Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-08-30
CLEVELAND'S reasons
For Not Signing the Tariff
Measure.
Tho Bill Not Consistent With Demo-
cratic Ideas of Tariff Reform
Livery of the Party Stolen and
Worn in Service of Republican Pro-
tection-The People the Sufferers.


Worn in Service of Republican Pro-
tection-The People the Sufferers.
Washington, Aug 2s.-President
Cleveland has written the following
letter to Representative Catchings, Of
Mississippi, in which he sets forth his
views of the new tariff law, and gives
his reason for not approving the bill:
My Dear Sir-Since the conversation
! had with you and Mr.. Clarke, Of
Alabama, a few days ago, In regard
to my action on the tariff bill now be-
fore me, l have given the subject fur
ther and more serious consideration.
The result is l am more settled than
ever in the determination to allow the
bill to become a law without my sig
nature.
When the formation of legislation
which 1t is hoped would embody
democratic ideas of tariff reform was
lately entered upon by the congress,
nothing was further from my antici-
patton than a result which | could not
promptly and enthusiastically endorse.
1t is therefore with a feeling of the
utmost disappointment that l submit
to a denial of this privilege.
hts not GldIH 10 Dt bflltI IMAM lilo
masses of my party, nor do I wish
to avoid any responsibility which, on
account of the passage of this law,
l ought to bear as a member of the
democratic organization. Neither will
l permit myself to be separated from
my party to such an extent as might
be implied by my veto of tariff legis-
lation which though disappointing is
still chargeable to democratic effort.
But there are provisions in this bill
which are not in line with honest tar
iff reform, and 1t contains inconsistent
cies and crudities which ought not 10
appear in tariff laws of any kind. Be-
sides. there were, as you and | well
know. incidents accompanying the pa.
sage of the bill through the congr, ,
which made every sincere tariff re-
former unhappy while influences sur
rounded it in it's latter stages and in
terfered with it's final construction,
which ought not to be recognized or
tolerated in democratic tariff reform
counsels.
And yet, notwithstanding all Its
Vicissitudes and all the bad treatment
it received at the hands of pretended
friends, 1t presents vast improvement
to existing conditions. 1t will certain
ly tighten many tariff burdens that
now rest heavily upon the people. 1t
is not only a barrier against the re-
turn of mad protection. but 1t fur
nishes vantage ground from which
must be waged further aggressive
operations against protected monopoly
and governmental favoritism.
l take my place with the rank and
file OF the democratic party who
what 1t is to refuse to accept the
results embodied in this bill as the
close of the war, who are not blinded
to the fact that the livery of demo-
cratic tariff reform has been stolen
and worn in the service of republican
protection, and who have marked tho
places where the deadly blight of trea-
son has blasted the counsels of the
brave in their hour of might.
The trusts and combinations-the
communism of pelf-whose machina-
tions have prevented us from reaching
the success we deserved, should not
be forgotten or forgiven. We shall
recover from our establishment at their
exhibition of power, and If then the
question Is forced upon US whether
they shall submit to the free leglsla-
tive viii of the peoples representa-
tiVes or shall dictate the laws which
the people must obey, we shall accept
and settle that issue as one involving
the integrity and safety of American
institutions.
1 cannot be mistaken as to the neces-
sity of free raw materials as the
foundation of logical and sensible tar
iff reform. The extent to which this
is recognized in the legislation already
secured Is one of it's encouraging
and redeeming features, but 1t is vex-
atious to recall that while free coal
and iron ore have been denied u.s. a
recent letter of the secretary of the
treasury discloses the fact chat both
might have been made free by the an
nual surrender of only about seven
hundred thousand dollars of unneces-
sary revenue.
| am sure that there is a common
habit of Understanding the Import
ance of free raw materials in tariff
legislation, and of regarding them as
only related to concessions to be made
To our manufacturers. The truth Is
their influence is so far-rcaching that
if disregarded complete and beneti.
cent scheme of tariff cannot be sue
cessfully inaugurated.
When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials We unshacklt
American enterprise and ingenuity ant
these will open the doors of foreign
markets to the reception of our wares
and give opportunity for the continu
Gus and remunerative employment Of
American labor.
with materials cheapened by theli
freedom from tariff charges the cost
Of their product must be correspond
ingly cheapened. Thereupon justice
and fairness to the consumer would de-
mand that the manufacturers be-
obliged to submit to such readjust
ment and modification of the tariff
upon their finished goods as would Sc
cure to the people the benefit of the
reduced cost of their manufacture anC
shield the consumer against the exac
ton of inordinate profits.
1t viii thus be seen that free raw
materials and a just and fearless
regulate and reduction Of the tariff
to meet the changed conditions, woulC
carry to every humble home in thu
land the blessings of increased com