The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1894-09-06
GROVER WRITES TO cArcAlNes
And Tells why He Did Not Sign the Dill.
Executiye Mansion
WAsHINGToN, Aug. 81, 1894. !


Ny Dear Sir-Since the conversation
i had with you and Mr.. Clark, of Ala.
bama, few days ago in regard to my
action upon the tariff bill now before
Ine, have given the subject further and
Jmost serious consideration. The result
is, | am more safe than ever in my de-
termination to let the bill become law
without my signature. When the for
mutation of legislation which it was
hoped would embody Democratic ideas
of tariff reform was lately entered upon
by Congress, nothing was further from my
anticipation than result which | could
not promptly and enthusiastically in.
dorse.
1t is, therefore, with feeling of the
utmost disappointment that submit to
a denial of this privilege.
i do not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do | wish to
avoid any responsibility which, on &C.
count of the passage of this law, | ought
TO bear as member of the Democratic or.
ganization. neither Will permit myself
TO be separated from my party 70 such an
of tariff legislation, which, though, dis.
appointing, is still chargeable to Demo
cratic effort. But there are provisions in
this bill which are not in line with hon
est tariff reform, and it contains inconsist
encies aud crudities which ought not to
appear in tariff laws of any kind. BE.
side there were, as you and know, Incl.
dents accompanying the passage OF the
bill through Congress which made every
sincere refOrmer unhappy, while in
ffuences surrounded it in the latter stages,
and interfered with its final construc.
ton, which ought not to be recognized
or tolerated in Democratic tarih'reform
councils.
And yet, Notwithstanding all its vicis.
STUDIES and the bad treatment il received
at the hands of pretended friends, it
presents vast improvement to existing
conditions. 1t will certainly tighten
many tariff burdens that now rest heav-
lily upon the people 1t is not only a
barrier against the return OF mad protec
ton, but it furnishes a vantage ground
from which must be waged further aggres
sive operations against protected mo-
nOpoly and governmental favoritism.
| take my place with the rank and file
of the Democratic party who believe in
tariff reform and who know what il is,
who refuse to accept the results embodied
in this bill at 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 treason has blastedthe cOunsels
of the brave in their hour Of might. :
The trusts and com biItations-t com
munsm of pelf-whose Vaccinations
have prevented us from reaching the
success we deserve, should not be forgot.
ten or forgiven. We shall recoyer from
our astonishment at their exhibition of
power, and if then the question is forced
upon us whether they shall submit 10
the free legislative will of the peoples
representatives, or shall dictate the laws
which the people must obey, we will &C.
cept and settle that issue as one involving
the integrity and safety of American in.
sttutions. love the principles of true
Democracy because they are founded in
patriotism and upon justice and fairness
towards all interests. | am proud of my
party organization because it is conscr
vatively sturdy and persistent in the en-
forcement of those principles. There
fore do not despair of the efforts made
by the House of Representatives to sup
plement the bill already passed by furth-
er legislation and to have engrafted upon
it such modifcatiNs as will more nearly
meet Democratic hope and aspirations,
| can't be mistaken as to the necessity |
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
and redeeming features bur |
it is vexatious to recall that while
free coal and iron ore have been de |
MED, a letter Of the Secretary Of the |
Treasury discloses the fact that both |
might have been free by the annual sur
render of only about 500, 900 of unneceS-
sary revenue.
| am sure that there is a common
habit of Understanding the importance
of free raw materials in tariff legislation,
and of regarding them as only related to
to be made To our manufac-
turers. The truth is, their influence is
so far-reaching that if disregarded II COM
plete and beneficent scheme of tariff re-
form cannot be successfully inaugu.
rated.
When we give to our manufactures
free raw materials, we unshackle Ameri'
can enterprise and industry, and these
will open the doors Of foreign markets to
the reception of our wares and give OPP
for the continuous and remun-
erative employment of American labor.
With materials cheapened by their
freedom from tariff charges the cost of
their product must be correspondingly