Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-07-27

suggestion that the wool OF the farm
er be put on the free list and the pro.
lection of tariff taxation be placed
around the iron ore and coal of cor
poratiOns and capitalists. How can
we face the people after INDUCING in
such outrageous discrimination and
violations of principal? 1t is quite
apparent that this question OF free
raw materials does not admit of adj
justment on any middle grounds.
since their subsection to any rate of
tariff taxation, great or small, is alike
. violation of Democratic principles
and Democratic good faith.
l hope you will not consider me in
trusive if say something in relation
to another subject which can hardly
fail to be troublesome in the confer
ence. l refer to adjustment Of the
tariff taxation on sugar. Under our
party platform and in accordance with
our declared party purposes. sugar is a
legitimate and logical article of reve-
nue. taxation. Unfortunately, how
ever, incidents have accompanied GER
tain stages of the legislation which
would be submitted to conference that
have aroused, in connection with this
subject, national Democratic animos-
ity to the methods and manipulation
of trusts and combinations. l confess
to sharing in this feeling. and yet it
seems to me we ought, if possible, to
sufficiently free ourselves from preju-
dice to enable US to coolly weigh the
considerations which, in formulating
tariff legislation ought to guide our
treatment OF sugar as a taxable article.
While no tenderness should be enter
tanned for trusts, and while l am de.
cidedly opposed to granting them, I'M
derguise of tariff legislation, any op.
portunity to further their particular
methods, suggest that we ought not
to be driven away from the Demo.
cratic principles and policy which lead
to the taxation of sugar, by the fear,
quite likely exaggerated, that in car
rying out this principle and policy we
may indirectly and Unfortunately en-
courage the combination of the sugar
refining interests. 1 know in the pres
ent conditions this is delicate sub
ject, and l appreciate the depth and
strength of the feeling which its treat
ment has aroused. do not believe
We should do evil that good may come,
but it seems to me we should not for
get our aim is the completion of the
tariff. and that in taxing sugar for pro-
per purposes and within reasonable
bounds, whatever else may be said of
our action, we are in no danger of run.
ming counter to Democratic princi-
pies. Unless l greatly mistake, there
must be, in the treatment of this arti.
Gle, some ground upon which we are
all willing to stand where federation
and Cancellation may be allowed to
solve the problem, without demanding
the entire surrender of fixed, conscien-
tious convictions.
! ought not to prolong this letter.
If what l have written is unwelcome,
I beg you TO believe in my good inten-
tions.
In the conclusions OF the conference
touching the numerous items which
will be considered, the people are not
afraid that these interests will be neg
lected. 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 ard TO ensure better and surer
compensation TO those who toll.
We all know that a tariff covering
all the interests and conditions of q
country as vast rs ours must OF neces-
sity be largely the result of honorable
adjustment and compromise.
/ expect very few of us can say,
when the measure is perfected, that all
its features are entirely as we would
prefer. You know how much depre-
Gated the incorporation in the pro-
posed bill of the income tax feature.
In matters of this kind, however,
which do not violate fixed and recog-
nized Democratic doctrine, we are
willing to defer to the judgment of a
majority of our Democratic brethren.
l think their final agreement is a
party duty; that it is more palpably
apparent than we realize that the bust
ness of our country timidly stands and
watches for the results of our efforts
to perfect tariff legislation; that
quick and certain return of prosper
ity waits upon . wise adjustment, and
that confiding people still trusts in
our hands their prosperity and their
we'll being. The Democracy Of the
land plead most earnestly for the
speedy completion of the tariff legisla-
ton which their representatives have
undertaken; but they demand no less
earnestly that stress of necessity shall
not tempt their trust to the abandon
ment OF Democratic principles.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.