The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-09-04
But He is Hopeful of More Tariff

The Presidents letter to Mr.. Catch
ings, of Mississippi, has been given
out. 1t occasions great deal of dis
cussion. 1t is as follows:
Executive Mansion, Washington, d.
iC., Aug. 81, 1S94-To Hon. T. Catch
ings-My Dear Sir Since the CONVEX
sation had with you and Mr.Clark
of Alabama, few days ago, in regard
to my action on the tariff bill now be-
fore me, / have given the subject fur
Their and more serious consideration :.
The result is am more settled than
ever to allow the bill to become law
without my signature. When the
formulation of legislation, which it
was hoped would embody Democratic
ideas of tariff reform. was lately
entered upon by congress, nothing
was luther from my anticipation than
result which 1 could not promptly
and enthusiastically indorse. 1t is,
therefore, with feeling of the utmost
disappointment that l submit to de-
NAL Of this privilege.
~ do not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do wish to
avoid the responsibility which, on ac-
count of the passage of this law, /
ought to bear as a member of the
Democratic organization, neither will
l permit myself to be separated from
my party to such an extent as might
be implied by my veto of tariff legisla-
ton, which, though disappointing, is
still chargable to Democratic effort.
But there are provisions in this bill
which are not in line with honest tariff
reform, and it contains inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to APP.
pear in tariff laws or laws of any kind.
Besides, there were, as you and l well
know, incidents accompanying the
passage of the bill through Congress
which made every sincere reformer
unhappy, while influences surrounded
it in its latter stages and interfered
with its final construction which
ought not to be recognized or tolerated
in Democratic tariff reform councils.
And vet, Notwithstanding all its
vicissitudes and the bad treatment it
received at the hands of pretended
friends, it presents vast improve
ment of existing conditions. 1t will
certainly tighten many tariff burdens
that now rest heavily upon the people
1t is not only barrier against the re-
turn of mad protection, but it fur
nishes vantage ground from which
must be waged futher aggressive
operations against protection monopo-
ly and governmental favoritism. Il
take my place with the rank and file
of the Democratic Party who believe
n tariff reform and who know what
it is, who refuse to accept the results
in this bill as the close of
the war, who are not blinded to the
fact that the livery of Democratic
tariff reform has been stolen and worn
in the service of Republican protection
and who 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 their combinations
the communism of pelf--whose
have prevented us from
reaching the success we deserve,
should not be forgotten or forgiven
We shall recover from our astonish-
ment at their exhibition of power,
and if then the question is forced upon
us, whether they shall submit to the
free legislative will Of the peoples rep
or shall dictate the laws
which the people must obey, we will
accept and settle that issue as one in
volving the sintegrity and safety of
American institutions. love the
principles of true Democracy because
they are founded upon patriotism and
upon justice and fairness toward all
interests. 1 am proud of my party
because it is conserva-
lively sturdy and persistent in the
enforcement Of its principles. There