The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-09-01
fREslDENf CLEVELAND COMMENTS
on THE TARIFF.


washington, Aug. H.-The presi-
dent to-day sent the following letter
to Representative Catehings, Of Mis-
slssippi, who consented 10 its publics-
tlon in view of its public character
and importance:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASH NsToN, Aug. 22
Hen i. q. Catchings
My Dear Slr--Slnce the conyersa-
tlon | had with you aud Mr.. Clark, OF
Alabama, In regard TO my action up
on the tariff bill now before me, |
have given the subject further aud
most serious consideration. The re-
suit is, am more settled than ever Ia
the determination 10 allow The bill TO
become law without my signature.
When the formulation of Legislation
which 1t was hoped would embody
Democratic Ideas on Tariff reform was
lately entered upon by congress, moth
Ing was further from my anticipation
than u result which could not
promptly aud enthusiastically endorse.
II Is therefore with a feeling OF the
utmost disappointment that submit
to n denial of ibis privilege. do not
claim 10 be better than the masses of
my party, nor do wish to avoid auy
responsibility which, OH account OF
the passage Of this law, ought to
bear as member OF The Democratic
organization, neither will permit
myself TO be separated from my party
TO such au extent as might be implied
by my veto Of tariff legislation which,
though Disappointing, is chargeable to
Democr0tic effort.
But there are provisions in this biz
which are not III line with honest
tfriff reform and It CONTAINS inconsis-
tencies and crudt.es wblch ought not
to appear IN the tai II or laws Of any
land. Besides there were, as you aud
| well know, incidents accompanying
the passage of the bill through con-
gross which made every siUcere re-
Former unhappy, while Influences sur
rounded II iu its later stages aud inter-
fered with its final construction which
ought not TO be recognized or toler-
ated In Democratic reform couucils.
And yet, Notwithstanding oil lis
vlclssitudes and the bad treatment II
received at the hands of pretended
friends, II presents vast improve.
ment on existing conditions. 1t will
certainly tighten many tariff burdens
that now rest heavily upon the peo-
pie. 1t is not only barrier against
the return of mad protection, but
furnishes underground from
which we must wage further aggres-
sive operations against protected mo-
nopoly and governmental favoritism.
take my place with the rank aud
file of the Democratic party who be-
lieve iu tariff reform and who know
what IL is; who refused 10 accept
tue results embodied in this bill at
the close of the war; who are not
blinded to the fact that the livery of
Democratic reform has beer stolen
and worn in the service of the Repub-
lican protection who have marked
the places where the deadly blight of
treason has blasted the councils of the
brave in their hour of mlglt; the
trusts and combinations-the COM
munsion of pelf-whose Vaccinations
have prevented us from reaching the
success we deserve, should not be for
given or forgotten.
We shall recover from our r'ton-
isbment at their exhibition of power,
and If then the question is forced
upon us, whether they shall submit
to the free legislative will of The peo-
ple's representatives, or shall dictate
the laws which the people must obey,
we will accept aud settle that issue as
one involving the integrity and safety
of American institutions.
| love the principles of true Demo
cracy because they are founded IN
patriotism aud upon justice and fair-
ness toward all interests. | am proud
of my party organization, because II
js conse. ,atively sturdy and persistent
In the enforcement of its principles.
Therefore DO not despair of the ef-
forts made by the house of represen-
tatlves to supplement the bill already
passed by .urther legislation, and to
have cngra td upon il such mod'h-
cations as viii more nearly meet
Democratic no, les aud ASPIRATIONS.
I cannot he mistaken, as the necesi-
ly for free raw materials is the foun-
daIion of logical and sensible tariff
reform. The extent TO which this is
recognized in the legislation already
secured is Que of its encouraging aud
redoeming features, but it II vexallous
10 recall that while free coal and iron
ore have been denied, a letter of the
secretary of the tree sury discloses The
fact that both might have been free
by the annusl surrender of only about
800 900 of unnecessary revenue. |
am slre that there is common
habit of understanding The Importance