The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-07-27
FIRM AS A ROCK.
President Cleveland Writes a Ringing
Letter to Congressman Wilson on
the Pending Tariff Bill.
DEMOCRATIC GOOD FAITH.
The Pledges Made 10 the PcOple
Should BE Carried Ont In
Good Faith.

WASHINGTON, July 2O.-In a letter to
Wilson Cleveland says he cannot avoid
the feeling that the tariff conference will
present the best il not the only hope Of
the democracy. The present bill he de-
clares falls far short OF what the party
desires, and ''our abandonment Of the
cause or principles upon which it rests
means party peridy or party dishonor.
ut must be admitted no tariff meae-
ure can accord with democratic princi.
pies and promises that does not provide
for genuine raw material. Hence it ma
excite our wonder that democrats are
willing to depart from this most demo-
cratic Of all tariff principles, and that an
inconsistent absurdity such as the pro-
posed 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 Of coal Of corporations
and capitalists.
"How can we face the people after in
dulRing in such outrageous discrimina.
tons and violations of principle?
ut is quite apparent that this ques-
ton Of free raw material does not admit
Of adjustment on any middle grounds,
since their subsection to any rate OF tariff
taxation ia alike violatlve of democratic
principal and good faith.
II hope you will not consider il intru-
sive il ] say something relative to an
other subject that can hardly fail to be
troublesome to the conference. refer
to the adjustment Of tariff taxation on
sugar. Under our party platform and in
accordance with u declared purposes
sugar is a legitimate and logical article
Of taxation. Unfortunately incidents
havs accompanied certain stages Of leg
islation which would be submitted to
the conference that have aroused in con-
nection with this subject national demo.
cratic animoeity to the methods and ma.
nipulation Of trusts and combines.
II confess to sharing in this feeling,
and yet 1t seems to me we ought, il pos
sible, to 80 free ourselves from prejudice
as to enable us to coolly weigh the con-
slderations which, in forming tariff leg
islation, ought to guide our treatment OF
sugar as a taxable article. While no ten
derness should be showed to trusts, and
while | am decidedly opposed to grant
ing them, under the guise OF tariff taxa
ton, any opportunity to further their
particular methods. I suggest we ought
not to be driven away from democratic
principle and policy, which lead to the
taxation Of sugar, by the fear, quite
likely exaggerated, that in carrying out
this principle and policy we may indi.
rectly and inordinately encourage COM
bination Of the sugar refinery interests.
81 know that in the present conditions
this is a delicate subject, and l appre-
ciate the depth and strength Of feeling
which it's treatment has aroused. | do
not believe that we should do evil that
good may come; but il seems to me that
we should not forget that our aim ia the
completion of the tariff and 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 principles.
With all there is at stake there must be
in the treatment Of this article some
ground upon which we all feel willing to
stand. Where federation and concilia-
ton may be allowed to solve the prob.
lem without demanding the entire sur
render OF fixed conscientious convic-
TONS"