Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-28

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.--President Cleveland has written the following letter to Representative Catchings of Mississippi, in which he sets forth his views of the new tariff law, and gives his reasons for not ap- proving the bill:
 s'ExEcUTIvE MANSION, l
 "WAsHINGToE, Aug. P, 1894. ] "Hon. T. c. Catchings-
 "MY DEAR SIR: Since the conversation had with you and MT. Clarke of Alabama few day ago in regard to my action on the tariff bill now before me, l have given the subject further and most serious considera- tion. The result is, am more settled than ever in the determination to allow the bill to become law without my signature.
 "When the formatien of the legislation which it was hoped would embody dem- ocratic ideas of tariff reform was lately en- tered upon by the congress, nothing was further from my anticipation than result which I could not promptly and enthusias- tically indorse.
 ''It is therefore with a feeling of utmost disappointment that l submit to denial of this privilege.
 "I don't 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, ought to bear as a member of the democratic organization. Neither will permit myself to be sepa- rated from my party to such an extent as might be implieds by my veto of the tariff legislation, whie', though disappointing, is still chargeable to democratic effort. But there are passages in this bill which are not in the direct line of honest tariff reform, and it. contains inconsistencies and crudites which ought not to appear in tariff laws or laws of any kind. Besides there were, as you and l well know, incl dents accompanying the passage of the bill through the congress which made every sincere tariff reformer unhappy. while in- fuences surrounded it in it's latter stages and interfered with it's final construction which ought not to be recognized or toler- eted in democratic tariff reform councils.
 "And yet, notwithstanding all it's vicis- situdes and all the bad treatment it received at the hands of pretended friends, it pre- sents a vast improvement to existing condi tions. It will certainly tighten many a tariff burden that now rests heavily upon the people. It Is not only barrier against tue Ol iudu pIoLcotioh3 bup ib iui . nishes vantage ground from which must be waged further aggressive operations against protected monopoly and govern mental favoritism.
 'sI take my place with the rank and file ofthe democratic party, who believe, in tar if reform and who know who it is who refuse to accept the result embodied in this bill at the close of the war, who are not blinded to the fact that the livery of de- mocracy has been stolen and worn in the service of republican protection, and who have marked the deadly light of treason that has blasted the councils of the brave in their hour of might.
 'sTrusts and combinations-the com munion of pelf-whose machinations have prevented us from reaching the success we deserved, should not be forgotten or for given. We shall recover from our aston ishment at their exhibition of power, and if then the question is forced upon us, whether they shall submit to the free leg islative will of the party's representatives or shall dictate the laws which the people must obey, we will accept and settle that issue as one involving the integrity and safety of American institutions.
 ''I1ove the principles ot true democracy because they are founded in patriotism, and upon justice and fairness towards all interests.
 "I am proud of my party organization, because it is conservatively sturdy and per sistent in the enforcement of prime iples. Therefore l do not despair of the efforts made by the house of representatives to supplement the bill already passed by further legislation, and to have engrafted upon it such notifications as will more nearly meet democratic hopes and aspira- tions.
 ssI cannot be mistaken as to the neces- sity of free raw materials as the foundation of logical and sensible tariff reform. The extent 10 which is recognized in the legis-