The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-28
Cleveland Scores Tariff Bill but
Lets 1t Become a Law.
He Writes a Long Letter to
Congressman Catchings.
QUEER POSITION.
He Tacitly Approves What He
Strongly DisapprOves.


Mississippi, who consented to its pub
LEGATION, in view of its public charac-
ter and Importance:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
''WAsHINGTON, Aug. ~, 1894 !
''Hon T. C. Catchings:
''MY DEAR SR:-Since the CONVERSE
ton had with you and Mr.. Clark Of
Alabama, a few days ago in regard to
my action upon the tariff bill now
before me, I have given the subject
full and most serious consideration.
The result is 1 am more settled than
ever in the determination to allow
the bill to become a law without my
signature
.'When the form ulation of legisla-
ton which it was hoped would en-
body Democratic ideas of tariff re-
form was lately entered upon by con-
gress, nothing was further from my
anticipation than a result which I
could not promptly and enthusiast
teal indOrse.
1T is, therefore, with a feeling Of
the utmost disappointment that 1 sub
nit TO denial Of this privilege.
Il 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, I
ought to bear, a 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 tariff legisla-
ton, which, though disappointing, is
still charged BILE to Democratic effort
But there are provisions in this
bill which are not in line
with honest tariff reform, and it con-
tains Inconsistencies and crudities
which ought not to appear in tariff
lou 1urr Of lin aC
there were, as you and 1 well know,
incidents accompanying the passage
of the bill through congress which
made every sincere reform er unhappy,
while influences surrounded it in its
later stages and interfered with its
final construction, which ought not to
be recognized or tolerated in Demo
cratic tariff reform councils.
And yet, nOtwiths landing all its
vicissitudes and all the bad treat
ment it received at the hands Of pre-
tended friends. it presents a vast inn
provement to existing conditions 1t
will certainly tighten many tariff
burdens that now rest heavily upon
the people. It is not only a barrier
against the return of mad protection,
but it furnishes a vantage ground
from which must be waged further
aggressive operations against pro-
tected monopoly and governmental
favOritism-
Il take my place with the rank and
file of the Democratic party who be-
1ieve in tariff reform and 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 Democra tic
tariff reform has been stolen and
worn in the service of Repu blicau
protection, and who have marked the
places where the deadly blight of trea-
son has blasted the councils of the
brave in their hour Of might.
THE trusts and com bin ations-the
communism of pelf-vvhO have pre-
vented US from reaching the success
we deserve, should not be forgotten
or forgiven. We shall recover from
our establishment at their exhibition
of power, and if then the question is
forced upon us whether thew shall
submit to the free legislative will of
the peoples represe tat ives or shall
dictate the laws which the people
must obey, we will accept and settle
that issue as one involving the in
tegrity and safety of American insti-
tutiOns
81 love the principles of true De-
mocracy because they are found ed in
patriotism and upon business and fair
ness toward all interests. / am proud
of nv party organization because it
IS cOnservatively sturdy and persist
eut in the enforcement of its princl-
pies. Therefore I do not despair of
the efforts made by the house of rep
resentatives to supplement the bill
already passed by further leCisla ton
and to have engrafted upon it such
notifications as will more nearly meet
democratic hopes and aspirations
i cannot be mistaken as to the ne-
cessity 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 encOur-
aging and redeeminC features: but it
is vexatiOus to recall that while free
coal and iron ore have been denied,
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
Il am sure that there is a comm on
habit Of stimating the ina
pOrtance of free raw material in tariff
legislation, and of regarding them as
only related to concessions to be
made to our manufacturers. The
truth is their influence is so far
reaching that if disregarded a COM
plete and benefcent scheme of tariff
reform cannot be successfully inaug-
urated-
when we give to our manufac-
turers free raw materials, we I'M
shaclxle American enterprise and in
genuity and these will open the
doors of foreign markets to the re-
ception Of our wares and give OPP
portunity for the continuous and re-
munerative employment of Amer
lean labor
with materials cheapened by thelx
freedom from tariff charges the cost
Of their product must be correspond