Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-07-26
CLEVELAND S LETTER.
WRITES OF THE TARIFF.
FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT CLEVELAND S
LETTER TO CHAIRMAN WILSON.

(
LETTER TO CHAIRMAN WILSON.
Following is the letter written by
President Cleveland to Wilson.
The lie tor was under date of July 2.
and WAS private communication, to
the publication of which the President
only gave his consel recently:
Executive Mansion, Washington
July 2-To the Hon. William L. Viii
sfn:
My DEAR SJR:--The Gel tainty that d
conference will ne ordered between the
two houses cf Congress for the purpose
Of adjusting differences on the subject
of ttrlff legIsls ton makes it ais o GER
tam that you will be ag n called upon
to do hard service in the cause of tariff
reform My public life has been so
closely elated to the subject, have 81
louged tor lis accomplishment. and /
have So often promised lis realization TO
my fellow country men as a result OF
their trust and confidence 10 the Demo
cratic patty, hope no excuse is neces-
sary for my earnest appeal To you that
in this crisis you stlenuously insist up
on party honesty and good faith, and q
sturdy adherence to Democr prin-
ciplts. l believe these are absolutely
necessary conditions to the continue
ton OF Democratic existence.
cannot rid nJself of The feeling
that this conference will present the
best if not the only nope of true Demo.
cracy. Indications point 10 its action
as the reliance of those who desire the
genuine frution of Democratic effort.
the Iultillment of Democratic pledges
and the redemption of Democratic
promises to the people To reconcile
differences in the details comprised in
the liked and well defined lines of prin-
ciple will not be the sole task of the con-
ference, but as it seems TO me its mem
bers will also have in charge the qnes
ton whether Democratic principles
themselves are to oe saved abandon
ed.
There is no excuse n mistaking or
miaapprehending the feeling and the
temper of the rank and file of The
Democracy. They are downcast under
the assertion that th, ic party fails in
abilny TO manage the governm' n. and
they IRE apprehensive that their efforts
to bring about tariff reform NAV fail.
but they are much more downcast and
apprehe nsive in their fear that Demo.
cratic principles may be surrendered
In these circumstances they cannot do
otherwise than to look with confidence
TO you and those who with YOU have
pariotIcally and sincerely championed
the cause of tariff reform within Demo-
cratic lines and guided by Democratic
principles. This confidence i. vastly
augmented by the action. under your
leadership. of the House Of Represen-
t4tives upon the bill now pending
Every true Democrat and every SIN.
cefe tariff reformer knows that this bill.
in It's present form and as it will be
submitted To the conference, falls far
short of the consummaiion for which
we have long labored, for which we
have suffer ED defeat without dis
couragemen', which in its auticipa-
lion gave us II rally irg cry in our dav
of triumph, and which IN ITS promise
of Accomplishment is so interviewer
with Democratic pledges and Demo
cratic success that our abandonment of
the cause or the principles upon which
it rests means party perfidy anu party
diShop0E.
One topic will be submitted 10 the
conference which embOdies Democrat C
principle so directly that ii cam OF be- a
compromise. We have in orr plat
forms and 10 every way possible de-
clared in favor of the free Importation
of raw materials We have again and
again promised that this should be ac-
corded to our people and our manu-
factnrers as soon rs the Democratic
party was invested with the power to
determine the tariff policy OF the coun-
try. The party has now that power.
We are as certain today as we have
ever oeen Of the great beneit that
would aocvne tc the country from the
Inauguration of this policy, and noih-
ing has occurred TO release Us from our
obligation 10 secure tnis advantage 20
our people. Ii must be admitted that
no tariff measure can accord win
Democratic principles and promises 10
| boar q genuine Democratic badge that
does not provide for free raw materi-
ais. la these circumstances it may
well excite our wonder that Democrats
are willing to depart from this, the
most Democratic Of all tarIi principles,
and that the inconsistent absuriiiy of
such proposed departure should be
emphasized b, the Sugges ton that The
wool OF the farmer he put Gu the free
list and the protection of tariff .sxa.
tion be plsceu around the iron ore and
eoal of corporations and capitalists
How can We tece the people after in.
dulging in saeh outrageous diserimi-
nations ard violations Of principiesP
1t is quite apparent that this question
of free raw materials does not admit of
adjustment on any middle ground
since their subsection TO any rate of
ltariff taxation, great or small. is alike