The herald., 1894-08-28

Clevoland's Reasons for Not Signing or
vstoing tho Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.-The president
today sent the following letter to Repre-
sentative Catchings OF Mississippi.
who consented to ita publication on ac-
count OF its public character and inn
portsnce:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHrNGToN. Aug. 27, 1894.}
Hon. T. C. Catchings:
MY DEAR SIR:-Since the converea-
ton 1 had with you and Mr.. Clark OF
Alabama O few days ago in regard to
my action on the tariff bill now before
me have given the subject full and
most serious consideration. The result
is am more settled than ever in the
determination to sallow tho bill to be-
ceme a law without my signature.
When the formulation OF legislation
which it was hoped would embody Dem
ocratic ideas of tariff reform was lately
entered upon by congress, nothing was
further from my anticipation than o re-
suit which l could not promptly and en-
Enthusiastically endorse.
1t is, therefore, with o feeling of the
utmost disappointment that submit to
denial Of this privilege. do not claim
to be better than the masses of my party
nor do l wish to avoid any responsibility
which, on account OF the paseags of this
law ought to bear as member OF the
Democratic organization, neither will l
permit myself to be separated from my
party to such an extent as might be
implied by my veto of tariff legislation
which, though disappointing, 10
.k;n ,b 20 D~pocrafiC oHart
But there are provisions in this bill
which are in line with honest tariff re-
form, and it contains Inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to appear
in tariff law OF any kind.
Besides there were, as you and we'll
know. incidents accompanying the pas
sage of ths bill through congress which
made every sincere retormer unhappy,
while influences surrounded it in its
later stages and interfersd with its final
construction which ought not to be rec
ognized or tolerated in Democratic tariff
reform councils.
And yet, not otwithstanding all its
vices, and all the bad treatment it re-
csived at the hands of its pretended
friends, it presents a vast improvement
to existing conditions. 1t will certainly
tighten many tariff burdens that now
rest heavily upon the people. it is not
only barrier against the return of mad
protection, but it furnishes vantage
ground from which must be waged fur
ther aggressive operations against pro-
tected monopoly and governmental
favoritism.
take my place with the rank and file
of the Democratic party who believe in
tariff reform and who know what it is
and who refuse to accept the results en-
bodied in this bill as the close OF the
war; who are no. blinded to the fact
that the livery OF Democratic tariff re.
form has been stolen and worn in the
service of Republican protection, and
deadly blight OF treason has blasted the
councils of the brave in their hour OF
might.
The trusts and combinations the
communion OF pelf-whoss machina-
tions have prevented US from reaching
the succeas we deserve, should not bs
forgotten or forgiven. We shall recover
from our astonishment at their exhibi-
ton of power, and if then the question
is forced upon US whether they shall
submit to the free legislative will of the
peoples representatives, or snail dictate
the laws which the people must obey,
We will accept and settle that issue as
one involving the integrity and safety of
American institutions.
love the principles OF true Democracy
because they are founded on patriotism
and upon justice and fairness toward all
interests. | am proud OF my party organ
izAtion because it i5 conservatively
sturdy and persistent in the enforce
ment Of its principles. Therefore, | do
not despair of the efforts made by the
house OF representatives to supplement-
the bill already passed by further legis-
lation, and to have engrafted upon it
such notifications as will more nearly
meet Democratic hopes and inspirations.
/ cannot bs mistaken as to the neces-
sity OF free raw muterials, az the foun-
dation OF logical and sensible tariff
reform. The extent to which this is
recognized in the legislation already
secured, 10 one Of it's encouraging and
redeeming features; but 1t is vexatious
to recall that while free coal and iron
o.e have been denied, lotter from the
secretary OF the treasury discoses the
fact that both might have been made
free by the annual surrender of only
500, 900 OF unnecessary revenue. l am
sure there is q common habit OF under
estimating the importance OF free raw
materials in tariff legislation, and OF
regarding them as only related to con-
cessions to be made to our manufacture
ers. The truth is their influence is 60
far-reachipg that if disregarded, COM