Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-06


democratic ideas of tariff reform was
lately entered upon by the congress,
nothing was further from my antici-
patton than a result which could not
promptly and enthusiastically indorse.
1t is therefore with feeling of the
utmost disappointment that 1 submit
to a denial of this privilege.
do not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do 1 wish to
avoid any responsibility which, on &C
count of the passage of this law,
ought to bear as a member of the dem
ocratic organization. Neither will
permit myself to be separated from my
party to such an extent as might be
implied by my veto of tariff legisla-
ton. which, though disappointing, is
still chargeable to democratic efforts.
But there are provisions in this bill
which are not in line with honest tariff
reform. and it contains inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to ap-
pear in tariff laws or laws of any kind.
Besides there were, as you and well
know, incidents accompanying the
passage of the bill through congress,
which made every sincere tariff re-
former unhappy. while influences surN
rounded it in its latter stages and in
terfered with it's final construction,
which ought not to be recognized or
tolerated in democratic tariff reform
counsels.
And yet, notwithstanding ali it's
7vicissitudes and all the bad treatment
it received at the hands of pretended
friends, it presents a vast improve
rment to existing conditions. 1t will
certainly tighten many tariff burdens
that now rest heavily upon the people.
It is not only barrier against return
of mad protection, but it furnishes a
vantage ground from which must be
waged further aggressive operations
against protected monopoly and gov
ornamental favoritism.
take my place with the rank and
file of the democratic party, who be-
iieve in tariff reform and who know
what it is, who refuse to accept the re-
suits embodied in this bill as the close
OF the VIZ, who are not blinded to the
fact that the livery of democratic tariff
reform has been stolen and worn in the
service of republican protection, and
who have marked the places where the
deadly light of treason has blasted the
counsels of the brave in their hour of
might.
The trusts and combinations-the
communism of pelf-whose machina-
lions have prevented us from reaching
: the success we deserved, should not be
forgotten nor forgiven. We shall re-
cover from our establishment at the ex-
,hibition of power, and if then the ques-
ton is forced upon us whether they
shall submit to the free legislative will
of the peoples representatives or shall
dictate the laws which the people
must obey, we will accept and settle
that issue as one involving the integ
grity and security of American institu-
lions.
love the principles of true democ-
aracy because they are founded on
patriotism and upon justice and fair
ness to all American interests. l am
proud of my party organization be-
cause it is conservatively sturdy and
persistent in the enforcement of its
y,rinci pies. Therefore do not despair
of the efforts made by the house of
representatives to supplement the bill
already passed by further legislation
and to have engrafted upon it such
notifications as will more nearly meet
democratic hopes and aspirations.
L cannot be mistaken as to the nee
essity of free raw materials as the
aoundation of logical and sensible tariff
reform. The extent to which this is
recognized in the legislation already
secured is one of its encouraging and
rsedeeming features; but it is veXatious
to recall that while free coal and iron
ore have been denied us, recent
letter of the secretary of the treasury
siiscloses the fact that both might have
been made free by the annual surren-
der of only about 500, 900 of unneces-
ssary revenus-
lam sure that there is common
habit of Understanding the import
ance of free raw materials in tariff leg
islation, and of regarding them as only
related to concessions to be made to
our manufacturers. The truth is, their
influence is so far-reaching that If dis
regarded a complete and beneficial
scheme of tariff reform cannot be sue
cessfully inaugurated.
When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials we unshakle Amer
lean enterprise and ingenuity. and
these will open the doors of foreign
smarkets to the reception of our wares,
and give opportunity for the continu
Gus and remunerative employment Of
American labor.
With materials cheapened by theII
freedom from tariff charges the cost
of thor product must be correspond
-ingly cheapened. Thereupon jus