Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-21

supposed interests OF u locality prom
ised the people OF any state or section
that there would be any exception
made to the enforcement OF the gem
eral principle Of free raw materials
! when the Democrats should obtain
power he exceeded his authority and
misintorprcted our position. II IS raid
by some in Justification Of exc lsc fer
their present action that the ptcsi-
DENTS letter OF acceptance NJ 1872
modified the extreme demands OF our
platform. II Is true that some portions
OF his letter may tend 10 bear that
construction. 1t was not that buld,
ringing and explicit declaration IN fa-
Nor OF the platform which his party
had a right % expect. but wan rs
aud conservative. but whether this
criticism Is or IL not well founded the
fact remains that he had no power
or authority to change or alter ono
line or sentence or provision Of the ma
uonal platform, which had been DELHI
erately adopted In national conven-
ton duly assembled. No president can
be above his party; no president Gun
dictate TO his party; no president can
change his party platform. But no
matter what idea Il may be claimed
was intended to be conveyed In his lit
ter OF acceptance In mitigation or mod
ihcation or the platform. there can I've
at this time upon this essential pr.n.
ciple OF free raw materialH Let me
read from that remarkable letter "
the president which was yesterday
submitted ia the house OF representa-
tives. II expresses better than | can
hope to DO the true, sound and logic
position OF the Democratic party on
this question"
After reading extracts from this let
ter MIR. hin went on as follows;
Mr. President, J approve cNory word
of what have quoted. IL " an hon
est, manly statement Of the true att
tude which the party should assume
in this crisis, am not required 60 de-
fend the propriety or wisdom OF the
PRONUNCIATION OF this letter at this pc
cullar time. II may have been indis-
erect, 1t may operate as a fire brand
TO spread the flames of discord already
kindled among party friends, honestly
differing, as 1 am disposed 10 concede
upon questions OF public and party
policy. II may widen the breach al
ready existing in this senate and in
that view - may be regarded as un-
fortunate and ill-advised. II was n time
for diplomacy, craftsmanship and con-
citation. rather than recriminatiun, de-
nunciation and arraignment. But aside
from the question OF Its more cXpedicn-
cy. l am here 20 defend the Presidents
letter In SO far as IL demands that
party shall not be led astray into the
violation OF Democratic Pledges and
principles. Upon the question OF free
raw materials the president II right,
and you know you can not answer his
arguments. You can not successfully
dispute his propositions You can not
doubt his sincerity and patriotism,
You mugt yield In the end TO his views,
" IA. not stand up against the sen
tia % great Democratic masses
OF the eerN which will rally around
the president In his contest with you
upon this particular branch OF the
subject. Tho time to yield Is now, be-
fore there is further humiliation. em-
barrassmcnt and dlscord. Mr., Pregi-
dent, having demonstrated that the
true Democratic theory OF revenue re-
form requires that free raw materials
should be It's distinguishing feature,
let us next inquire what Is the condl-
tlon which now confronts us. The sem
ale bill which has been passed violates
this Democratic theory, and while It
reduces the duty on iron. coal. lead and
some other raw materials from those
Imposed under the Mckinley law. and
in that respect is commendable, II new
ertheess imposes iome duties thereon
and thereby fails TO redeem our pledgeg
1. Is not question Of the amount
of duties which may be imposed, but
question Of principle Is involved and
single pcnny's duty violates our
promises and places us In false posi-
ton.
"As the president well says there can
be no compromise ON a matter OF this
character. where vital principle IN at
stake The house OF representatives
fresh from the people which represents
more distinctly and peculiarly than
we do the taxing power OF the people,
repudlates our bill and Democratic
ola 4 hat 10
ton aud the condition which confronts
us is one OF extreme enib1rrnsment
Shall we retreat or advance2 Shall
we surrender to the house while we
can do so honorably, or shall we walt
until we are driven to NJ In the light
of the letter Of the president, the house
cannot honorably retrat. II has no
other alternative except to insist upon
It's bill wherein It provides for free
raw materials. The president cannot
approve the senate bill after what be
has said in this remarkable letter lie
arraigns the senate and intimates that
the enactment OF the senate bill means
party perfidy and party dishonor''
These are strong words which the
president OF the United States would
not use towards a measure which he
ever expects Afterwards to approve,
This letter, unusual and unprecedented |
in it's character and method OF promul-
cation. though Il may be, neverthe-
iesa Clearly foreshadows veto OF the
senate bill, even II the house should |
nnallv concur In our amendments.
What person would expect the preHl- |
dent to approve the senate bill after |
its vigorous and scathing denunclation |
contained In his letter. You wouih |
think less of him for his glnring In
consistency. No. this letter If sisnl-
ncant. II is a bold. vigorous. even "
an imprudent letter, It means. war 10
Inc knife against the senate but y
iustIfies much OF what has been faid
against the senate bill during all the
last three months. II means that u
can never receive executive approval; |
n means that the senate cannot be
perrnitted TO surrender the great uu-
deriving principles for which we strB.
gled and lost In 1883 and fought ana
won in 1892 The president Is risht. |
There is no middle ground which
we can occupy. No bill which does
not provide FOR free raw materials
can be permitted 20 become n law
n IL unnecessary to enter into any |
argument 20 define or designate what
articles constitute raw materials. Every |
Democrat knows what they are. Any |
article may be considered raw material |
when It is IN the lowest or crudcat
FORM in which Il enters into commerce.
That definition is ample aud Sufii-
cielt and viii redeem our pledges u u |
II honestly applied. ne party plat
form was fnr free not freer materials.