Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-07-27
CLEVELAND'S VIEWS.
THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES
PUBLICATION OF A LETTER
To Hon. W. l.. Wilson on the Duty !
OF the Democratic Party on Tariff
I'm COngresa


OF the Democratic Party on Tariff
Reform-It Produces n Sensation
in Congress.
Thursday, of last week, was a field
day in the House. The galleries were
crowded in anticipation of debate on
the tariff conference report.
On a motion that the House insist
upon disagreement to Senate amend
ments, and ask for further confer
ence, Mr.. Wilson, OF West Virginia,
said in its support that he did not be-
lieve there would be any difference in
coming to compromise or agreement
upon the vast majority of the 634
amendments proposed to this bill by
the Senate; but there are important
amendments proposed by the Senate
which give to this bill in the main
different character from what it had
when it went to the Senate. 1t is be-
cause of these amendments and be.
cause OF the statement made to us in
all kindness and courtesy and might
almost say in sadness, that such was
the condition of affairs at the other
side of this Capitol, that unless this
House was willing to accept the Sen.
ate bill practically and substantially
as it passed the Senate there would be
no tariff legislation at this session of
Congress. We did not feel, represent
ing the House of Representative, that
we could, without sacrifice of dignity
and of its equality as a legislative
body, respond to any such proposition
as that.
Mr.. Wilson continues:
"After the American people have
given US the responsibility, it remains
to be seen if we will use the power to
fulfill their mandate. The bill which
passed the House was not only ap-
proved, prepared and voted for by those
who are the Immediately chosen SER
wants of the taxpayers of this country,
but it has officially been endorsed by
the President, who was chosen by them
to carry out this great reform of the
tariff. Thus every part Of the machin-
cry of the United States government
today deriving the authority from the
direct vote OF the American people has
endorsed the scheme of tariff reform
proposed here and carried through this
House.
"No man in this country has been
more interested in the progress and
the successful termination of this
great movement than the man whom
the people elected to lead them in this
great campaign. So far as it was with
in his power. 1 believe he has never
spoken an uncertain word as to his
position on this question. While the
necessity of this position has com.
PEELED him. as . matter of courtesy to
the two branches of Congress, to
remain perfectly quiet during the
tendency of this bill, but has felt it bis
duty to let the people of this country
know what his position is to-day; and
just as We were entering upon the
great work of comforting between the
two Houses, / had the honor to receive
from him long personal letter, which,
with his consent, obtained this morn
ing, will now send to the Clerks |
desk to be read to the people OF this
(Personel.)
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, july 2. 1894
To Hon. w. L. WILSON.
My Dear Sir-The certainty that
will be ordered between
the two Houses of Congress for the
purpose of adjusting the differences
on the subject of tariff legislation,
makes 1t also certain that you will |
be called upon to again do hard ser
vice in the course of tariff reform.
My public life has been so closely
related to the subject, I have so
longed for its accomplishment, and
have so often promised it's accomplish
ment to my fellow countrymen as
result of'their trust and confidence in
the Democratic party, that l hope no
excuse is necessary for my earnest ap-
peal to you that in this crisis you
insist upon party honesty
and good faith and sturdy adherence
to Democratic principles. I believe
these are absolutely necessary condi-
tons to the continuation of Demo-
cratic existence.
! cannot rid myself of the feeling
that this confidence will present the
best, if not the only hope of true
Indications point to its action as
the reliance of those who desire the
genuine fruition of Democratic effort,
the fulfillment of Democratic pledges
and the redemption of Democratic |
promises to the people.
To reconcile differences in the de-
tails comprised within the fixed and
we'll defined lines of principle will not
be the sole task of the conference
but it seems to me its members have
in charge the task whether Demo-
cratic principles themselves are to be
saved or abandoned.
There is no excuse for installing or
misapprehending the feelings and the
temper of the rank and file of the
Democracy. They are downcast un.
der the assertion that their party has
failed in ability to manage the govern
ment and they are apprehensive that
efforts to bring about tariff reform
may fail, but they are much more
downcast and apprehensive in their
fears that Democratic principles may
be surrendered. In these necessary
circumstances they cannot do other
wise than look with confidence to you |
and those who, with you, have
periodically and sincerely championed |
the cause of tariff reform within |
Democratic lines, and guided by those
principles, this confidence is vastly
by the action, under your
leadership, of the House of Represen-
tatives upon the bill now pending.
Every true Democrat and every
sincere tariff reformer knows that this |
bill. in its present form. and a. it will |
be submitted to the conference, falls
far short of the contamination for
which we have long labored; for
which we have suffered defeat without
encouragement; which, in its an
ticipation, 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 successes that our
abandonment of the cause or the
principles upon which it rests means
party perfidy and party dishonor.
One topic will be submitted to the
conference which embodies Demo-