and
position. His language Is plain and unam-
tbiguous. with no trace of the somewhat
colorless generalization which sometimes
pervades his official style. He could not
have put more strongly the fact that the
Democratic party. and consequently his
mi nj cfro nd ha i,>C
Uress. are pledged in the most positive
terms to the accomplishment Of tariff re-
form." Here are these most positive terms:
We dsao.res Rpublicun protection a fraud roasry
V he majority Of he peop. for The ben,i Of
- as. ne dseiars b fundamental prineip. ofns
Democratic party os the Federal eon,
taoi Doesr 10 tnpo's and collect iar5 d4ts. except for s
1spos ef only and demand that ne collection Of
ssea tares aaan Be limited the nsess Of ns Govsrnnsn
ehsn honssav adminfstersd"
{. q The tariff for revenue only is the more
Just and equitable system OF Federal taxa
tion" to which Mr.. CLEVELAND refers; and
this Democratic proclamation that the
Federal Government has no constitutional
power to impose and collect tariff duties
except for the purpose of revenue only
bootub W nlm b pain CTuJn. Inc Demo-
cratic Legislative and executive branches
q are bound by their promises. no less than
by the command Of their masters. to de-
vote themselves unremittingly to this SER
vice" Of setting up just and equitable
system Of Federal taxation. the system of
tariff for revenue only.
In his Inaugural Address Mr.. CLEVELAND
not merely approved. but insisted upon the
pledges OF his party. He committed him
self explicitly and in set terms to the duty
of carrying out the Democratic principle of
Q tariff for revenue only He insisted upon
the obligation Of all the Democratic SER
wants Of the people to give to the people the
eystem Of Federal taxation for which they
Voted In 1892 The part OF the Inaugural
which we have quoted may be regarded as
IN some sort Mr.. CLRvELANDs solemn and |
official oath to fulfil. so far as in him lies, |
the obligations Of the Democracy.
1t will take more than the interested as |
seyerations Of protectionists. whether these |
are timid Republicans or compromising |
Democrats who care more for protection |
than they care for the good faith OF their |
party. to outweigh Mr.. CLEvELAND's de- |
hberate and unequivocal protestation of |
adherence to the Democratic doctrine of a |
tariff for revenue only. That protestation
was made solemnly and publicly to the |
whole country: the denials of 1t come from !
the back stairs and the back kitchen.