The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-07-26

6&ONAt1 oah~O thca oepJoNeAVh w my
rate Of tariff taxation, great or
small, is alike violation OF demo-
cratic principle and democratic good
faith.
hope you will not consider 1t
intrusive II I say something in rela-
tion to another subject, which can
hardly fail to be troublesome to the
conference. I refer to the adjust
ment of tariff taxation on sugar.
Under our party platform and in
accordance with our declared party
purposes sugar is legitimate and
logical article Of revenue taxation.
Unfortunately, however, incidents
have accompanied certain stages of
the Legislation which will be sub
mittod to the conference that have
aroused in connection with this sub
ject a natural democratic animosity
to the methods and manipulations Of
trusts and combinations. l confess
to sharing in this feeling; and yet 1t
seems to me we ought, II 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 a
taxable article.
While no tenderness should be en-
tertained for trusts, and while / am
decidedly opposed 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
the democratic 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
inordinately encourage combina-
ton of sugar refining interests. /
know that in present conditions this
is delicate subject and appreciate
the depth and strength of the feel
ing which it's treatment has aroused.
l do not believe we should do evil
that good may come, but it seems to
me that we should not forget that
our aim is the reduction of the tariff
and in taxing sugar for proper pur-
poses and within reasonable bounds,
whatever else may be said of our
acts, We are 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 ground upon which we are
all willing to stand, where federation
and conciliation may be allowed to
solve the problem, without demand
ing the entire surrender of fixed and
conscientious convictions.
/ ought not to prolong this letter.
II what | have written is unwelcome,
l beg you to believe in my good in
tentions.
In the conclusions of the confer
ence touching the numerous items
which will be considered, the people
are not afraid that their interests
will not be neglected. They know
that the general result so far as they
are concerned will be to place home
necessaries and comforts more easily
within their reach and to insure bet
ter and surer compensation to those
who toll.
We all know that tariff covering
all the varied interests and condi-
tions of country as vast as ours
must, of necessity, be largely the
result OF honorable adjustment and
compromise.
l expect very few of us can say
when our measure is perfected that
all its features are entirely as we
prefer. You know how much
deprecated the incorporation in the
proposed bill OF the income Ia,
feature. In matters of this kind
however, which do not violate {
fixed and recognized democratic
doctrine, we are willing to defer t.
the judgment of majority of oul
. democratic brethren. l think there
is a general agreement that this is |
party duty.
. This is more palpably apparen
when we realize that the business o
our country timidly stands ant
watches for the result OF our effort
to perfect legislation, that quicl
and certain return OF prosperit.
waits upon wise adjustment, an'
that a conAding people still trust Il
y our hands their prosperity and well
being.
Inc democracy OF Che iahu piea'
earnestly for the speedy completion
OF the tariff legislation which thei
u representative have undertaken
q but they demand not less earnestl
0 that no stress of necessity shal
'' tempt those they trust to the aban
u donment of democratic principles
C Yours very truly,
q GROVER CLEVELAND.
- The letter was greeted with muc
applause from the democrats.
II Speaker Reed replied from tn
10 republican standpoint, saying !
10 closing:
l. The gentleman from Ohio (Ml