Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-29
CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
Why He Permitted the Tariff Act to
Become Law Without His
Signature.
But It Will Tighten the Burdens Of
Taxation-Again After the Trusts
Free Raw Materials.

Washington, Aug. 29.-In the course of
ings, of Mississippi, on the tariff bill
which letter Mr.. Catchings has given to
the press because of its public character
and importance-Pre Cleveland
says;
which it was hoped would embody the
DEMOCRATIC IDEAS
of tariff reform, was lately entered upon
by congress, nothing was further from
my anticipation than result which l
could not promptly and enthusiastically
of utmost disappointment that submit
to the denial of this privilege. do not
claim to be better than the masses of my
party, nor do wish to avoid any respon-
sibility which, on account of the passage
of this law, 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 the tariff legisla-
tion. which, though disappointing, is still
chargeable to Democratic effort.
"But there are provisions in this bill
which are not in the line of honest tariff
reform and it contains Inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to appear
in the tariff laws or laws of any kind.
Besides, there we're, as you and we'll
know, incidents accompanying the pass
age of this bill through congress which
made every sincere reformer unhappy,
while there were influences surrounding it
in it's latter stages and interfering withits
final construction which ought not to be re-
cognized or tolerated by Democratic tar
| if reform councils.
Sand yet, Notwithstanding all its vicis-
situdes and all the bad treatment it re-
celved at the hands of pretended friends,
it presents
A VAST IMPROVEMENT
to existing conditions. It will certainly
Tighten many tariff burdens that now rest
heavily upon the people. 1t is not only
a barrier against return to mad protec-
tion, but it furnishes vantage ground
from which must be waged further ag-
gressive operations against protected
monopoly and governmental favoritism.
II 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 at the close of the war, who
are not blinded to the fact that the livery
of Democratic tariff reform has been
stolen and worn in the service of Repub-
lioan protection and who have marked
places where the deadly blight of treason
has blasted the councils of the brave in
their hour of need.
''rHE TRUSTS AND COMBINATIONS,
the communism of pelf, whose machina-
tions have prevented us from reaching
the success We deserve should not be for
gotten or forgiven. We shall recover
from our astonishment at their exhibi-
tion of power, and If t9.on she question
is forced upon US, whether they shall
, submit to the free legislative will of the
peoples representatives or shall dictate
laws which the people must obey, we will
accept and settle that issue as one involv-
ing the integrity and safety of American
institutions.
II can not be mistaken as to the neces-
sity of free raw materials as the founda-
tion 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, a
letter of the secretary of the treasury dis
closes the fact that both might have been
made free by the annual surrender of
only about 100000 of unnecessary rev.
enue.
WITH MATERIALS CHEAPENED
by their freedom from tariff charges, the
cost of their product must be correspond
ingly cheapened. Thereupon justice and
fairness to the consumer would demand
that manufacturers be obliged to submit
to such readjustment and modification of
the tariff upon their finished goods as
would secure to the people the benefit of
the reduced cost of their manufacture,
and shield the consumer against the exac-
tions of inordinate profits.
"It will thus be seen that free raw ma
terials and just and fearless regulation
and reduction of the tariff to meet the
changed conditions would carry to every
humble home in the land the blessings Of
increased comfort and cheaper living.
"Millions of our countrymen who
fought bravely and we'll for tariff reform
should be exhorted to continue the strug-
gle, boldly challenging to open warfare
and constantly guarding against treachery
and half-heartedness in their camp.
"Tariff reform can not be settled until
it is honestly and fairly settled in the in
terest and to the benefit of patient and
long suffering people,"