The Dickinson press., 1894-09-01
HE DID NOT SIGN 1T
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND,s SIGMA.
TURE NOT ON THE TARIFF BILL.
In a Letter to Representative Catch.
ings of Mississippi the President
Tells Why He Did Not Endorse the
Measure.

In a Letter to Representative Catch.
inEs of Mississippi the President
Tells why He Did Not Endorse the
Measure.
to day sent the following letter to Rep
resentative Catcllings of Mississippi,
who consented to its publication in
view of its public character and I'M
pOrtancc:
Executive Mansion, Washington, Aug.
-, 1S94.-lIon. II. G. Catchings-My
Dear Sir: Since the conversation had
with you and Mr. CLARK Of Alabama Il
few days ago in regard to my action
upon the tariff hill now before me, l
have given the subject further and
more serious consideration The re-
suit is. l am more settled than ever in
the determination to allow the bill to
become Il law without my signature
When the formulation of legislation
which 1t was hoped would cmbody
Democratic ideas of tariff reform was
lately entered upon by congress. moth
ins was further from my anticipation
than Il result which could not prompt
ly and enthusiastically endorse. 1t il,
therefore. with the feeling of the ut
most dis;lE Epointmcnt that l submit to
IL denial Of this privilege do not
claim to be better than the masses of
my party. nor do wish to avoid any
responsibility as Il member of the Dem.
Ocratic organization, neither will Der.
nit myself to he separated from INV
n
implied by my veto Of tariff legislation,
Which, though disappointing, is still
chlrgeable to Democratic effort. But
there are provisions in this bill which
are not in line with honest tariff re.
form, and it contains Inconsistencies
and cruditics which ought not to an.
pear In tariff laws of any kind. Be-
sides. there We're, as you and we'll
klew, incidents accompanying the PASS
ing OF the bill through congress, which
made every sincere reformer unhaDpy.
while Influences surrounded it in it's
latter stages and intcrfcred with its
final construction which ought not to
d. recognized or tolerated in Democrat.
Is tariff reform councils.
And yet, Notwithstanding all its vi
cissltudes and all the bad treatment II
received ut the hands of pretended
1rleEds, 1t presents vast Improvement
10 existing conditions. 1t will certainly
tighten many tariff burdens that now
rest heavily upon the people. 1t ia
not only barrier against the return
OF mad protection. hut 1t furnishes n
vantage ground from which must br
wagrd further aggressive operations
against protected monopoly and gov
ernmcntal favoritism.
l take my place with the rank and
file OF the Democratic party who be.
lieve III tariff reform, and who, know
Ing what it is. refuse to accept the re-
suits embodied In this bill as the close
of the war; who are not blinded to the
fact that the livery of Democratic tar
lit reform has been stolen and worn
IN the service of Republican protection
and will have marked the places where
the deadly blight Of treason has blasted
the councils of the brave in their hour
of might.
The trusts and combinations - the
cOmmuniSM of pelf-whOse machina-
tl0ns have prevented us from reaching
the success we deserve, should not be
forgotten or forgiven. We shall re.
cover from our astonishmcnt at their
exhibition of power, and IL then the
question is forced upon us whether they
shall submit to the free legislative will
OF the peoples representatives, or shall
dictate the laws which the people must
obey, we will accept and settle that
issue as one involving the integrity and
safety of American Institutions.
L love the principles of true Denloc-
raey because they are founded in patri-
Otism and upon justice and fairness
toward all interests. am proud of
my party organization because it is
cOnservatively sturdy and persistent in
the enforcement Of its princiDles
Therefore l do not despair of the cf-
forts made by the house of representa-
tiyes to supplement the bill already
passed by further legislation and to
have engraved upon it such modifica.
tlons as will more nearly meet Demo-
cratic hopes and aspirations.
l cannot be mistaken as to the ne
cessity Of free raw materials as the
foundation Of logical and sensible tariff
reform. The extent to which this ia
recognized in the legislation already Sc.
cured is one of its encouraging and re-
dceming features; but, it is vexatious
to recall that while free coal and iron
ore have been denied, a letter of the
secretary of the treasury disclOses the
fact that both might have been made
free by the annual surrender of only
S1OOVOO Of unnecessary revenue
! am sure there Is common habit
OF Understanding the Importance of
free raw materials in tariff legislation.
and of regarding them as only related
TO concessions to be made to our man.
ufacturcrs. The truth is, their infiu-
cnce is so far-reaching that if disregartl.
ed complete and beneficial scheme of
tariff reform cannot be successfully In.
augurated.
When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials we unshackle Amer.
icap enterprise and ingenuity and these
will open the doors OF foreign markets
to the reception of our wares and give
opportunity for the continuous and re-
nuncrative employment of American
labor.
With materials cleapcncd by their
freedom from tariff charges, the cost
Of their product must be corresponding
" cheapened. Thercupon justice ana
fairness to the consumer would de-
iuand that the manufacturers be
obliged to submit to such readiust.
ment and modification of the tariff
upon their finished goods as would so.
cure to the people the benefit Of the re-
duced cost of their manufacture and
shield the consumer against the ex-
actions Of incrdinatc profits.
1t will thus be seen that FREQ raw
materials and a just and fearless reg
ulation and reduction of the tariff to
meet the changed conditions would
carry to every humble home in The land
the blessings of increased comfort and
cheaper living. The millions Of orr
who have fought braveIv
and well for tariff reform silould no
eXhortcd to continue the struggle. bold
ly challenging to open warfare and con-
stantly guarding against trcachcry and
half-hcartcdncss III their camp. Tariff
reform will not be settled until it is