The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-07-26
WRITES OF THE TARIFF.
Fun Text Of President Clevelaud's Letter
to Chairman Wilson.

Fun Text Of President Clevelaud's Letter
to Chairman Wilson.
Following is the letter written ~
President Cleveland to Chairman Will
son. The letter was under date Of
July ,, and was 3 private communica-
ton, to the publication Of which the
President only gave his consent TO-
Gently:
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WARRINGTON. July =
To the Hon. Willism L. Wilson:
My DEAR SIR The certainty that Q
conference will be ordered betv Q n tho
two hon es Of Congress- for tue pur.
pose Of adjusting din .nces ON the sub.
ject Of tatir leg station makes it also
tain that you " i'll be again called upon to do
hard service In the cause OF tariff reform. My
public life has been so closely related to the
subject have SO lonEed for its accomplish
ment. and have so often r mtsed Its reAlixa-
ton to my fellow couutrynen . result Of
their trust and confidence in the Democratic
party hope no excuse Is necessary for my
earnest appeal to you that in this crisis you
strenuously insist upon party honesty and
rood faith, and q sturdy adherence to Demo-
cratic principles. l believe these are absO-
lutey necessary conditions to the continuation
j OF Democratic existence.
lcannot rid myself Of the feeling that thts
conference Will present the best II not tho
only hope Of true Democracy. Indications
point to its act ion the reliance Of those who
desire the genuine fruitiOn Of Democratic ct-
fort. the fulhllment Of Democratic pledges
| and the redemption OF Democratic promises
| to the people. To reconcile differences in the
/ details comprised In the fixed aud wcll-denueti
! lines of principle will not be the sole task Of
I bers will also have In charge the question
/ whether Demrc cratic principles themselves
are to he savei or abandoned;
There IL no excuse for mtetAking or misaD.
pretending tho feeling and the temper Of the
| rank and nile Of the Democracy. They are
| fails in ability to msnage the government. and
| they are apprehenstve that their efforts to
/ bring about tariff reform may fail. but thew
much mole downcast and AppYehcnstve In
| their fear that Democratic principles may DO
/ surrendered. In these circumstances they
DO r to iooK with
patriottcSliy and sincerely champtOned the
cause OF tariff reform within Democratic lines
! confidence il vastly augmented by the action.
! under your leadership. Of the House Of Repre-
Every true Democrat and every sincere tar
! ift reformer knows that this bill. In its pres
ent form and as 1t will be submitted to the
conference. falls far short OF the cOnsumma-
! ton for which W" have long labOred. for which
we nave suffer, d defeat without DISCOURAGE
ment, which In Anticipation gave us y rally
! ing cry In day OF triumph. and which In
! its promise OF accomplishment 10 40 inter-
woven with Democratic pledges and Demo-
cratic success that abandonment Of the
cause or the principles upon which 1t rests
means party perfi'iy and party dishonor.
t One topic will be submit, ted to the confer
! encc which embOdles Democratic principle 50
| directly that n cannot be compromise. We
have in our platforms and In every way possible
declared In favor Of tn free import alton Of raw
materials. We have again and again promised
that this should bs accorded to our people and
our manufacturers a. soon as the Democratic
I party WAS invested with the power to deter
! mine the tariff policy Of the country. The
| party has now that power. We are ~ certain
today we have ever been Of the great bene-
mt that would accrue to tho country from the
Inauguration o. this policy, aud nothing has
occurred to release us from our obligation to
must must be samitted p tns, no o tarif %es urs
can accord with Democratic principles
badge that does not provide for free raw ma
| terials In these circumstances 1t may we'll
excite our wonder that Democrats arp willing
all tariff principles. and that the tnconsistent
absurdity OF such . proposed departure should
Of the farmer be put on the free list and the
| protection Of tariff taxation be plaf cd around
the iron ore and coal Of corporations and capit-
dulgin9 in such outrageous DETERMINATIONS
and violations OF prime el 1t IL quite appar-
does not -dnit Of adjustment on any middle
ground. since their subsection to any rate Of
terin taxation. great or small Is alike viOlstive
faith.
1 hope that you will not consider 1t intru-
sive il l asy something in relation to another
soe 70 the refer 20 The rIust
ment OF tariff taxation on sugar. Under our
! party platform and In accordance with our
and logical a1ticle Of revenue tax.ticn In
/ fortunately, however. incidents have &C.
es.s: S5 tn, the
! that have aroused In connection with this
subject a natural Democratic luminosity
trusts and combinations. l confess to
sharing in this feeling: and yet IT. seems to
me We ought: II possible. to .ufiictently FREQ
weigh the considerations which In fOrmuiat-
ing tariff legislation ought to xutce our treat
ment OF sugar ~ . taxable article. While no
tenderness should be entertained for trusts.
anu while am decidedly Opposed to granting
them. under the Hutse of tsrin taxation. any
DDS. suggest that ought not 70 be driven
away from the Democratic principle and poll.
a%ie tey that
may Indirectly ana Unfortunately encour-
age combinsti OF the sugar refining
interests. know that In present conditions
this is delicate subject. and appreciate the
depth and strength Of the feeling which its
-hould do evil that good may come. but It
seems to me that we shOu d not forget that
saa,ns sugar for proper purposes and within 10
reasonable bounds. whatever else may he said
OF our action. We are IN no danger OK runntng
counter to Democratic principles. With all
there is at stake there must he In the treat
mert Of this article some ground upon which
we are ell willing to stand, where federation
and Cancellation may he allo wed to solve the
problem without emanding the entire surren-
de: OF liked and conscientious con victtons.
ought rot to prolon9 this letter. IL what
/ have written IL unweicome, beg you 20 be.
lieve in u v good intentions. In the ccnclu-
sions Of the conference touching the numer-
Gus items which will be considered the people
are not afraid that their fpteresta win NJ
neglected They know that the general re-
suit. 50 far as they are concerned. will be to
place home necessaries and comforts more
easily within their reach. and 70 insure bettel
and eurer compensation to those who TOLL
We al know that . tariff Law covering all thu
varied interests and conditions Of = country
~ vast ours must Of necessity be LARGELY
the result Ut honorable adjustment and com.
promise. 1 expect very few Of rs can say,
when ouc measure IL perfected. that all tta
features are entirely ~ We would prefer. You
know how much I deprecated the tncoEp0rs-
ton in the proposed bill Of tho income-tax
feature. In matters Of this kind. however
which do not violate . dxed ana recoenized