The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-20

feeling; and yet 1t seems to mo we
ought, il possible, sufficiently free our
selves from prejudice to enable US cody
to weigh the considerations which, In
formulating tariff legislation, ought to
guide our treatment Of sugar as tax
able article.
while no tenderness should be en-
tertained for trusts and while am
decidedly opposed to granting them,
under the guise OF tariff taxation, any
opportunity to further their peculiar
methods, l suggest that we ought not
to be driven away from the Democratic
principle and policy which leads to the
taxation OF sugar by the fear, q ute
likely exaggerated, that in carrying out
this principle and policy we may in
directly and Unfortunately encourage q
combination of sugar refining interests
VI know that in the present conditions
this is delicate subject and appreci-
ate the depth and strength of the feel
ing which it's treatment has aroused.
do not believe we should do evil that
good may come, but is seems to me that
we should not forget that our aim is the
completion Of a tariff bill, and that In
taxing sugar for proper purposes and
within reasonable bounds, what. yer else
may be said OF our action, we are in no
danger Of running counter to Demo
cratic principles. With all there is at
stake there must be, in the treatment
OF this article, some ground upon which
we arc willing to stand, where toler-
alton and Cancellation may be allowed
to solve the problem, without demand
ing the entire surrender OF fixed and
conscientious convic tons
81 ought not to prolong this letter. II
what l have written is unwelcome,
beg OF you to believe in my good inten-
tions. In the conclusions of the con-
ference touching the numerous items
which will be considered, the people
are not afraid their interests will be
neglected.. They know that the general
result, so far as they are concerned, will
be to place home necessaries and COM
forts carrier within their relch, and to
insure better and surer compensation
to those who toll.
1--WE all know that q tariff covering
all the varied interests and conditions
OF country as vast as ours must OF
necessity be largely the result of hon
oraDle adjustment and honorable com-
promise. l expect very few of us can
say, when our measure is periec ted, that
all its features are entirely as we would
prefer. You know how much | depre-
Gated the incorporation into the proposed
bill of the inco mo tax feature. In mat
tiers OF this kind, however, which do not
violate fixed and recognized Demo
cratic doctrine, we are willing to defer
to the Judgment uf majority OF our
Democratic brethren.
81 think there is o general agreement
that this is party duty. This ia more
palpably apparent when we realize that
the business of our country timidly
stands and watches for the result Of
our efforts to perfect tariff legislation,
that certain return of prosperity waits
upon wise aijus tment, and that confid.
ing people still trust in our hands pros
perity and we'll being. The Democracy
of the land plead 10 ost earnestly for the
speedy completion of the tariff legisa-
ton which their Representatives have
undertake en-, but they demand not less
earnestly that no stress OF necessity
shall tempt those they trust to the
abandonment OF Democratic principle.
Yours very truly.
GROVER CLEVELAND"