Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-08-03
CLEVELAND TO HISPARTY
THE HOUSE HEARS A LETTER
FROM THE PRESIDENT.
In a Communication to Chairman
Wilson He Urged the House to Re
ject the Senate Amendments,
Placing iron, Coal and Other
Raw Material on the Dutiable List.

IIac1n2 IRON, SOdI anu olHcE
Raw Material on the Dutiable List.
The tariff fight at Washington took an
almost unparalleled aud decidedly sensa-
tional turn in the House of Representatives,
when the President came out in a letter to
Chairman Wilson with strong in
dorsement of the principles followed
out in the House bin. The Presi-
dents action is practically without
precedent and his inferential attack on the
<.,!fcy pursued in the Senate caused the
greatest excitement. In the House his utter
anceS were received with enthusiasm by tho
Democratic majority, and the reading OF the
letter was interrupted frequently with ap-
pl 'uSe.
Every seat in the galleries was occupied.
and there was not q vacant chair on tuo
floor. 80 intense was the interest III the pat
tie for low tariff and free raw materials.
Chairman Wilson showed the signs OF ms
recent severe Illness. He. looked thin ami
nervous. About his face was large Wnite
bandage, which he was compelled TO wear,
owing to a severe attack of neuralgia
The battle began the instant the journal
had been read. When Mr. wilson arose
there was a sudden and almost painful
silence. He first handed in the conterecs
report, and then went on to make an ex-
planation Of the differences between tho
Senate and House.
Mr.. Wilson said ''Mr. Speaker, am in
structed by the majority of the conterees on
the part Of tho House on the IarlH Dil 10
make this report to the House
'rThe Conference Committee on the bill
H. r., 1854 after final, tuA and fr3e confer
ence. failed to agree. The Senate contereeS
insist on their amendments to said bill and
House conferees insist upon their disagree
menr to the Senate amendments.
"(Sgne1) W. l.. Wilson, Benton Nc
Millin, H. G. Turner. A. L. Montgomery,
Conferees on tho part of the House.
Mr.. Wilson thec handed in the letter,
which be said had been addressed to him by
the President, with permission to make
public.
The text of the letter was as follows:
PERSONAL
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1891
To Hon. William L. Wilson:
MY DEAR S1R-The certainty that a confer
ence will be ordered between the two houses
of Congress for the purpose Of adjusting
differences on tho subject of tariff legisla-
ton makesit also certain that you will be
again called upon to do hard service IN the
cause of tariff reform. My public llte mas
been so closely related to the subject. L nave
50 lonyed FORTS accomplishment and haVeso
often promised its realization to my fellow
countrymen as result oftheirtrust and con-
fidence in the Democratic party that hopo
no excuse is necessary for my earnest ap-
peal to you that IN this crisis you strenuously
insist upon party honesty and gooi 1ath ana
a sturdy adherence to Democratic principles.
I believe these are absolutely necessary con-
ditions TO the continuation of Democratic
existence.
1 cannot rid myself Of the feeling that this
conference will present tho best, II not the
only hope of true Democracy. lndlcatlonS
point to its action as the reliance OF those
who desire the genuine fruitiOn OF Demo-
cratic effort the fultillment OF Democratic
pledges and tho redemption Of Democratic
promises to the people. TO reconcile dlfer-
ences in the details comprised within the
fixed and wcl-defined lines Of principle Will
not be the sole task Of the conference, but
as it seems to me, its members will also have
in charge the question whether Democratic
principles themselves are to bG saved or
abandoned.
