Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-26
REMEMBER YOURPLEDGES.
Strong Letter from President Cleveland
written to ohairm.n Wilson.

hEIltcn 10 O1dIEInAn W llBOns
WASHINGTON, July 20.-The letter written
by President Cleveland to Chairman Wilson,
on the tariff bill, is as follows:
Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 2, 1884.
Hon. William L. Wilson,:
Ny Dear Sir: The certainty that con-
ference will be ordered between the two
houses of congress for the purpose of adjust
ing differences on the subject of tariff legis-
lation makes it almost certain that you will
be again called on to do hard service in the
cause of tariff reform. My public life has
been soclosel, related d to the subject, ! have
so longed for its accomplishment, and l have
so often promised its realization to my fel.
low -countrymen as a result of their trust and
confidence in the democratic party, that
hope no excuse is necessary for my earnest
appeal to you that in this crisis you strenu-
oAsiy insist upon the party honor and good
faith aud sturdy edherence to democratic
principles. / believe these are absolutely
necessary conditions to the continuation of
democratic existence. cannot rid myself
of the feeling that this conference will pres
ent the best If not the only hope of true
democracy. Indications point to its action
as the reliance of those who desire the genu-
inc fruition of democratic effcrt, the FULFILL
ment of democratic pledges and the redemr-
tion of democratic promises to the people.
To reconcile the differences in the details
comprised within the fixed and well-defned
lines of principle will not be the sole task OF
the conference, but as it seems to me its
members will also have in charge the ques-
tion whether democratic principles them
selves are to be saved or abandoned. There
ia no excuse for mistaking or misappehend-
ing the feeling and the temrer Of the rank
and Ale of the democracy. They are down.
cast under the assertion that their party fails
in ability to manage the government. and
theyare apprehenslve that the efforts to bring
about tariff reform may fail; but they are
much more downcast and apprehensive in
their fear that democratic principles may be
surrendered. In these circumstances they
cannot do otherwise than 10 look with conf
dence to you and those who with you have
patriotically and sincerely championed the
cause of tariff RI form within democratic lines
and guided by democratic principles. This
confidence is vastly augmentedby the action
under your leadership of the house of repre-
sentatives upon the bill now, pending.
Every true democrat and every sincere
tariff reformer knows that this bill, in its
present form, and as it will be submitted to
to the conference, falls far short of the con-
summation for which we have long labored,
discouraeement: which in its anticipation
gave us rallying cry in our day of triumph
and which in its promise of accomplishment
is SO interwoven with democratic Pledges
and democratic success that our abandon
meut of the cause or the principles upon
which it rests means party perfdy and party
dishonof One topic will be submitted to
the conference which embodies democratic
principles so directly that it cannot be COM
promised We have in our platforms and
in evsry way possible declared in favor of
of free importation of raw materials. We
have again and again promised that this
should be &C 'orded to our people and our
manufacturer as soon as the democratic
party was invested with the power TO deter
mine the tariff policy of the country. The
party now has tn powor. We are as certain
to-day as we have ever been of the great
benefit that would accrue to the country from
the inauguration of this policy, and nothing
has to release US from our obligation to Sc
cure this advantage to our people. 1t must
be admitted that no tariff measure can &C.
cord with democratic principles and prom
ises, or bear genuine democratic badge,
that does not provide for free raw materials.
In these circumstances 1t may well excite
our wonder that democrats are willing to de-
part from this, the most democratic of all
tariff principles, and that the inconsistent
absurdity of such a proposed departure
ehould be emphasized by the suggestion that
the wool of the farmer be put on the free list,
and the Pre- lection of tariff taxation be
placed around the iron ore and coal of the
corporations of the capitalists. How can we
face the people after fndulging in such out
rageous determinations and violations OF
principle? It is quite apparent that This
question of free raw materials does not ad-
NIT of adjustment on any middle ground.
since their subsection to any rate of tariff
taxation, great or small, is alike violative of
Kdemocratic principle and democratic good
faith.
1 hone You will not consider it intrusive il
| Isay something in relation to another sub
iect which can hardly fail to be troublesome
| to the conference. refer to the adjustment
of tariff ia alton on sugar. Under ourparty
platform and in accordance with our declar-
| ed party purposes, sugar is a legitimate and
! logical article of revenue taxation. Un or.
| tunately, however, incidents have accompan-
| led certain ages of the legislation which
| will be submitted to the conference that have
aroused in connection with this subj ct q
natural democratic animosity to the methods
and manipulations of trusts and combina.
tions. co fess to sharing in this feeling
and yet it seems to me we ought, if possible
to sufficiently free ourselves from prejudice
to enable us cooily to weigh the considera.
tions, which, in formulating tariff Legislation
ought to guide our treatment of sugar as .
taxable article, and while no tenderness
should be entertained for trusts, and while
am decidedly apposed to granting, under the
guise of tariff taxation, and opportunity tt
further their peculiar methods, I suggest
that we ought not to be driven away from
the democratic principle and policy which
| lead toethe taxation of sugar, by fear. quite
| likely exaggerated, that IN carrying out this
principle and policy we may directly and
| inordinately encourage combination Of
sugar refining interests. know that in
present conditions this is delicate subject
and I appreciate the depth and strength o.
the feeling which its treatment has aroused
/ do not believe that we should do evil thai
good may come, but it seems to me that We
should not forget that our aim is the com
pletion of tariff bill. and that in taxing
sugar for proper purposes and within reason
able bounds, whatever else may be said Of
action, we are no danger of running counter
to democratic principle. With all there il
at stake there must be in the treatment oi
this article some ground upon which We