Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-30

Washington, D. c., August 2S.-The
president yesterday sent the following
letter to Representative Catchings, of
Mississippi, who consented to its pub
LEGATION in view of its public charac-
ter and Importance:
Executive mansion, Washington,
August y, 1894 Hon L. G. Catchings:
My Dear Sir-Since the conversation
/ had with you and Mr.. Clark, of
Alabama, a few days ago in regard to
my action upon the tariff bill now be-
fore me, L have given the subject
further and most serious consideration.
The result is | am more settled than
ever in the determination to allow the
bill to become Il law without my sigma
ture When the formulation of legiSla-
ton which it was hoped would en-
body democratic ideas of tariff reform,
was lately entered upon by congress
nothing was further from my antici-
patton than q result which | could not
promptly and enthusiastically endorse.
1t is therefore with a feeling of the
utmost disappointment that | submit
to q denial of this privilege. L do not
claim to be better than the masses of
responsibility which, on account of the
passage of this law, l ought to bear as
a member of the democratic organiza-
ton; neither will | permit myself to be
separated from my party to such an
extent as might be implied by my veto
of the tariff legislation which, though
disappointing, is still chargeable to
democratic effort. But there are pro
visions in this bill which are not i'll
line with honest tariff reform, and 1t
contains Inconsistencies and cruditles
which ought not to appear in tariff
laws or laws of any kind. Besides,
there were, as you and [ we'll know,
incidents accompanying the passage of
the bill through congress which made
every sincere refOrmer unhappy, while
influences surrounded it in its latter
stages and interferred with its final
construction, which ought not to be
recognized or tolerated in democratic
tariff reform councils.
And yet, Notwithstanding all its
yiciSSitudeS and all the bad treatment
it has received at the hands of its pre-
tended friends, it presents vast i'm
provement to existing conditions. 1t
will certainly tighten many tariff bur
dens that now rest heavily upon the
people 1t is net only a barrier against
the return OF mad protection, but il
furnishes vantage ground from
.rshich must be waged further ag-
gressive operations against the pro
tected monopoleS and governmental
favoritism. l take my place with the
rank and file of the democratic party
who believe in tariff reform and who
know what it is; who refuse to accept
the results embodied in this bill as the
close of the war, and who are moi
blinded to the fact that the livery OF
democratic tariff reform has been
stolen and worn in the service of re
publican protection; who have marked
the places where the deadly blight of
treason has blasted the councils of the
brave in their hour of might. Trusts
and cOmbinationS-the communism of
pelf-WhOSe machinactiOnS have pre-
vented us from reaching the success
we deserve, should not be forgotten or
forgiven. We shall recover from Oul
establishment at their exhibition OF
power, and, if then the question is
forced on us whether they shall sub
NIT to the free legislative viii OF the
peoples representatives or shall die
tate laws which the people must obey,
we will accept and settle that issue
as one involving the integrity and
safety of American institutions. J. love
the principles of true democracy be
cause they are founded in patriotism
and upon justice and fairness toward
all interests. / am proud of my party
organization because it is conServa-
lively sturdy aud persistent in the en-
forcement Of its principles. There
fore | do not despair of the efforts
made by the house of representatives
to supplement the bill already passed
by further legislation and have en-
grated upon it such notifications as
will more nearly meet democratic
hopes and aspirations. l cannot be
mistaken as to the necessity of free
raw materials as the foundation OF
logical and sensible tariff reform. The
extent TO which this is recognized in
the legislation already secured is one
Of its encouraging and redeeming
features; but, it is veXatious to recall
that while free coal and iron ore have
been denied, the letter of the secretary
of the treasury discloSeS the fact that
both might have been made free by
the annual surrender of only about
100000 of unnecessary revenue.
L am sure that there is a common
habit of under estimating the import
ance of free raw material in tariff leg
islation. and of regarding them as
only related to concessions to be made
to our manufacturers. The truth is
their influence is so far-reachin@ that
scheme of tariff reform cannot be sue
cessfully inaugurated. When we give
to our manufacturers free raw mate
rails, we unShackle American enter
prise and ingenuity and these will
open the doors of foreign markets to
an opportunity for continuous and re-
numerative employment to American
labor. With materials. cheapened by
their freedom from tariff charges, the
cost of their product must be CORE
spondingly cheapened.
'Thereupon justice and fairness TO
the consumer would demand that man