Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-08-31
cLEvELANiD:,s LATEST LETTER
The President Gives Mr.. Catchings Reasons
For Not SIGNING the Tariff Bill.

~ xOW
Of it's public character and Importance:
MY DEAR SIR-Since the conversa-
ton I had with you and MI. Clark Of
Alabama a few days ago in regard to
my action upon the tariff bill now be-
fore me, I have given the subject fur.
ther and most serious consideration,
The result is, I am more settled than
eyer in the Determination &c el1ca. the
bill to become a law without my sigma.
ture.
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 a result which I could not
promptly and enthusiastically endorse.
Greatly Disappointed.
1t is therefore with a, feeling Of the
utmost disappointment that I submit to
a denial Of this privilege. I do not
claim to be better than the masses Of
my party, nor dol wish to avoid any
responsibility which, on account Of
passing this law, I ought to bear as a
member Of the Democratic organiza-
ton, neither will I permit myself to be
separated from my party to such an ex-
tent as might be implied by my veto of
tariff legislation, which, though disap-
pointing, is still clargeable to Demo.
cratic effort. But there are provisions
in this bill which are not in line with
honest tariff reform, and it contains
Inconsistencies and Crudities
which ought not to appear in tariff
laws or laws Of any kind. Besides,
there We're. as you and I we'll know, in
cidents accompanying the passing 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 con-
struction, which ought not to be recog-
nlzed or tolerated in Democratic tariff
reform councils.
And. yet, Notwithstanding all it's vi
cissitudes and all the bad treatment il
received at the hands of pretended
friends, it presents a vast improvement
to existing conditions. It will GER
tainly
Tighten Many Tariff Burdens
that now rest heavily upon the people.
1t is not only a barrier against the re-
turn of mad protection, but it furnishes
advantage ground from which must be
waged further aggressive operations
against protected monopoly and govern
mental favoritism. I take nv place
with the rank and file Of the Demo.
cratic party who believe in tariff re-
form, and who refuse to accept the re-
suits embodied in this bill as the close
OF the war, who are not blind to the
fact that the livery of Democratic tariff
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 Vaccinations have prevented
us from reaching the success we de.
serve, should not be forgotten or for
given. We shall recover from our as.
constituent at their exhibition of power.
and it then the question is forced upon
US whether they shall submit to the
free legislative will of the peoples rep
r~esentatives, or shall dictate the laws
which the people must obey, we will ac-
cept and settle that issue as one involv-
ing the integrity and
Safety of American institutions.
I love the principles of true Democ-
racy because they are founded in pat
riotism and upon Justice and fairness
toward all interests. | am proud of my
party organization because it is con-
~servatively sturdy and persistent in the
enforcement Of its principles. There
fore, I do not despair of the efforts
made by the house Of representatives to
supplement- the bill already passed by
further legislation, and to have en-
grated upon it such notifications as
will more nearly meet Democratic
hopes and aspirations. I cannot be
mistaken as to the necessity Of
Free 1taW Materials L@H#.as
as the foundation Of logical and sensible
tariff reform. The extentto which this
is recognized in the legislation already
secured is one of its encouraging and
redeeming features; but, it is vexatious
to recall that while free coal and iron
ore have been denied, a letter of the
secretary of the treasury discloses the
fact that both might have been made
free by the annual surrender Of only
about $500, 900 of unnecessary revenue.
l am sure that there is a common
habit of Understanding the import
ance OF free raw materials
In Tariff Legislation
and of regarding them as only related
to concessions'to be made to our manu-
facturers. The truth is, their influence
is SO far reaching that if disregarded a
complete and benefcient scheme of
tariff reform cannot be successfully in
augurated.e
When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials we unshackle Ameri-
can enterprise and ingenuity, and these
will open the doors of foreign markets