The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-12
ExEcUTIvE MANSION,

and Mr.. Clark, OF ALABAMA, q ~" udys
ago in regard to my action on the
tariff bill now before me / have given
the subject further and most serious
consideration. The result is | am
more settled than ever on the deter
minas.on to allow the bill to become a
law without my signature.
When the formation OF Legislation
which it was hoped would embody
Democratic ideas of tariff reform was
lateIy entered upon by the Congress
nothing was further from my anticl-
nations than result which | could
not promptly and enthusiastically
endorse. It is therefore with feel
ing of utmost disappointment that l
snbmit 10 denial Of this privilege.
/ 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.
ought TO bear as a member OF tue
Democratic organization. Neither
will / permit myself to be separated
from my party to such an extent as s
might be implied by my veto of tariff
legislation, which, though disappoint-
ing is still chargeable to Democratic
effort. But there are provisions IN
this bill which are not in line with
honest tariff reform and it contains
Inconsistencies and crudities which
ought not to appear in tariff laws or
laws Of any kind. Besides there
were, as You and l we'll know, Incl.
dents accompanying the passage OF
the bill through the Congress. which
made every sincere tariff retormer
unhappy, while influences surrounded
it in its latter stages and intertered
with it's final construction which
ought not to be recognized or tole-
rated in Democratic tariff reform
councils.
And vet, Notwithstanding all its
vicissitudes and all the bad Treatments
it received at the hands of pretended
friends, it presents vast improve
ment to existing conditions. 1t will
certainly tighten many tariff burdens
that now rest heavily upon the peo-
ple. It is not only barrier against
the return of mad protection, but it
furnishes vantage ground from which
mus, be .waged further aggressive
operations against protected mono
poly and governmental favoritism
take my place with the rank and
file of the Democratic party who
believe in tariff reform and who know
what it is to 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 Demo
cratic tariff reform has been stolen
and worn in the service of Repub-
lican protection, and who have
marked the places where the deadly
ligh. of treason has blasted the coun-
sells of the brave in their hour OF
might
The trusts and combinations, the
communion of pelf, whose machina-
tions have prevented US from reach
ing the success we deserved, should
not be forgotten or forgiven. We
shall recover from Que astonishment
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 repre-
sentatives. 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.
love the principles Of true Demo
cracy, because they are founded in
patriotism, and apon justice and fair
ness toward al: interests. am
proud of my party organization,
because it is conservatively sturdy
and persistent in the enforcement Of
it's principles. Therefore do not
despair Of the efforts made by the
House of Representative to supple.
ment the bill already passed by
further legislation. and to have
engrafted upon it such notifications
as will more nearly meet Democratic
hopes and aspirations.
I cannot 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 it's encourag-
ing and redeeaing features, but 1t
is vexatious to recall that free coal
and iron ore have been denied US.
A recent letter of the Secretary of the
Treasury discloses the fact that both
might have been made free by the
annual surrender Of only about $780,.
600 of unnecessary revenue.
] am sure that there is a common