Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1894-09-07
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND COM
MENTS ON THE TARIFF,
Addressing CONGRESSMAN CatChingS
He Tells Why lie Neither
Signs Nor Vet0cs the
Bill.

tue Associated Press, under date
Aug. %, says: The President to
day sent the following letter to
Representative Catchlngs, of Ms
gissippi, who consented to its pub,
lieation in view of its public charac,
ter aud importance:
EXECUTIVE MANSON
WAsHINGION, Aug, -.
Hon. 7. G C.Catch!ngs:
My Dear SIr-Since the conyer-
sation 1 had with you and Mr.
Clark, of Alabama, in regard to my
action upon the tariff bill now be-
fore me, l have given the subject
further aud most serious cOnsidera.
tiOn. The result IS, / am more set
tied than ever in the determination
to allow the bill to become Il law
without my signature. When the
formulation OF legislation which ii
was hoped would embody Demos
cratic ideas on tariff reform WAS
lately entered upon by Congress.
nothing was further from rny an.
ticipation than result which |
could not promptly anl enthusiasts
ticaily endorse. 1t is, therefore.
with "a feeling of the ntmost disap-
pointment that | submit TO
denial of this privilege. L do
not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, no do | wish
to avoid any responsibility which,
on account of the passage OF this
law, ought to bear as member
of the Democratic organization,
neither Will l permit myself to be
implied by my veto OF tariff leSis
latiop, which though disappointing,
is chargeable to Democratic effort.
But there are provisions in this
bill which are not in liue with hon
eat tariff reform and 1t contains in-
coDsistencies and crudities which
ought not to appear III the tariff
or laws of any land. BesideSthe
were, as YOU aud | well know, I'M
cidents accompanying the passage
OF the bill through Congress which
made every sincere reformer un-
happy, while influences surrounded
II in it's later stages aud interiered
with It's fnal construction which
ought not to be recognized or toll
Grated in Democratic reform coun
ellis.
Aud get, Notwithstanding all Its
vicissitudes aud bad treatment ii
received at the hands of pretended
friends, it presents a vast improve
meut on existing conditions. II
will certainly tighten many tariff
burdens that now rest heavily upon
the people. 1t Is not only carrier
against the return of mad protec-
ton but furnishes vantaSe-g:ound
from which we must wage iurtbeI
aggressive operations against pro
tected monopoly aud governmental
favoritism. | take my place Will
the rank and file OF the Democratic
party who believe in tariff reform
and who know what it is; who re-
fuse to accept the results embodied
in this bill! as the close OF the wal
who are not blinded TO the fact tha
the livery of Democratic reform ba
been stolen and worn In the SefVlc
of the Republican protection; VIII
have marked the places where 10
deadly blight of treason has 6Iaste'
the councils of the brave III thel
hour OF might; the trusts aud com
blnatlons-the communism OLpeli-
whose machlnatl0ns have prevent
ed as from reaching the success "
deserve, should not he forgiven U
forgotten.
We shall recover from our aston
isbment at their exhibition of powe'
and If then the question Is force
upon US, whether they shall subml
to the tree legislative will OF tb
peoples representatives, or sha
dictate the laws which the peOpl
most obey, We will accept aud setti
ana inp.,iNtnu La