The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-08-28
CLEVELAND EXPLAINS.
Why the New Tariff Became Law
Without His Signature.
NOT WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTED

That Now Rest Heavily on the People.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9s.-The president
yesterday sent the following letter to Rep.
resentative Catohings, of Mississippi, who
consented to its publication ia view Of it's
public character and Importance:
Hon. Il. c. Catchings;
MY DEAR SIR-Slnce the conversation I
had with you and Mr.. Clark, Of Alabama.
few days ago in regard TO my action
upon the tariff bill now before me- have
given the subject further and most SER
ious consideration. The result Is ] am
more settled than ever IN the determine.
tion to allow the bill to become law
without my signature
When the formulation Of legislation
which it was hoped would embody Demo.
cratic ideas OF tariff reform was lately
entered upon by congress nothing was
further from my anticipation than a re-
suit which / could not promptly and en-.
Enthusiastically indorse, IL Is therefore
with feeling of utmost disappointment
that submit to denial of this privilege
do not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do wish to
avoid any responsibility which, on ac-
count of the passage of this law, ought
TO bear as a member of the Democratic
organization Neither will permit my
self 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 pro,
visions in this bill which are not in line
with honest tariff reform, and it contains
inco n sistenoies and crudities which ought
not to appear in tariff laws or laws of any
kind Besides, there were, as you and
well know, rodents accompanying the
passage of the bill through the congress
which made every sincere tariff reformer
unhappy, while influences surrounded it
in its later stages and interfered with its
final oonstru ction which ought not to be
recognized or tolerated in Democratic re.
form cOunsels
And yet Notwithstanding all its vicissi-
tudes and all the bad treatment it re-
ceived at the hands of pretended friends,
it presents a vast improvement to exist
ing conditions 1t will certainly tighten
many tariff burdens that now rests heavily
upon the people. 1t is not only barrier
against the return of mad protection but
it furnishes vantage ground from which
must be waged further aggressive opera.
tiOns against PROTECTED 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,
who refuse to accept the results embodied
in this bill at the close of the war, who
are not blinded to the fact that the livery
of Democratic tariff reform has been
stolen and worn in the service of Repub-
lican protection, and who have marked
| the places where the deadly blight of trea.
son has blasted the counsels of the brave
in their hour of might.
The trusts and combnations-the COM
| munism of pelf-whose Vaccinations have
prevented US from reaching the success
we deserved, should not be forgotten nor
forgiven. We shall recover from our as
constituent at their exhibition of power,
and if then the question is forced upon US
whether they shall submit to the free
| legislative will of the peoples representa-
tives or shall dictate the laws which the
people must obey we will accept and set
| tie that issue as one involving the integ-
rity and safety of American institutions
love the principles of true Democracy,
| because they are founded on patriotism
and on justice and fairness toward all in
terests. am proud of my party organ
I
and persistent in the enforcement of its
principles, Therefore, do not despair of
the efforts made by the house of repre-
sentatives to supplement the bill already
passed by further legislation and to have
engrafted upon it such notifications ss
will more nearly meet Democratic hopes
and aspirations
! / cannot be mistaken as to the necessity
of free raw materials as the foundation of
logical and sensible tariff reform The
extent to which this is recognized in the
Legislation already secured is one of its
encouraging and redeeming features, but
Il Is veXatious to recall that while free
coal and iron ore have been denied us, a
recent letter of the secretary of the treas
ury dscloses the fact that both might
have been made free by the annual sur
render of only about 500, 600 Of unueces-
sary revenue
am sure that there is a common habit
of understanding the Importance of free
raw materials in tariff legislation, and OF
regarding them as only related to couces.
siOns to be made our manufacturers The
truth is, their influence is so far reaching
that if disregarded a complete and benefi.
cent scheme of tariff reform cannot be
successfully inaugurated
When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials we uushackle Ameri
can enterprise and ingenuity. and these
will open the doors of foreign markets to
the reception of our wares and give op
portunity for the continuous aud re
munerative employment of American la
bor.
With materials cheapened by their
freedom from tariff charges the cost OF
their product must be correspondingly
oheapened Thereupon justice and fair
ness to the consumer would demand that
the manufacturers be obliged TO submit
b. such a readjustment and modification
of the tariff upon their finished goods al
would secure to the people the benefit oil
the reduced cost Of their manufacture
and shield the consumer against the ex
action OF inofdinate profits
1t will rhus be seen that free raw ma
terials and just and fearless regulation
and reduction of the tariff to meet tht
changed conditions would carry TO every
humble home in the land the blessings ol
Increased comfort and cheaper living
The millions of our couutrymen who