The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-28
WANTED AN HONEST BILL
BUT MEN in BUCKRAM
PREVENTED.
Falstaffian President Explains His
Retreat.
y

Says the Bill Is Bad. Very Bad, But 1t
Gives Good Starting Point for Moving
| on to Reforms in Days When the Men
| in Buckram Shall Be No More-Con-
dolence With Brother Catchings.
Washington, August 27.-PresJdent
| Cleveland has written Representative
Catchings of Mississippi a letter. in
which, he sets forth his views of the
new tariff bill and gives his reasons FOR
not approving it:
My Dear Sir-Since the conversation I
had with you and Mr.. Clarke of Ala
bama few days ago, in regard to my
action upon the tariff bill now before
me, have given the subject further and
most serious consideration. The result
| lis, am more settled than ever in my
determination to allow it to become a
Flaw without my signature. When the
formationsof the legislation which was
hoped would en- body the Democratic
ideas OF tariff reform was lately entered
upon by Congress, nothing was further
| from my anticipation than result that
could not promptly and enthusiastically
endorse.
1t is therefore with feelings of the ut
most disappointment that submit to
denial of this privilege.
I do not claim to be better than the
masses Of my party, nor do l wish to
avoid any responsibility which, on ac-
count 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 chargeable
to Democratic effort. But there are pro-
visions in this bill not in line with
honest tariff reform; it contains incon-
sistencies and conditions which ought
not to appear in tariff laws, sor laws of
any kind. Besides, there were, as you
and I7well know, incidents accompany
ing the passage of the bill through Com
gress which made every sincere tariff re-
former unhappy, while influences sur
rounded it in the latter stages and inter-
fered with its final construction,
which ought not to be recognized or toll
Grated in Democratic tariff reform coun-
sells.
Yet, notwithstanding all its vicissi-
tudes and all the bad treatment 1t re-
ceved at the hands OF pretended trends,
it presents vast Improvement to exist
ing conditions. 1t will certainly Tighten
| many tariff burdens now resting heavily
upon the people. 1t is not only bar
rier against the return OF mad protection
but furnishes a vantage ground from
which must be waged further aggressive
operations against protected monopoly
/ take my place among the rank and
file of the Democratic party, who be-
lieve in tariff reform, and we'll know
what it is, who refused tosaccept the re-
suits embodied in the bill at the close of
the war, who are not blind to the fact
that the livery OF Democra tic tariff re-
form has been stolen and worn in the
service of Republican protection, and
who have marked places where the dead
ly blight of treason has blasted the
councils of the brave.
In their hour OF might, trusts and
ination-communism of pelf-
whose Vaccinations prevented us from
reaching the success we deserved, should
not be forgotten nor forgiven. We shall
recover from our astonishment at their
exhibition OF power, and then the Ques-
tion is forced upon us whether they shall
submit to the free legislative will of the
peoples representatives or shall dictate
laws which the people must obey. We
will accept and settle that issue as one
involving the integrity and safety of
American institution / love the princi-
pies of true Democracy, because they are
founded in patriotism, and upon justice
and fairness towards all interests. l am
proud of my party organization because
of its conservative, sturdy and persis-
tent enforcement of its principles.
Therefore, l do not despair of effort
being made by the House of Represen-
tatives to supplement- the bill already
passed by further legislation, in order