Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-20
The President On the Sort Of Tariff Bill
We Should Have.
FREE RAW MATERIALS.
These Promised the People and the
Manufacturers.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRINCIPLES.
They Must lie Adhered 10 Through Thick
and Thin-sugar - Delicate
Subject"

WASHINGTON. July ls-The following
f. President Clcveland's letter to Repre-
sentative Wilson upon the tariff situation,
which Mr. Wilson read as part OF his
remarks in the House this afternoon:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON. July "a.
"UersonaiD
Hon. w H. Wilson:
MY Dear Slr-The certainty that q
conference viii be ordered between the
two houses OF Congress for the purpose
Of adjusting difference on the subject oi
tarin legislation. makes II also certain
that you will be again called on to do
hard service In the cause Of tariff reform.
"Nv public nfc has been 40 closely re-
lated 10 the subject. have so longed for
its accomplishment. and / have 50 often
promised its realization 10 my fellow
ro4ntrymcu as a result OF their trust and
confidence IN the Democratic party. that
I hope. 40 excuse Is necessary for my
earnest appeal 10 You that in this crisis
you strcnuously insist upon party honesty
and good faith. and strict adherence
g. Democratic principles. ] believe these
absolutely necessary conditions 10 the
continuation ~ Democratic existence.
"l cannot ria myself Of the feeling that
This conference will present the best, If
not .h. only hope for true Democracy.
Indications point 10 its action as the re-
l4nr. Of those who desire the genuine
frg.ts Of Democratic effort, the fulfil
mont Of Democratic pledges. and the re-
d,mpUon of Democratic promises to the
,.ople. TO reconcile differences in details
,,,uprisci within the hXed and we'll
defined lines of principle will not be the
e,I. toek OF the conference. but, as II
.o.ms ~ me. IT'S members will also have
,p charge the question whether Democratic
principles themselves are to be saved or
abandoned.
TEMPER OF DEMOCRACY.
There is no excuse for mistakins or
n,i-apprehcn nding the feeling and the tenn
Per Of the rank and file Of the Democratic
party. They are downcast under the as
scrton that their party fails in ability
10 manage the government. and they are
apprcn,nsivc that efforts 20 bring about
Tariff reform may fail but they are much
more doWncast and apprehcnsive In their
fear that Democratic principle may be
surrendered
"In these circumstances they cannot do
otherwise than TO look with confidence
to YOU ami 10 those who with you move
patriou,uily and sincerely ChdmpiOned the
Ciuse Of tariN reform within Democratic
lines and guided Icy Democratic principles.
This confidence Is vastly augmented by
ir. action under your leadership OF the
House Of Representatives on the bill now
pending.
.E4er- true Democrat and every sin
c.r. ttrff r,former knows that this bill
ir IT'S pr, sent form. and as 1T VIII be sub
iYitt.i % the conference. fans far snort
of tho consummation for which we nave
long Mhorcd for which We have suffered
defeat without discouragemcnt. which IN
3d. anticipation gave us rallying cry IN
ON d4v of triumph. and which in its
trn,ni4. of accomplishment is so inter-
woven with Democratic pledges and Demo-
cratic success that our abandonment OF
d.. cause ar the principles upon which
r rests. means party peridy ana party
dishonor.
FREE RAW MATERIALS.
conc topic Will be submitted to the con
ference which cmbodiea Democratic prlh-
cpl., so directly that it cannot be COM
pomisol We have in our platforms
ana M every way possible declared III
favor OF the free importation of raw ma
terial-. We have again and again pro-
missed that this should be accorded to our
people ana our manufacturers as soon as
tl. Democratic party was invested with
the mower 10 determine the tariff policy
of the country The party now has that
power. We are as certain to-day as We
&
would accrue to the country from the m
.uauratiYn Of this policy. and nothing
has occurred to release Us from our obli-
rtf.n to secure this advantage TO our
I.rplc 10 must hc admitted that no
fafIH measure can accord WIN
Democratic principles and promises
or boar a genuine Democratic badge,
that does NOT provide for free raw
materials. In the circumstance, II may
wei excite our wonder that Democrats
are willing e. depart from this. the most
Democratic of all tariff principles, ana
that th- inconsistent ahsuriity of such
proposed departure should be emphasized
hy the suggestion that the wool OF the
farmer Doe pat on the free list and the
Protection of tariff taxation be placed
around the irou-ore and coal OF corpora
uons and capitalists. How can we face
the people after ndulging In such out
rageous Determinations and violations OF
principle
"lt g. quite apparent that this question
% free raw materials does not admit
Of adjustment on any middle ground.
sine their suhiocti0n 20 any rate OF tariff
taxation. great or small. Is a like vio-
htiye of Democratic principle and Demo
cratic good faith.
SUGAR.
81 hope that you will not consider II
Intrusive II l say something in relation
t. another subject. which can hardly
fail 70 be- troublesome to the conference.
refer to the adjustment Of the tariff
taxation on sugar.
"Iuier our party platform. and In ac-
corIsnce with our declared party purpose.
SUGAR Is a legitimate and logical article
OF revenue taxation. Unfortunately, how
ever. incidents have accompanied GER
tiiu Stages ~ the legislation which VIII
be- submitted 90 the conference that have
aroused. In connection with this SUBJECT
uatardl Democratic animosity to the
methods and manipulations of trusts and
combinations. J confess 10 sharing IN
this feeling: and yet IT seems 10 me we
ought 80 possible. to sufficiently free our
selves from prejudice 20 enable MS coolly
10 weigh the considerations which in
formulating tariff legislation ough, 10
guide our treatment OF sugar as taxa
bic article While no tenderness should
le entertained FOR trusts, and while i
am decidedly opposed 10 granting them
under the gulse Of tariff tt.ati0n. any
opportunity 10 further their peculiar
methods. / suggest that We ought not
io he driven away from the Democratic
principle and policy which lead to the
taxation of sugar by the fear quite likely
exaggerated that In carrying on; this
principle and policy we may Indirectly
ana inord!nately encourage oomb,na-
uon of the sugar-reiinlng Interests.
Il know that in present circumstances
this n a delicate subject. and | appre-
Clate the depth and strength Of the feel
ing which ills treatment has aroused.
do not believe We should do evil that
good may come but IL seems Ia me that
We should not forget that our aim =
the completion OF tariff bill. and IA
IN taxing sugar for proper purposes az
within reasonable bounds. whatever e.se
may De said OF our action, We are In ne
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 aFe
b. .ENl An4#