The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-07-25

nouncement in the house to-day that
he had letter from President Cleve-
land, which the latter had permitted to
be made public. The letter was then
sent to the desk and read amid profound
silence. The letter was in the presi-
dents vigorous style and was stirring
tribute to the Wilson bill and q direct
blow at any surrender to the senate
bill. President Cleveland's letter is as
follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1894
Hon. William L. Wilson:
Ny Dear Sir: The certainty that confor-
cnce will be ordered between the two houses OF
congress for the purpose OF adjusting differ
ences on the subject OF tariff legislation makes
| II also certain that you will be again called ON
to do hard service In the cause Of tarlr reform.
Ny public life has been so closely related TO the
| subject, l have so longed for its accomplish
ment, and have so often promised It's realiza-
tion TO my fellow-cOuntrymen as result OF
| their trust and confidence In the democratic
party, that hope no excuse is necessary for
my earnest appeal to you that in this crisis you
strenuously insist upon the party honor and
good faith and sturdy adherence to democratic
! principles. believe these are absolutely nec-
eSsary conditions to the continuation Of demo-
| cratic existence. / cannot rid myself Of the
feeling that this conference will present the
best II not the only hope Of true democracy.
Indications point TO Its action as the reliance
! Of those who desire the genuine fruition OF
democratic effort, the fulhllmcnt Of democratic
pledges and the redemption Of democratic
promises to the people.
To reconcile differences in the details COM
prlsed within the fixed and well-dcnned lines
OF principle will not be the sole task OF the con-
ference, but as It seems to me its members will
also have In charge the question whether DEM
ocratio principles themselves are TO be saved
or abandoned. There is no excuse for mistak-
Ing or misapprehendng the feeling and the
temper OF the rank and ile OF the democracy
They are downcast under the assertion that
their party fails In ability to manage the gov
ernment, and they are apprehensive that ef-
forts 10 bring about tarir reform may fail; but
they are much more downcast and apprehen-
Svc In thoir fear that democratic principles
EIaT be surrendered. In these circumstances
they cannot do otherwise than TO look
VITA confidence to you and to those who with
you have patriotcally and sincerely cham
p.On,3 the cause Of tarin reform within demo-
cratic lines and guided by democratic prlnci-
pies This confidence is vastly augmented by
Of representatives upon the bill now pending.
Every true democrat and every sincere tarir
rcformer knows that this bill in It's present
form, and ~ It will be submitted to the confer
ence, falls far short OF the consummation for
which We have long labored, for which we have
Suffered defeat without diScouragement; which
In It's anticipation gave us rallying cry In our
day OF triumph and which in its promise OF &C.
complshment Is 80 interviewer with demo-
cratic pledges and democratic success that our
Abandonment OF the cause or the principles
upon which II rests means party perhdy and
party dishOnor. One topic will be submitted 10
the conference which embodies democratic
principles so directly that IL cannot be COM
promised We have In our platforms and In
every way possible declared in favor Of free i'm
portation OF raw materials. We have again
and again promised that this should be ac-
corded to our people and our manufacturers as
soon as the democratic party was invested with
.hc power TO determine the tariff policy Of the
ruultry. The party now has that power We
arc ~ certain to-day as we have ever been Of
'Hc Great beneht that would accrue TO the coun-
Try from the inauguration OF this policy, and
nothing has occurred to release US from our
obligation 10 secure this advantage 10 our peo-
pie. II must be admitted that no tariff meas
urc can accord with democratic principles and
promises, or bear genuine democratic badge,
Int does not provide for free raw materials.
in ;hcSc circumstances II tmay well excite our
wonder that democrats are willing to depart
from ,a,s, The most democratic OF all tariff
principles, and that the inconsistent absurdity
o! 'uen proposed departure should be empha-
slLed by the suggestion that the wool OF the
'nrmer be put on the free list, and the protec-
tiOn OF tariff taxation be placed around the iron
ore and coal OF corporations and capitalists.
How can we face the people after indulgng in
such outrageous determinations and violations
Of principles 1t is quite apparent that this
question Of free raw materials does not admit
Of adjustment on any middle ground since their
subsection to any rate Of turiI taxation, great
or small, is alike yiolative OF democratic prin-
Ciple and democratic good faith.
l hope that you will not consider II intrusive
4 I say something in relation to another sub
Iect which can hardly fail to be troublesome to
the conference. / refer to the adjustment OF
,Orin taxation on sugar Under our party plat
form and In accordance with our declared party
purposes, sugar is a legitimate and logical arti-
Gle OF revenue taxation. Unfortunately, how
ever, incidents have accompanied certain stages
~ the legislation which will be submitted to
the conference that have aroused In connection
with this subject natural democratic ami
mostly to the methods and manipulatons OF
truhlh ana combinations. ! confess TO sharing
In this feeling; and yet II seems TO me we
ought II possible, 10 sufficiently free ourselves
from prejudice to enable US cooy TO weigh the
considerations which in formulating tariff leg
islation ought to guide our treatment OF sugar
as taxable article, and while no tender
ness should be entertained for trusts and
while ! am decidedly opposed TO granting,
under the guise Of tariff taxation any oppor-
tunity 10 further their peculiar methods, suR.
gest that we ought not 10 be driven away from
the democratic principle and policy which lead
10 the taxation OF sugar, by the fear quite
likely exaggerated that In carrying out this
principle and policy we may indirectly and in
ordinately encourage combination OF sugar
refining interests know that in present con-
dtions this IL delicate subject and aDpre-
ciate the depth and strength OF the feeling
which its treatment has aroused. do not be-
lleve we should do evil that good may come, but
(; seems 10 me that we should not forget that
our aim Is the completion Of tarin bill, and
TINT In taxing sugar for proper purposes and
within reasonable bounds, whatever else may
be said OF our action, VIC ore in no danger OF
running counter to democratic principle. With
oil there Is at stake there must be in the treat
ment Of this article some ground upon which
we are willing 10 stand, where liberation and
Cancellation may be allowed TO solve the prob
lem, without demanding the entire surrender
Of nXed and conscientious convictions
/ ought no, to prolong this letter. II what
have written is unwelcome beg you 10 believe