The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-08-31
CLEVELAND DISAPPOINTED.
THE TARIFF BILL A LAW WITH
OUT HIS SIGNATURE.
HE WRITES ANOTHER LETTER.
Tho Bill Was Not What He Wanted, but
Rather Than Have All Tariff Legis-
latIOn Fail He Consents to Let It
Become a Law-Wants Tariff
Citation Continued by
the Next Congress.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-The presi-
dent yesterday sent the following
letter to Representative Catchings OF
Mississippi, who consented to its pub
LEGATION, in view of its public charac-
ter and Importance:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
''WAsHINGToN, Aug. 27. 1894. {
''Hon T. C. Catchings:
my DEAR SIR:-Since the conversa-
ton had with you and Mr. Clark of
Alabama, few days ago in regard to
my action upon the tariff bill now
before me, 1 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 law without my
signature.
''When the formulation of legisla-
tion 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 result which
could not promptly and enthusiast
teal indorse.
the utmost disappointment that sub
NIT to denial of this privilege.
Il do not claim to be better than
the masses of my party, nor do wish
to avoid any responsibility which, on
account of the passage of this law, 1
ought to bear, as member 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 chargeable 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
laws or laws of any kind. Besides,
there were, as you and I well know,
incidents accompanying the passage
of the bill through congress which
made every sincere refOrmer unhappy,
while influences surrounded 1T in it's
later stages and interfered with its
final construction, which ought not to
be recognized or tolerated in Demo
cratic tariff reform councils.
'And yet, Notwithstanding all its
vicissitudes and all the bad treat
ment it received at the hands of pre-
tended friends, it presents a vast i'm
provement to existing conditions. 1t
will certainly tighten many tariff
burdens that now rest heavily upon
the people. 1t is not only 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.
81 take my place with the rank and
file of the Democratic party who be-
lieve 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 Democratic
tariff reform has been stolen and
worn in the service of Republican
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.
81 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 redeeming 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.
81 am sure that there is common
habit of Understanding the inn
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 beneficent scheme of tariff
reform cannot be successfully inaug
urated.
1.-The trusts and combinations-the
communism of pelf-who 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 they shall
submit to the free legislative will of
the peoples representatives 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.
Inc uliliOHS OL our
who have fought braSely and we'll
for tariff reform should be exhorted
to continue the struggle, boldly chal-
longing to open warfare and con-
stantly guarding against treachery
and half heartedness in their camp
when we give to our manufac-
turers free raw materials, we un-
shaelzle 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.
Tariff reform viii not be settled
until it is honestly and fairly settled
in the interest and to the benefit of a
patient and long suffering people.
Yours very truly,
sGRovER CLEvEI.AND."