The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-07-20
National Capital
CLEVELAND WRITES
AN UNUSUAL LETTER
He Advocates Standing for
Democratic Principles.
He Reads a Letter in Connection
With the Tariff Report.

lie Voices His DisapproVal of the senate
Tarin Bill advocates "A Firm stand to
Democratic Pledges stands for Free
Coal and Iron Tie Doesn't Like the
Income TaA.
EXECUTIVE f MANSION,
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., July ?, 1894
Personal
Hon. William L. Wilson;
Ny DEAR SIR-The certainty that a
conference will be ordered between the
two houses Of congress for the purpose
of adjusting differences on the subject of
tariff legislation, 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 so closely re-
lated to the subject, have so longed for
its accomplishment, and | have so often
promised its realization to my fellow
COuntTymen, as 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 stIenuOusly insist upon party
honesty and good faith and sturdy ad
herence to democratic principles | be-
lieve these absolutely necessary condi
tiOns TO the continuation of democratic
existence. | cannot get rid of the feel
ing that this conference will present the
best if not the only hope for true demoC-
racy. indications point to its action as
the reliance of those who desire the genu
inc fruitiOn of democratic effort, the full
tillmcnt of democrat pledges and the
redemption Of democratic promises to
the people. To reconcile differences in
the details comprised within the fixed
and we'll defined 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 question whether
democratic principles themselves are to
be saved or abandoned.
There is no excuse for mistaking or
misapprehending the feeling and the
temper of the rank and file of the demOC-
racy. They are downcast under the as
sertion that their party foils in ability to
manage the government, and they are
apprehensive that 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 circum-
stances they cannot do otherwise than
to look with confidence to you and those
who, with you, have 'riOtically and
sincerely ChampiOned the cause Of tariff
reform within democratic lines and
guided by democratic principles This
confidence is vastly augmented by the
action under your leadership of the
House Of Representatives upon the bill
now pending. Every true democrat and
every sincere tariff reformer knows that
this bill in its present form, as it will be
submitted to conference, falls far short
of the Consummation for which we have
long labored for which we have suf-
fcred defeat without disCOuragement !;
which, in its anticipation, gave Us q
rallying cry in our day Of triumph, and
which, in its promise Of accomplishment,
is so interviewer with democratic pledges
and democratic success that our abandon
ment of the cause or the principles upon
which it rests means party pertidy and
party dishonOr.
One topic will be submitted 10 the con
ference which embOdies democratic prin
ciples so directly that it cannot be com
promised We have in our platform ana
in every way possible declared in favor
of the free importation Of raw materials.
We have again and again promised that
this should be accorded 10 our people
and our manufacturers as soon s.: the
democratic party was invested with the
power TO determine the tariff policy Of
the country. The party now has that
power. We are as certain today a. we
have ever been Of the great bencfi: that
would accrue 10 the country from the in
auguratiOn OF this policy, and nothing
has occurred 10 release Us from our obli-
CATION TO secure this vantage to our
people 1t must be said that no tariff
measure can accord with the democratic
principles and promises, or bear q genuine
democratic badge, that does not provide
for free raw materials. In the circum-
stances, it may well excite our wonder
that democrats are willing to depart from
this, the most democratic Of al taTitT
principles, and that the inconsistent ab
surdity Of such proposed departure
should be emphasized by the suggestion
tha, the wool Of the farmer be put on