The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-08-31
Executive Mansion,


1
washington, II. g., Aug. q, 1874.
III. 4. CatchIngs-My Dear Sir: Since
the conversation had with you ana
Mr.. Clark of AlabaNa few days ago
In regard to my action upon tile tariff
bill now before me, have given the
| subject full and most serious considera.
ton. The result is. am more settled
| than ever In the determination to allow
| the bill to become u law without my
signature.
"When the formulation OF legislation
which 1t was hoped would enibody
Democratic ideas of tariff reform was
lately entered upon by congress, moth
Ing was further from my anticipation
than result which cottl,' not prompt
ly and enthusiastically indorse.
ut Is, therefore. with feeling OF the
utmost disappointment that submit
to u denial of this privilege.
II do not claim to be better than the
masses Of my party. nor do ! wish to
avoid dny responsibility which, OH nc.
count of the passage of this law,
ought to bear as u member Of the Dem
ocratic organization: neither will per-
NIT myself TO be separated from my
party to such IN extent as might be I'M
piled by my veto of turlii legislation.
which, though disappointing, Is SIM
chargeable to Democratic effort. But
there are provisions In this bill which
are not In line with honest tariff re,
form, and 1t contains Inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not TO APP
pear in tariff laws of any kind. Be-
sides. there We're, 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 II In its
later stages and interfered with Its
final construction which ought not to
be recognized or tolerated In Demo,
cratic tariff reform councils.
"And yet, Notwithstanding all Its
vicissitudes and all the bad treatment
1t received at the hands of pretended
friends, 1t presents vast Improvement
to existing conditions. 1t will certain
ly tighten many tariff burdens that
now rest heavily upon the people. 1t Ia
not only barrier against the return
of mad protection. but 1t furnishes u
vantage ground from which must be
waged further aggressive operations
against protected monopoly and gov.
ernmental favoritism.
81 take my place with the rank and
file of the Democratic party who be-
lieve In tariff reform and who know
what It IL. who refuse TO accept the
results embodied in this bill rs the
close of the war; who are not blinded
to the fact that the livery OF the Dem.
ocratic tariff reform has been stolen
and worn in the service of Republican
protection, and who have marked the
places where the deadly blight of trea-
son Inns blasted the councils of the
brave In their hour of might.
"rhe trusts and combinations-th
communism OF pelf-whose machina-
tons have prevented MS from reaching
the success We deserve. should not be
forgiven. We shall recover from our
establishment nj their exhibition OF
power. and II then the question Is fore.
ed upon us whether they shall submit
TO the free legislative will OF the peo-
pies 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 the American institutions.
Il love the principles OF true Dem.
ocrncy because they are founded In
patriotism and upon justice and fair
ness toward all interests. am proud
OF my party organization because II Is
conscrvedly sturdy and persistent IN
the enforcement OF It's principles
Therefore do not despair OF the cf-
forts made by the house of representa-
tives TO supplement the bill already
passed by further legislation ana 10
have engrafied upon II such modiiica.
tions as Will more nearly meet Demo.
cratic hopes and aspirations.
| II cannot be mistaken MS TO the ne.
cessity Of free raw materials ms the
foundation of logical and sensible tar.
In reform. The extent TO which this
IL recognized In the legislation already
secured Is one Of It's encouraging and
redecming features: but II Is ycxatlous
10 recall that while free coal and Iron
ore have been denied: II letter OF the
secretary OF the treasury dlscloscs the
fact that both might have been made
Tree by the annual surrender OF only
about seven hundred thousand dollars
| OF unnecessary revenue.
Il am sure there Is a common habit
OF Understanding the importance OF
free raw materials In rarim legislation
and of regarding them MS only related
TO concessions to bc made Ia orr manu-.
|
Is 50 far.rcaching that II disrcgar,lcd
n complete and bcneiicent scheme OF
iarin reform cannot be successfully In
| auguratrd.
when we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials we unshncklc Amer.
lean enterprise aud Ingenuity. and
these Will open the doors OF foreign
markets 10 the reception Of our wares
Il a. IA Ia.
Gus and rcmunerativc employment OF
American labor
with materials chcapcnc,l by their
freedom from tariff charges, the cost
Of their product must he corresponding.
ly cheapcned. Thcrcupon Justice and
fairness 10 the consumer would de,
mnnd that the manufacturers b. obiIr.
cd 10 submit 10 such u reimbursement
AMI modification OF the tariff upon
their finished goods M would secure
10 the people the beneii, OF the reduced
cost of their manufacture. and shield
the consumer against the cxactIons OF
lnor,iinntr profits
| at VIII thus he seen thai free raw
materials and n just und fearless rcg,i,
lation and reduction of the iarIfT Ia
meet the changed conditions would
carry 10 every humble home In the
land the blessings of Increased com
fort and cheaper living.
"rhc millions of o,ir counirymen who
have fought brnvrly aud well for iprln
reform should h" oxhoricd TO continue
the struggle. boldly challenging IA
open warfare md constantly guarding
against 'renchery nnd hnlf hcnrtrines.
IN ihcir camp.
Tariff reform Will not h. settled