The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-07-28
In Which He Says No Tariff Measure
can Accord With Democratic Prin-
eiples and Promises That Does not
Provide for Free Raw Materials.

4
you will be again called upon to do hard
service in the cause OF tariff reform.
"My public life has been so closely
related to the subject, have so longed
for its accomplishment, and | have so
often promised its realization to my fell
| low countrymen as result of their trust
and confidence in the Democratic party,
that / hope no excuse is necessary for
my earnest appeal to you that in this
| crisis you strenuOusly insist upon party
honesty and good faith, and sturdy
adherence to Democratic principles. |
believe these are absolutely necessary
conditions to the continuation of Demo-
cratic existence.
81 cannot rid myself OF the feeling
that this conference will present the
best, if not the only hope of true Democ-
raey. Indications point to its action as
the realization OF those who desire the
genuine fruition of Democratic effort, the
fulfillment Of Democratic pledges and
the redemption of Democratic promises
to the people.
PRINCIPLES AT STAKE.
'"To reconcile differences in the de-
tails comprised within the fixed and we'll
defined lines of principle will not be the
sole aim of the conference, but, as it
seems to me, its members will also have
| in charge the question whether Demo-
cratic principles themselves are to he
saved or abandoned
"There is no excuse for mistaking or
misapprehending the feeling and tenn
per of the rank and file of the Democra-
cy. They are downcast under the asser-
ton that their party fails in ability to
manage the government, 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 principle may be
surrendered.
'In these circumstances they cannot
do otherwise than look with confidence
to you and those who with you have pa
triotically and sincerely championed the
cause of tariff reform within Democratic
lines and guided by Democratic princi-
pies. This confidence is vastly augment
ed under your leadership OF the house OF
representatives upon the bill now pend
ing.
every true Democrat and every sin.
cere tariff reiormer knows that this bill,
in its present form and as it will be sub
mitted to the conference, falls far short
of the contamination for which we have
long labored, for which we have suffered
defeat without encouragement; which
| in its anticipation gave us a rallying cry
in our day of triumph, and which in its
promise Of accomplishment is so inter-
woven with Democratic pledges and
| Democratic success that our abandon
ment OF the cause or the principles upon
which it rests means party perfidy and
party dishonor.
zone topic will be submitted to the
conference which embodies Democratic
principles SO directly that it cannot be
compromised. We have in our platforms
and in every way possible declared in
favor of the importation OF free raw ma
terials. We have again and again prom
| Used that this should be accorded to our
people and our manufacturers as soon as
the Democratic party was invested with
the power to determine the tariff policy
of the country. The party now has that
power.
NO RELEASE FROM OBLIGATIONS.
1--WE are as certain to-day as we
have ever been of the great benefit that
would accrue to the country from the in
auguration of this policy, and nothing
has occurred to release us from our obli-
cation to secure this advantage to our
people. 1t must be admitted that no
tariff measure can accord with Demo-
cratic principles and promises, or bear
a genuine Democratic badge, that does
not provide for free raw material.
''In these circumstances it may well
excite our wonder that Democrats are
willing to depart from this, the most
Democratic of all tariff principles, and
that the inconsistent absurdity OF such
proposed departure should be empha-
| cizad hxr 70 TINT tho urr,oJ 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 INDUCING
in such outrageous determinations and
violations of principles?
at is quite apparent that this ques-
ton OF free raw material does not admit
of adjustment on any middle ground,
since their subjectment to any rate of
tariff taxation, great or small, is alike
violative of Democratic principle and
Democratic good faith.
81 hope that you will not consider it
| intrusive if | say something in relation
to another subject which can hardly fail
to be troublesome to the conference.
refer to the adjustment Of tariff taxation
on sugar.
"Under our party platform, and in ac-
cordance with our declared party pur-
poses, sugar is legitimate and logical
article of revenue. Unfortun ately, how
ever, incidents have accompanied GER
tain stages of the legislation which will
be submitted to the conference that
have aroused in connection with this
| subject a natural Democratic animosity
| to the methods and manipulations of
trusts and combinations. confess to
sharing in this feeling and yet it seems
to me we ought, ii possible, to sufficient
| ly free ourselves from prejudice to en-
able us coolly to weigh the considera
ton which, in formulating tariff legisla
ton, ought to guide our treatment Of
sugar as taxable article.
SHOULDN'T BE SCARED OFF.
"While no tenderness should be en-
tertained for trusts, and while am de-
| cidedly opposed to granting them, under
the gaise of tariff taxation, any oppor-
tunity to further their peculiar methods,
suggest that we ought MOTTO be driven
away from the Democratic principle
and policy which lead to the taxation
of sugar by the fear, quite likely exag-
gerated, that in carrying out this princi
| pie and policy we may indirectly and in
ordinately encourage combination of
sugar refining interests
| 81 know that in present conditions
this is delicate subject, and appreci-
ate the depth and strength of the feeling
which it's treatment has aroused. I do
not believe we shonld do evil that good
may come, but it seems to me that we
should not forget that our aim is the
completion of a tariff bill, and that in
taxing sugar for proper purposes and
| within reasonable bounds, whatever else
may be said OF our action, we are in no
danger of running counter to Democrat
ic principle. With all there is at stake
there must be in the treatment of this
article some ground upon which we are
all willing to stand, where liberation
and Cancellation may be allowed to
solve the problem without demanding
the entire surrender of fixed and con-
scientious convictions.
81 ought not to prolong this letter. If
what / have written is unwelcome,
beg you to believe in my good inten
| tions.
Sin the conclusions of the conference
touching the numerous items which
will be considered the people are not
afraid that their interests will be me-
elected They know that the general
results, so far as they are concerned,
will be TO place home necessities and
comforts more easily within their reach,
and to easure better and surcr compen-
sation to those who toll.
NECESSARILY COMPROMISE.
eve all know that tariff law COW