The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-08-30
WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE.
The president Greatly Desires Free
Coal and Iron Ore.

W AJti ~ WV IL u mug )"
President Cleveland has written the
following letter to Representative
Catchings, of Mississippi, in which
he sets forth his views of the new
tariff law and gives his reasons for
not approving the bill:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, J
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. ~. {
Hon. T. C. Catchjngs::
My DEAR SIR:-Since the con-
versation had with you and Mr..
Clarke, OF Alabama, a few days ago,
in regard to my action on the tariff
bill now before me, | have given
the subject further and most serious
consideration. The result is | am
more settled than ever in the deter
mination to allow the bill to become
a law without my signature.
When the formation of legisla-
ton which it was hoped would en-
body Democratic ideas of the tariff
reform was lately entered upon by
Congress, nothing was furtS,taas ssc,.ino
my anticipation than result which
| could not promptly and enthusl-
astically endorse.
1t is therefore with a feeling of
the utmost disappointment that l
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 passage of
this law, | ought to bear as mem
Der of the Democratic organization,
neither will | permit myself to be
separated from my party to such an
extent as might be implied by my
veto of the tariff legislation, which,
though disappointing is still charge
able to Democratic effort. But
there are provisions in this bill
which are not in line with honest
tariff reform, and it contains incon-
sistencies and crudities which
ought not to appear in tariff laws
or laws of any kind. Besides there
were, as you and l well know, Incl
dents accompanying the passage of
the bill through Congress-, which
made every sincere tariff retormer
unhappy, while influences surroun-
ded it in its latter stages and inter
fered with its final construction.
which ought not to be recognized
or tolerated in Democratic tariff
reform counsels.
And yet, notwithstanding all it's
yicissitudes and all the bad treat
ment it received at the hands of
pretended friends, it presents a
vast improvement to existing con-
ditions. 1t will certainly tighten
many tariff burdens that pew rest
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
lions 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 as 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 Republican protection,
and who have marked the places
where the deadly light of treason
has blasted the counsels of the
brave in their hour of might.
The trusts and combinations
the communism of pelf-whose ma
chinations have prevented us from
reaching the success we deserved,
should not he forgotten nor for
given. We shall recover from our
establishment 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 representative or shall
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.
l love the principles of true de-
mocracy because they are founded |
in patriotism and upon business
and fairness toward all interests. |
am proud of my party organiza-
ton because 1t is conservatively |
sturdy and persistent in the en-
forcement of its principles. There
fore do not despair of the efforts
made by the House Of Representa-
tiYes to supplement the bill already |
passed by further legislation, and |
to have engrafted upon it such |
notifications 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 sensi-
l I