The record-union., 1894-07-20


letter from President Cleveland, which
the latter had permitted to be made pub
lie. The letter was read amid profound
silence. 1t was in the Presidents vigor-
Gus style and was a stirring tribute to
the Wilson bill and direct blow at any
surrender to the Senate bill.
The letter was as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1894.
To Hon. W. L. WilS0n-DEAR SIR: The
certainty that conference will be or
dered between the two houses of Con-
gress for the purpose of adjusting the
differences on the subject of tariff iegis-
iation makes it also certain that you will
be called upon again TO do hard servicein
the cause OF tariff reform. My public life
has so closely related TO the subject, l
have so longed for its accomplishment,
| have SO often promised its accomplish
ment to my fellow countrymen as re-
suit of their trust and confidence In the
Democratic party, that hope no excuse
is necessary for my earnest appeal to you
that in this crisis you strenuously insist
upon party honesty and good faith and a
sturdy adherence to Democratic princi-
pies. / believe these are absolutely nec-
essary conditions to the continuation of
Democratic existence.
I cannot rid myself of the feeling that
this conference will present the best If
not the only hope of true Democracy.
Indications point to its action as the reli-
ance of those who desire the genuine fru-
ition of Democratic effect, the fulfillment
OF Democratic pledges and redemption of
Democratic promises to the people. To
reconcile the differences in the details
promised within the fixed and well-de-
fined lines OF principle Will not be the
| sole task Of the conference, but it seems
| TO me it's members will also have in
| charge the question whether Democratic
| principles themselves are to be saved or
abandoned.
| There is one excuse for mistalSing or
misapprehending the feelings and the
| temper of the rank and file of the De-
mocracy. They are downcast under the
assertion that their party failed in ability
to manage the Government, and they are
apprehensive that efforts to bring about
tariff reform may fail, but they are much
more downcast and apprehensive in their
fears that Democratic principles may be
surrendered. In these necessary circum-
stances they do otherwise than look with
confidence to you and those who, with
! you, have patriotically and sincerely
championed the cause of tariff reform
within Democratic lines, and, guided by
augmented by the action under your
| leadership of the House of Representa-
tives upon the bill now pending.
| Every true Democrat and every sincere
tariff reformer knows that this bill, in its
present form and as it will be submitted to
conference. falls far short of the consum-
| mation for which we have long labored;
TO. which we have suffered defeat without
encouragement; which in its anticipa-
ton gives us rallying cry in our day of
/ triumph, and which in its promise OF ac-
| complishment is so interviewer with
| Democratic pledges and Democratic sue
cesses that our abandonment of the cause
or the principles upon which it rests
means party perhdv and party dishonor.
| One topic will be submitted TO the con-
| ference which embodies Democratic prin-
ciples so directly that it can not be COM
| promised. We have in our platforms
and in every way possibly declared in
! favor of the free importation of free raw
materials. We have again and again
promised that this should be accorded to
| our people and our manufacturers as
soon as the Democratic party was in
vested with the power to determine the
tariff policy of the country. The party
| has now that power. We are as certain
| as we have ever been of the benefit that
would accrue to the country from the
inauguration Of this policy, and nothing
has occurred to release us from our obli-
cation to secure this advantage TO our
! people.
1t must be admitted that no tariff meas
ure can accord with Democratic princi-
pies and promise, or bear the genuine
| Democratic badge that does not provide
! for free raw materials.
in these circumstance it may well ex-
cite our wonder that Democrats are will
! ing to depart from this, the most demo-
I Ill ,xif ai,1la -,,1 flof t,n
| inconstant absurdity of such proposed
! departure should be emphasized by the
suggestion that the woods of the farmer
| be put upon the free list and the protec-
| ton of tariff taxation be placed around
| the iron ore and the coal of corporations
and capitalists. How can we face the
people after indulging in such outrageous
determinations and violation of princi-
pie? 1t is quite apparent this question of
/ free raw material does not admit of adj
justment on any middle grounds, since
| their subiection to any rate OF tariff tax
alton, great or small, is alike violate of
Democratic principles and Democratic
/ good faith.
I hope you will not consider it intru-
sive if / say something IN relation to an
other subject which can hardly fail TO be
troublesome to the conference l refer to
the adjustment of tariff taxation on su-
gar. Under our party platform, and in
accordance with our declared party pur-
poses, sugar is legitimate and logical
article of revenue taxation. Unfortu-
nately, however, incidents have accom-
panied certain stages OF the legislation
| which would be submitted to the confer
ence that have aroused in connection
with this subject National Democratic
! animosity to the methods of the manipu-
l2tion of trusts and combinations.
- confess to sharing in this feeling, and
/ yet it seems to me we ought, if possible,
sufficiently free ourselves from prejudice
to enable us to coolly weigh the consider
atoms which in formulating tariff legisla-
ton ought to guide our treatment of su-
gar as a taxable article.
While no tenderness should be enter
tanned for trusts, and while / am decid-
edly opposed to granting them, under the
! guise of tariff taxation. any opportunity
TO further their particular methods. l
suggest we ought not TO be driven away
from Democratic principle and policy
| which led to the taxation of sugar, by the
fear, quite likely exaggerated, that IN
carrying out this principle and policy we
may directly and inordinately encourage
the combination of sugar refining inter-
ests.
know in the present condition that
this is delicate subject, and / appreciate
the depth aud strength OF the feeling
! which its treatment has sroused. l do
not believe we should do evil that good
may come, but it seems TO me we should
| not forget our aim is the completion of
the tariff, and in taxing sugar tor proper
purposes and within reasonable bounds,
whatever else may be said of our action,