The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-09-01
A SPLENDID LETTER.
President Cleveland States His Position on
the Tariff, and Expresses His Faith
In the Democratic Party.


in the Democratic Party.
In view of the adjournment of Congress
on last Tuesday, and the great interest as
to the Presidents position on the tariff
bill, the following letter to Representa-
tive Catchings, OF Mississippi, is given to
the public by that gentleman, in view OF
its public character and Importance:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. q, '94.
Hon. T. c, Catchings-
My Dear Sir-Since the conversation
had with you and Mr.. Clark, of Alabama,
In regard to my action upon the tariff bill,
now before me, have given the subject
further and serious consideration. The
result ia, am more settled than ever in
the determination to allow the bill to be-
come 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 nothingwas further from my
anticipation than result which could
not promptly and enthusiastically in
dorse. It is therefore with q feeling OF
the utmost Disappointment that / submit
to denial of this privilege.
81 do not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do wish to avoid
the responsibility, which, on account of
the passage OF this law, ought to bear
as member OF the Democratic organiza-
ton; neither win I permit myself to be
separated from my party to such an ex-
tent as might be implied by my veto to
tariff legislation, which, though disap-
pointing, 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 inconsistent
cies and crudities which ought not to ap-
pear in tariff laws or laws Of any kind.
Besides, there were, as you and l well
know, incidents accompanying the pas
sage Of the bill through Congress which
made every sincere reformer unhappy,
while influences surrounded it in its later
stages and interfered with it's final con-
struction which ought not to be recogniz-
ed or tolerated in Democratic reform
councils And yet, notwithstanding all its
vicissitudes and the bad treatment it re-
ceived at the hands Of pretended friends,
| it presents vast improvement to existing
conditions.
1T will certainly tighten many tariff
burdens that now rest heavily upon the
people. It is not only q barrier against
the return of mad protection, but it fur
nishes a vantage ground from which we
must wage further aggressive oprations
against protected monopoly and govern
mental favoritism. take my place with
the rank and file OF the Democratic party
who believe in tariff reform and who know
what it is, who refused to accept the re-
suits embodied in this bill at the close Of
the war, who are not blinded to the fact
that the livery Of Democratic reform has
been stolen and worn in the service OF
| Republican protection, 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 combination-thec communism Of pelf
whose Vaccinations have prevented us
from reaching the success we deserve,
should not be forgotten or forgiven. We
shall recover from our establishment at
their exhibition of power, and if then the
question upon us whether they shall SUBJ
to the free Legislative will of the peoples
representatives or shall dictate the laws
which the people must obey, We will ac-
cept and settle that issue as one involving
the integrity and safety Of American in
| situations.
II love the principles OF true Democra-
cy, because they are founded in patriot
ism 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 these principles. Therefore ! do not
despair of the efforts made by the House
OF Representatives to supplement the bill
already passed by further legislation, and
to have engrafted upon it such mOdifica-
tons as will more nearly meet Democratic
hopes and aspirations.
81 cannot be mistaken, as the necessity
for free raw materials is the foundation
of logical and sensible tariff reform.
1.-THE extent to which this is recognized
is one of it's encouraging and redeeming
features, but il is vexatious to recall that
while free coal and iron ore have been
denied, letter of the secretary OF the
treasury discloses the fact that both
might have been free by the annual sur
render OF only about 100000 OF unnec-
essary revenue.
II am sure that there is q common
habit of misunderstanding the import
ance of free raw materials in tariff legis
lation, and of regarding them as only re-
lated to concessions 10 be made to ouI
manufacturers. The truth is, their in
flnence is 30 reaching, that, if disre
garded, a complete and benifcent scheme
of of tariff reform cannot be successful,
inaugurated.
"When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials, we unshackle Ameri
can enterprise and ingenuity, and thai
will open the doors Of foreign markets Il
the reception of our wares and give op
portunity for the continuous and remun
erative employment of American labor
With materials cheapened by their free
dom from tariff charges, the cost of thei
,, production must be corresponding.
cheapened. Thereupon justice and fair
! ness to the consumer would demand tina
the manufacturers be nhlipad to suhmi