The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-29
The Line of Battle Arranged
by President Cleveland.
Tariff Question No More Settled Than
for Two Years Past.
Business to Suffer While Democrats
Politicians wrangIe over Duties-
The President Has Put His Party in
Deep Hole.

WAsH1xsTox Cry. Aug. es-The few
senators 81 the capital today refused TO ex-
press any opinion for publication on the
letter OF Mr. Cleveland 20 Mr.. Catchings.
The Democratic senators said they had
nothing to say. but they seemed TO feel
that IL was aimed az them. The Republic
ans said there seemed TO be no necessity
at present for them 10 get into the fighl in
the ranks Of their opponents. and they
would not be quoted regarding H. Mem
bers OF the house we're not as reticent as
the senators were. Representative Sperry.
DEM, who opposed the Wilson bil!. said:
II was in hopes the president would
spare his party the ineietion o. another
letter. The tariff bill is distinctly a party
measure, and according To the presidents
letter 10 Mr.. Wilson Is Is a measure perme-
ated with perfidy and dishonor. 1t that IS
a correct description of the bill. | do not
see on what ground the Democratic party
can ask TO be continued in power. Itseems
by the letter that the tariff fight must be
continued. Tnis position must be disquiet-
ing 10 sll the business interests OF the
whole country. The Democrats this fall
are placed on the defensive by these
two letters first in defending a
policy Of perfldy and dishonor; and. sec
ond. BY threatening all the business inter-
ests of the cou0try with further attempts
at tariff legislation. Every campaign
speaker this fall is compelled TO defend his
party against the allegations contained in
these two letters, or else 10 defend the
president against the allegations IN the
letters themselves Ny own opinion Of
this bill is that there is no periidy or dis
honor in the bill itself. nor in the motives
of the senators instrumental in Its pas
sage. IL is a more mature and equitable
al. L. a
produce revenue. which the Wilson bill
would not. professedly, and that is what
the tariff bill is for. Ii is to be hoped that
the president Will not write any more
campaign documents for the Republican
party. pending the coming election"
Representative Johnson, OF Ohio, said:
The effect of his failure to sign the bill,
and writing this leitar VIII be TO intensity
and continue the fight against protection
not protection as he puts 10, but Demo
cratic protection"
Representative Warner, Dem, says:
"The presidents letter will meet With
unqualified approval from all true friends
of revenue reform. and especially on the
party policy there outlined and the pro-
gramme of aggressive action, first against
trusts. and then in favor of free raw ma
teriais and in favor of every other Demo-
cratic principle. 10 reach the fuifllment OF
which the tariff combination must first be
broken"
Representative Mcguire. Dem, said:
Il consider the letter very valuable
contribution to the Democratic literature
of the campaign, because il will remove
from the mind OF the people generally the
impression derived from the presidents
letter to Wilson that the tariff bill as
amended by the senate was regarded by
him as vicious. and its enactment per-
fdious and dishonest. His present letter
specifically points his objection to the
measure. while fully conceding its merits
as great step in the direction OF true
tariff reform and as affording a new and
excellent point of vantage in the fight for
Democratic principles"