Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-19
CLEVELAND'S ADVICE
His Letter to Chairman Wilson on
the Tariff.
MUST STAND BY FREE RAW MATERIAL
What He Says on the Subject Of
Sugar.
WHAT PEOPLE EX PECT

The lette- Of President Cleveland to Con-
gresham Wilson of West Virginia, which
the latter read on the floor of the House
today, created a great deal of interest and
confirmed the continued assertions that the
President was in full sympathy with the
tariff bill as IT passed the House.
The Presidents Letter.
President Cleveland's letter is as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. DC, July 2 1894.
"PersonaD
ITO Hon. VIM. l.. Wilson,
My dear sir: The certainty that a con-
ference will be ordered between the two
houses of Congress for the purpose Of ad-
Justing differences on the subject of tariff
Iegislation.-m makes it also certain that you
will be again called on to do party service
in the cause of tariff reform.
My public life has been so closely re-
lated to the subject, / have so longed for
its accomplishment. and 1 have SO often
promised its realization to my fellow coun-
trymen as a result of their trust and con-
fidence in the democratic party, that / hope
no excuse is necessary for my earnest ep-
peal to you that in this crisis you strenu-
ously insist upon party honesty and good
faith and a sturdy adherence to democratic
principle. 1 believe these are absolutely
necessary conditions to the continuation of
democratic existence.
Il cannot rid myself of the feeling that
II
not the only. hope of true democracy. In
dications point to its action the reliance
of those who desire the genuine fruition of
democratic effort. the fulfillment of demo-
cratic pledges and the redemption Of demo-
cratic promises to the people. To reconcile
differences in the details comprised within
the fixed and well-defined lines of principle,
will not be the sole task of the conference;
but. as it seems to me, members will also
have in charge the question whether demo-
cratic principles themselves are to be saved
or abandoned.
Temper of the Rank and File.
There is no excuse for mistaking or mis-
apprehending the feeling and the temper
of the rank apd file of the democracy. They
are downcast under the assertion that their
party fails in ability to manage The govern
ment, and they are apprehensive that
efforts to bring about tariff reform may
fail; but they are much more downcast and
apprehensive in their fear that democratic
principles may be surrendered.
In these circumstances they cannot do
otherwise than to look with confidence to
you and those who, with you, have patriot
fcaly and sincerely championed the cause
OF tariff reform within democratic lines
and guided by democratic principles. This
confidence Is vastly augmented by the ac-
tion, under your leadership, of the House of
Representatives upon the bill now pending.
Every true democrat and every sincere
tariff reformer knows that this bill in its
present form and as IL will be submitted to
the conference falls far short Of the con-
summation for which We have long labored,
for which we have suffered defeat without
encouragement; which in its anticipat ton
gave US rallying cry in our day Of tri-
umph and which in its promise Of accom-
pltshment is so interviewer with the demo-
cratic pledges and democratic success that
our abandonment of the cause or the prin-
cfpleS upon which il rests means party
perfidy and party dishonor
"One topic will be submitted 20 the con-
ference which embodies democratic principle
so directly that ii cannot be compromised
We have in our platforms and in every
way possible declared in favor of the free
Importation of raw materials. We have
again and again promised that this should
be accorded to our people and our manu-
was invested with the power to determine
the tariff policy of the country.
The Raw Material.
The party now has that power. We are
certain today. We have ever been, of the
great benefit that would accrue to the
country from the inauguration OF this pol
Icy. and nothing has occurred to release us
from our Obligatio ms to secure this advan-
tage to our people. 1t must be admitted
that To tariff measure can accord with
democratic principles and promises, or bear
genuine democratic badge that does not
provide for free raw material.
In these circumstances, Ii NAV well excite
our wonder that democrats are willing to
depart from this. the most democratic of
all tariff principles. and that the inconsis-
tent absurdity of such a proposed depar-
ture should be emphasized by the sugges-
tcn that the wool of the farmer be put on
the free list and the protection of tariff
taxation be placed around the iron ore and
coal of corporations and capitalists How
can We face the people after induleing In
such outrageous Determinations and viola
tions of principle?
1t is quite apparent that this question of
rn1 Il
1ustment or any middle ground since
their subsection to any rate of tariff taxa
tton, great or small, is alike viola ton of
democratic principle and democratic good
faith.
l hope that you will not consider it intru-
sive II 1 say something in relation to an
other subject which can hardly fail to be
troublesome to the conference. / refer to
the adjustment OF tariff taxation on sugar
His Views ON Sugar.
Under our party platform and in accord
ance with our declared party purposes,
sugar Is legitimate and logical article of
revenue taxation. Unfortunately. however.
incidents have accompanied certain stages
OF legislation which will be submitted to
the conference that have aroused in connec-
uon with this subject natural democratic
amnesty TO the methods and manipula-
tions of trusts and combinations. I confess
70 sharing in this feelirg; and yet 1t seems
70 me we ought, If possible, to sufficiently
free ourselves from prejudice to enable us
coolly to weigh the considerations which
In formulating tariff legislation ought to
guide our treatment of sugar as taxable
article
while no tenderness should be entertained
Tor trJ SITS. and while I am decidedly op-
posed to granting them, under the guise of
tariff taxation. any opportunity to further
their peculiar methods, / suggest that we
ought not to be driven away from demo-
Cratic principle and policy which lead to
the taxation of sugar by the fear, quite
likely exaggerated, that in carrying out
this principle and policy We may indirectly
and inOrdnately encourage a combination
OF sugar refining interests. i know that in
present conditions this is a delicate sub
tect. and I appreciate the depth and the
strength of feeling which its treatment has
aroused. / do not believe We should do
evil that good may come, but it seems to
me that should not forget that our aim
Is the completion of tariff bill, and that
In taxing sugar for proper purposes and
within reasonable bounds whatever else
may be said of our action, in no
danger OF running counter to democratic
principle. With all there is at stake there
must be in the treatment of this article
some mound upon which we are all willing to
stand and liberation and Cancellation may
be allowed to solve the problem, without
demanding the entire surrender Of fixed
and conscientious convictions.
ought not to prolOng this letter If