The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-26
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,


Hon. WM. l.. WILsoS:
Nv Dear Sir The certainty that
conference viii be ordered between the
two houses Of Congress for the purpose
Of adjusting differences on the SUBJECT
az tariff legislation. makes 1t almost Ger
tain that you will be again called on 10
do hard service in the cause OF tariff
reform. Nv public life has been 20
closely related to the subject, ] have 90
longed for It's accomplishment and |
have % often promised It's realization
to my fellow-countrymen, a result q |
their trust and confidence IN the Dem
ocratic party, that | hope no excuse Is
necessary fer my earnest appeal to you I
that in this crisis YOU strenuously insist
upon party honesty and good faith and |
a sturdy adherence TO Democratic |
principles. i believe these absolutely
necessary conditions to the continuation
If Democratic existence. | cannot get
rid of the feeling that this conference
will present the best if not the only
hope of true Democracy. indications
polnt to its action as the reliance OF
those who desire the genuine frultlon
Of Democratic effort, the fultilment OF
Democratic pledges and the redemption
Of Democratic promises to the people,
TO reconcile differences in the details
comprised within the fixed and well-de-
fined lines OF principle VIII not be the
sole task of the conference, but as 1t
seems to me, its members will also have
in charge the question whether Demo
/
saved or abandoned.
There is no excuse for installing Or
MISUNDERSTANDING the feeling and the
temper of the rank and file of the De
mocracv. They are downcast under the
assertion 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 appre-
lensive 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
partriotlcallv and sincerely chamDloned
the cause OF tariff reform within Dem
ocratic lines and guided by Democratic
principles. This confidence Is vastly
augmented by the action under your
leadership of the House OF Reresenta-
tves upon the bill now pending. Every
true Democrat and every sincere tariff
refOrmer Knows that this bill IN It's
present form as it will be submitted to
conference falls Tar short of the con
summation for which we have long
l,bored for which we have suffered
defeat without Encouragement which
in its anticipation. gave us rallylne
cry in our day of triumph, and which
) in its promise OF accomplishment Is sc
: interviewer with Democratic pledges
and Democratic success that our aban
! donment of the cause or the principles
upon which it rests means party perildy
and party dlshonor.
l One topic will be submitted to the
= conference which embodies Democratic
principles so directly that it cannot be
! compromised We have in our plat
t form and in every way possible declared
in favor Of the free importation OF raw
materials We have again and again
a promised that this should be accorded
soon as the Democratic party was III
n vested with the power to determine
O the tariff policy of the country. Ih
party now has that power. We are 4
}. certain to-day as we have ever been Q
, the great benefit that would accrue t
), the country from the Inauguration Q
this policy, and nothing has occurre
l, to release us from our obligation t
# secure this advantage to our people
! must be said that no tariff measur
L can accord with Democratic principle
n and promises, or bear a genuine Demo
cratic badge, that does not provide &c
o free raw materials In the circumstaI
ces. it NAV we'll excite our wonder tina
Democrats are willing to depart frol
this, the most Democratic OF all tar
y principles, and that the inconslstel
absurdlty of such a proposed departul
;, should be emphasized by the suggestlo
|, that the wool of the farmer be put Q
u the free list and the protection OF tart
~ taxation be placed around the iron OF
y and coal of corporations and capitalist
How can we face the people attic
indulging in such outrageous discern
O. nations and violations Of principle
1t is quite apparent that this questlo
of free raw materials does not admit
III adjustment on any middle ground, slnt
r. their subsection to any rate OF tarl
taxation, great or small, is alike VOL
- ton Of Democratic principles and Den
Ocratic good faith.
| hope that YOU will not consider
intrusive if | say something In relate
-. - to another subject which can hard
~ fail to be troublesome to the conferenc
- | refer to the adjustment OF tantf tax
~ y ton on sugar Under our party pla
~ form and in accordance with our q
clared party purposes, sugar Is leglt
mate and logical article Of revenue ia
~ alton. Unfortunately, however, ln(
dents have accompanied certain stag
of the legislation which will be subm
no ted to the conference, that have arouse
in connection with this subject, NJ
re ural Democratic animOslty to the met
IT'S DDS and mani pulations of trusts al
com binations ! confess to sharing
III this feeling and yet it seems to me
ort ought if possible to sufficiently free OF
zoo selves from prejudice to enable us coz
~ to weigh the considerations Will
IT, i'm fOrrn1llatinp tariff legislation Dug