There is no excuse for mistaking or mis-
apprehending the feelne. AMI the temper OF
the rank aud file of the Democracy. They
are downcast under the assertion that their
party tails in ability to r.anago the Govern
ment and they are apDrehensive that efforts
to bring about tariff reform may fail but
they are much moro dOwnCaSt anu appre-
hensive in their fear that d 7mocratlc prInci-
pie may be surrendered. In these clrcum-
stances they cannot do otherwise than to
look with confidence to you AMI those VINO,
with vou, have patriotically and sincerely
chamDjoned the cause Of tariff reform within
Democratic lines and guided by Democratic
principles. This confidence IS vastly aug
menteI by the action un Ter your
leadership Of the House of Repre-
sentativas upon the bill now pend
in.- Every true Democrat and every SIM
cpre tariff refOrmer knows that this bill, ID
its present form and as it will be nomltted
to tue conference. fallc f;tr short OF the con-
summation for which we have long lahored,
for which we have suffered defeat without
ont rTyINiP iP antlPIDAtIOn
gave us a rallyng cry in our day OF triumph
an which in its promise OF accomplishment
is so interviewer with Democratic p!enSeS
AMI Democratic success that our aban Ion
ment Of the cause or the principles upon
which it rests means party peril Iy anu party
GiShOnOr.
One tonic will he submitted to the con-
ference which cmbodies Democratic princ!-
ME 81, directly that it cannot bo cOmpro-
missed We have i'll our platforms AMI Ill
every way possible declared III favor OF the
FREQ importation of raw materials. We nave
again and again promised that this should
be accorded to our people anu our mahuIac'
turers as soon rs the Democratic party
was invested with the power to determine
the tariff policy Ot the country
Tho party now has that power. we are rs
certain to-day rs We havc ever been OF the
great benefit that would accrue 20 tho coun-
try from the inauguration ofthlS poiicF' anu
nothing has occurred to release us from our
OBLIGATION to secure this advantage TO our
nconIe. 1t must be admitted that no tariff
measure can accord with Democratic prln-
ciples and promises. or bear genuine De!ll- e-
OCratic badge. that does not proNiue 'o' 'h0o
raw material1.
In these circumstances II may welt oXcltn
our wonder that Democrats are Wlillng 10
depart from this, the most Democratic OF all
tariff principles, and that tho inconsistent
absurdity OF such Il proposed hePar. uoe :
~ khslC C1Jt tPCpnGflOlI
the wool of the farmer be put on the iree iist
and the protection OF tarIl taHatloh pe
placed around the iron orc anH Coal ol CoE-
norations and capitalists. How cHn We face
the people after indu 'ginS IN sucn outrage
Gus determinations and violations Oh priu-
ciplei It is quite apparent that the question:
of free raw material does not admit OF ad-
iustment on any middle grounds since tneit
subiection to any rate of tariiftaxatlon, great
or small is alike Tioiative OF Delnocratic
principle and Democrat: good talth.
hope that you will not CONSIDER ihtru-
sivn # 7 sav something i'll relation to an
other subject which can hardly fali % Do
troublesome to the conference. L rcter TO
the adjustment of tariff taxation on sugar
Under our party platform, and
with our declared rarty purposes Su<aE Is -
a legitimate AMI logical article Oh fe! 7nu5
taxation. Unfortunately, however, incidents
have ACCOMPANIED certain stages OF me
legislation which will be su5mlttci 10 tne
conference that have aroused IN conhecIio'
with this subject natural D3hl9clit';
| anin?os1ty TO the methods and Tnanipuiet1ons
OF trusts and combinations. [ confess to
| sharing in this feeling; and let it seems 70
me we ought, if possible, to sufficiently l5eI
| ourselves from prejudice to enable US coolLy
| Ia weigh the considerations which, In tormu
| Iatinr tariff legislation ought to guide oui
| treatment of sugar rs taxable article.
| While no tenderness should be entcrtaineC
| for trusts and while am decidedly oppose,
| TO granting them, under tne gutse OF tarifl
taxation. any opportunity to iutsher tneli
| peculiar methods, I suggest that we ought
| not to be driven away from the Democratic
| principle and policy which lead to the taxa
| tion Of sugar by the fear. quite likely exag
| geratei, that in carrying out t9ls princ'Pie
| and policy we may indirectly and inorGinate
y encourage n combination OF suSar-reilnl my
| interests 1 know that in present condition.