The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-07-31
EXECUTIVE MANSION.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 2, 1894. {
Hon. William L. Wilson
My Dear Sir.-The certainty that q
conference will be ordered between
the two houses of Congress for the
purpose of adjusting differences on the
subject of tariff legislation makes it
also 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, I have so longed
for its accomplishments. and | have so
I often promised it's realization to nv
! 1elloW countryman as q result of their
trust and confidence in the Democratic
party, that | hope no excuse is neccs-
sary for my earnest appeal to you that
! In this crisis you strenously insist upon
party honesty and good faith and Il
/ sturdy adherence to Democratic princi-
! pies. believe these absolutely neces-
sary conditions to the continuation of
Democratic existence
[ cannot rid myself of the feeling
that this conference will present the
best if not the only hope of true Demo-
cracy. indications point to its action
as the reliance of those who desire the
genuine fruition of Democratic effort.
the fultillment OF Democratic 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 prin-
ciples themselves arc 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
Democracy. They are downcast under
the assertion that their party fails 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
"rprehensive in their fear that Demo
cratic principle may be surrended.
In these circumstances they cannot
do otherwise than to look with CON
iidence to you and those who with YOU
have patriotically and sincerely cham
pioned the cause of tariff reform with
in Democratic lines and guided by
Democratic principles. This conf
dence is vastly suggested 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
blll In Its pres mt form, and as it will
be submitted to the conference, falls
far short Of the consummation for
which we have long labored, for which
we have suffered defeat without dis
couragenfent, which in its anticipation
gave us rallying cry in our day of
| triumph, and which in it's promise of
accomplishment is so interwoven with
Democratic pledges and Democratic
success that Our abandonment OF the
cause or the principles upon which it
rests means party profidy and party dis
honor.
One topic will be submitted to the
conference which embodies Demo
cratic principle SO directly that it can
not be compromised. We have in our
platforms and in every way possible
declared in favor of the free importa-
tion of raw materials. We have again
and again promised that this should
be accorded to our people and our
manufacturers as soon as the Demo
cratic party was invested with the
power to determine the tariff policy of
the country.
The party now has that power. We
are as certain to-day as we have ever
been OF the great benefit that would
accure to the country from the inaugu-
i"tiob VI pnio pOilCy, anu nOCnlnP has
occurred to release us from our obliga-
tion to secure this advantage to our
people. 1t must be admitted that no
tariff measure can accord with Demo-
cratic principles and promises or bear
genuine Democratic badge that does
not provide for fre raw material. In
the circumstances it may we'll excite
our wonder that Democrats are willing
to depart from this the most Demo,
cratic of all tariff principles, and that
the inconsistent absurdity of such pro-
posed departure should be emphasized
by the suggestion that tho wool of the
farmer be put on the free list and the
protection OF tariff taxation be placed
around the iron ore and coal OF cor
poratt rs and capitalists. How can we
face tn people after indulging in such
tions OF principles
IT Is quite apparent that this dues
ton oil FREQ raw material docs NOT
adnit pi adjpatmenS on any middle