The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-21


have so often promised its realization TO my
feilow-countrymen as result Of their trust
aud confidence In the Democratic party, that
Ihope no excuse 10 necessary for my earnest
appeal to you that In this crisis you do your
plain duty, as required by every principle Of
party honesty and good faith, and Q sturdy
adherence 10 Democratic pledges.
IL believe that veto Of the bill is an Abso-
lutely necessary condition TO the continuation
of Democratic existence.
II cannot rid myself of the feeli ng that
such action on your part will present the best,
II not the only hope OF true Democracy.
Those who desire the genuine fruition of
Democratic effort the fulilment of Demo-
cratic pledges, and the redemption Of Demo-
cratic promises to the people, perceive that
the question now before you involves the
question whether Democratic principles are
TO be saved or abandoned.
There is no excuse for mistaking or mis-
apprehending the feeling and the temper of
the rank and file of the Democracy. They
are downcast and appre hensive in their fear
That by the enactment of this bill Democratic
principle may be surrendered. In these cir
cumstances they cannot do otherwise than TO
look with confidence TO you. who have patri-
~''N@NS 500 'shtthciy tllaulpiohcu tDc cause
OF tariff reform within Democratic lines and
guided by Democratic principles. Their con-
fidence is vastly augm ented by the recollec-
tion that you so recently denounced the bill
now in your hands. and urged
us in the House 20 resist TO the last
the attempt To force ii upon u.s. Every
true Democrat and every sincere tariff re-
former knows that this bill falls far short OF
4 a nnn ff.t,, ffs,.. g.. 40 g.L
labored, or which we have suffered defeat
without discouragement which In its antici-
patton gave US a rallying cry in our day of
triumph, and which In its promise of accom-
plishment is so intcrwoven with Democratic
pledges and Democratic success that our
abandonment of the cause or the principles on |
which 1t rests means party perfidy and party
you may remember that we have in our |
platform and In every other way declared in |
favor OF the free importation OF raw materi- |
ans. we have again and again promised that |
this should be accorded to our people and our
manufacturers as soon as the Democratic
party was invested with the power to deter
mine the tariff policy of this country. The |
party now has that power. The bill before
iou Tor signature does not redeem that
promise. The enactment of that bill is cer-
ain to postpone indefinitely, probably for
'ver. the redemption of those promises. II
must be admitted that no tariff measure can
'ccord with Democratic principles and
Promises or bear genuine Democratic badge
does not provide for raw materials.
In these circumstances il may well excite
ur wonder that any Democrat can expect
ou to approve, or passively to permit the
nactment OF a measure which puts wool of
he farmer on the free list and places the pro-
ection OF tariff taxation around the iron ore
nd coal of corporations and capitalists.
low can we face the people after indulging
such outrageous determinations and viola
ions OF principle? IL is quite apparent that
his question of free raw material does not
dmit or adJusrfneHr on any middle ground
nee the subsection to any rate of taxation'
reat or small, is alike vioiative of Demo
ratio principle and Democratic good faith.
ought not to prolong this letter. IL what
have'written is unwelcome. beg you TO be-
eve In my good intentions. The Democracy
the land plead most earnestly for the |
'eedy completion of a tariff according 10
emocrauc professions; but they demand not
ss earnestly that no stress of necessity shall
'mpt those they trust to the abandonment of
emocratic principles. Yours very truly.
WILLIAM l.. WILSON"
Coming from such a source, such letter
,uld not fail to carry to Mr.. Cleveland
1couragement in any purpose that he
ay entertain to stamp out Of life the
ybrid OF Populism and Protection which
now in his keeping, in order to make
ay FOR honest tariff reform hereafter.
n. Wilson can do much il he chooaas 20 |
rengthen Mr.. Cleyeland's hands at tbi.
isis in the Presidents own career, and
lis crisis in the Democracy's fortunes.
What the President should Do,