Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-07-27
The President Against Any Surrender
to "Consarvatiyaa.n

The following is the letter sent by Presi.
dent Cleveland to Chairman Wilson, OF the
Ways and Means Committee OF the House
OF Representatives, declaring against any
surrender on the tariff to the Senate ICON.
servatives," and read in the House on Thurs.
day of last week at the request of the re.
cipient:
Egecutipe Mansion, Washington, July 3,
1884 Personal. Ito Hon. VIM. l.. Will
son.-My Dear Sir: The certainty that u
conference will be ordered between the two
houses OF Congress for the purpose OF ad-
justing differences on the subject of tariff
legislation makes it also certain that you
will be again called on to do hard service in
the cause of tariff reform.
My public life has been so closely related
TO the subject, l have so longed for its &C
complishment, and have so often prom
Used its realization 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
party honesty and good faith and sturdy
adherence to Democratic principles. be-
leve these are absolutely necessary condi-
tions to the continuation OF Democratic ex-
| istence.
| 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 frution OF Demo.
cratic effort, the fulfillment of Democratic
pledges and the redemption of Democratic
promises to the people. To reconcile differ
ences in the details composed within the
fixed and well defined lines of principle will
not be the sole task of the conference; but,
as it seems to me, its members will. also have
in charge the question whether Democratic
| principles themselves are to be saved or
abandoned.
There is no excuse for installing or mis-.
experimenting the feeling and the temper of
the rank and file of the Democracy. They
are downcast under the assertion that their
party fails in ability to manage the govern
ment, and they are apprehenslve that efforts
to bring about tariff reform may fail j.; but
they are much more downcast and appre-
hensive in their fear that Democratic prin
ciple may be surrendered.
In these circumstances they cannot do
otherwise than to look with confidence to
you and those who with you have patriotic.
ally and sincerely championed the cause Of
tariff reform within Democratic lines and
guided by Democratic principles This con-
tidence is vastly augmented by the action
| uUuCE your leuucISuIp vi luG IlOusC VI lscp-
resentatives upon the bill now pending.
Every true Democrat and every sincere
tariff reiormer knows that this bill in its
present form and as it will be submitted TO
| the conference falls far short of the consum-
nation for which We have long labored, for
which we have suffered defeat without dis.
enlargement; which in its anticipation gave
US rallying cry in our day OF triumph, and
which in its promise OF accomplishment IS
so interviewer with Democratic pledges and
Democratic success that our abandonment
OF the cause or the principles upon which 1t
rests means party perfidY and party dis
honor.
One topic will be submitted to the confer
ence which embodies Democratic principle
| 80 directly that it cannot be compromised.
We have in our platforms and in every way
possible declared in favor of the Tree mpor.
tation of raw materials We have again and
again promised that this should be accorded
to our people aud our manufacturers as soon
as the Democratic party was invested with
the power to determine the tariff policy OF
| the country.
The party now has that power We are
as certain to-day as we have ever been Of the
great benefit that would accrue to the coun
try from the Inauguration of this policy, and
nothing has occurred to release US from our
| obligation to secure this advantage TO our
people. 1t must be admitted that no tariff
measure can accord with Democratic prin
ciples and promises or bear a genuine Demo-
cratic badge that does not provide for free
raw material.
In these circumstances it may well excite
our wonder that Democrats are willing 10
depart from this the most Democratic Of all
tariff principles, and that the inconsistent
absurdity of such proposed departure
should be emphasized by the suggestion that
the wool of the farmer be put ON the free list
and the protection of tariff taxation be
placed around the iron ore and coal OF cor
porations and capitalists How can we face
the people after INDUCING in such outrage
GUS determinations and violations OF prin'
ciple?
1t is quite apparent that this question of
free raw material does not admit of adjust
ment on any middle ground, since their sub
lection to any rate of tariff taxation, great
or small, is alike vioative of Democratic
principle and Democratic good faith.
l hope that you will not consider it intru-
sive if say something in relation to another
subject which can hardly fail to be trouble.
some to the conference. | refer to the adj
justment of tariff taxation on sugar.
Under our party platform, and in accord
ance with our declared party purposes,
sugar is a legitimate and logical article Of
| revenue taxation. Unfortunately, however,
incidents have accompanied certain stages
of the legislation which will be submitted TO
the conference that have aroused in con
nection with this subject a natural Demo.
cratic luminosity to the methods and manipu.
lations of trusts and combinations. con-
fess to sharing in this feeling; and yet il
seems to me we ought, /: possible, TO sutii
GENTLY free ourselves from prejudice TO en-
able us coolly TO weigh the considerations
which In formulating tariff legislation, ought
TO guide our treatment OF sugar as o taxable
article.
While no tenderness should be enter
tanned for Trusts, and while / am decidedly
opposed 10 granting them, under the guise
Of tariff taxation, any opportunity TO further
their peculiar methods, suggest that we
ought not TO be driven away from the Dem
ocratic principle and policy which lead to
the taxation of sugar by the fear, quite like
ly exaggerated, that in carrying out this
principle and policy we may Indirectly and
inordinately encourage a combination Of
sugar refining interests. | know that in
present conditions this is a delicate subject,
and appreciate the depth and strength of
the feeling which its treatment has aroused.
do not believe we should do evil that good
may come, but 1t seems 10 me that we should
not forget that our aim Is the completion Of
tariff bill, and that In taxing sugar for
proper purposes and within reasonable
bounds, whatever else may be said Of our
action, we are in no danger of running
counter TO Democratic principle. With all
there is at stake there must be in the treat
ment Oft article some ground upon which
we are willing to stand, where liberation
and Cancellation may be allowed TO solve the
problem without demanding the entire sur
render Of fixed and conscientious convic
tons.
ought not to proong this letter. II what
| have written is unwelcome beg you TO
believe in my good intentions.
In the conclusion of the conference touch
, ing the numerous items which will be con-
sidered, the people are not afraid that their
interests will be neglected They know that
the general result so far as they are con !.