The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-08-30
HE DID NOT SIGN II
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S SIGMA
TURE NOT ON THE TARIFF BILL.

Ht,s 100
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's SIGMA
TURE NOT ON THE TARIFF BILL
In n Letter to Representative Catch
ings of Mississippi the President :
Tells why He Did Not Endorse the
Measure.
Washington, Aug. 2S.-The president
to day, sent the following letter to Rep
resentatiye Catchings of Mississippi,
who consented to it's publication in
view of it's public character and I'M
B portance: ma
Executive Mansion, Washington, Aug.
) IS, 1894 Hon. T. G. Gatherings
Dear Sir: Since the conversation / had
with you and Mr.. Clark Of Alabama a
few days ago in regard to my action
upon the tariff bill now before me, l
have given the subject further and
more serious consideration. The re-
suit is, am more settled than ever in
the determination to allow the bill to
become law without my signature.
When the formulation Of legislation
which it was hoped would embody
Democratic ideas Of tariff reform was
lately entered upon by congress, moth
Ing was further from my anticipation
than result which could not prompt
ly and enthusiastically endorse 1t is,
therefore, with the feeling Of the ut
most disaL pointment that I submit to
denial Of this privilege. I do not
claim to be better than the masses Of
my party, nor do wish to avoid any
responsibility as a member Of the Dem
ocratic organization, neither will per-
nit myself to be separated from my
party to such an extent as might be
implied by my veto Of tariff legislation,
which, though disappointing, is still
chargeable to Democratic effort. But
there are provisions in this bill which
are not in line with honest tariff re-
form, and it contains inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to ap-
pear in tariff laws Of any kind. Be-
sides, there were, as you and I well
know, incidents accompanying the pass
ing Of the bill through congress, which
made every sincere reformer unhappy,
While influences surrounded it in it's
latter stages and interfered with it's
final construction which ought not to
be recognized or tolerated in Democrat
is tariff reform councils.
And yet, Notwithstanding all it's vi
cissitudes and all the bad treatment it
received at the hands of pretended
friends, it presents vast improvement
to existing conditions It 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 a
vantage ground from which must be
Waged further aggressive operations
NC tod
ernmental favoritism.
l take my place with the rank and
flle of the Democratic party who be-
Heve in tariff reform, and who, know
ing what it is. refuse to accept the re-
suits embodied in this bill as the close
OF the war; who are not blinded to the
fact that the livery of Democratic tar
1T reform has been stolen and worn
in the service of Republican protection
and will have marked the places where
the deadly blight Of treason has BLASTED
the councils Of the brave in their hour
of might
The trusts and combinations ~ the
communism Of pelf-whose machina
lions have prevented us from reachin.
the success we deserve should not b.
forgotten or forgiven We shall re
NoNSl lAoAA Jul dSLOLllSuueuC Jn0l
exhibition of power, and if then tn,
question 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 mus
obey, we will accept and settle tina
issue as one involving the integrity ant
safety Of American institutions.
love the principles Of true Democ
tInx
otism and upon justice and fairnes
toward all interests. I am proud O
my party organization because it i
conserVatively sturdy and persistent il
the enforcement of it's principles
therefore 1 do not despair of the Ell
forts made by the house of representa-
tlves to supplement the bill alread
passed by further legislation and t
have engraved upon it such modifica
lions as will more nearly meet Demo
cratic hopes and aspirations.
l cannot be mistaken as to the M
cesslty OF free raw materials as th
foundation Of logical and sensible tari1
reform. The extent to which this j
recognized in the legislation already 81
cured Is one of its encouraging and re
deeming features; but, it is vexatiou
E
ore have been denied, letter of th
secretary of the treasury discloses tn
fact that both might have been mad
free by the annual surrender of onl
100000 of unnecessary revenue.
am sure there is a common hab
OF Understanding the Importance I
free raw materials in tariff legislation
and OF regarding them as only relate
TO concessions to be made to our maj
ufacturers. The truth is, their inf,
ence is so far-reaching that il disregar,
ed complete and beneficial scheme {
tariff reform cannot be successfully il
Gugurated
when we give to our manufacture
free raw materials we unshackle Ame
lean enterprise and ingenuity and the,
will open the doors of foreign marke
to the reception of our wares and gi,
opportunity for the continuous and ;.