Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-20
CLEYELAND'S LETTER To Chairman Wilson on the Tariff
 Bill,
WHICH IS NOW BLOCKED,
Both in the House and Senate. His Openly Expressed
 Views.

WASHINGTON, July 19.-The following is President Clcveland's letter to Represen- tative Wilson on the tariff situation, which MT. Wilson read as part of his remarks in the house this afternoons:
 i EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHINGToN, July 19, 1894. Pers onal-Hon. Wm. L. Wilson,
 DEAR SIR: The certainty that confer ence will be ordered between the two houses of congress, for the purpose of adjusting 2 the difference on the subject of tariff legis- lation, makes it also certain that you will be again called on to do hard service in the cause of tariff reform. My public life has been so closely related to the subject, I have so longed for it's accomplishment, and have so often promised its realization 10 my fellow -countrymen as a result of their trust and confidence in the democratic party, that 1 hope no excuse is necessary for my earnest appeal to you that in this crisis you strenuously insist upon party honesty and good faith, and sturdy ad- herence to democratic principles. l be- lieve these are absolutely necessary condi- tions to the continuation Of democratic ex- istence.
 cannot rid myself of the feeling that this conference will present the best if not the only hope of true democracy. Indica- tions point to it's action as the reliance of those who desire the genuine fruition of democratic effort, the fulhllment of demo- cratic pledges and the
 REDEMPTION OF DEMOCRATIC PROMISES to the people. To reconcile differences in the details comprised within the fixed and well-defined lines of principle will not be the sole task of the conference, but, as it seems to be, it's members will also have in charge the question whether democratic 1lri n aln that1lGnluaa a Fn n 10 IT abandoned.
 There is no excuse for mistaking or mis- experimenting the feeling and the temper of the rank and file of the democracy. They are downcast under the assertion that their party fails in their ability to manage the government, and they are apprehen- sive the efforts to bring about tariff re- form may fail, but they are much more downcast and apprehensive in their fear that democratic principle may be surren dered. In these circumstances they can rot do otherwise than to look with conti- dence to you and those who with you have periodically and sincerely championed tEe cause of tariff reform within democratic lines and guided by democratic principles.
 This confidence is vastly suggested by the action under your leadership of the house of representatives upon the bill now pending. Every true democrat bill in it's present form, and as it will be submitted to the conference, falls far short of the consummalion for which we have long labored, for which we have suffered defeat without Encouragement, which in it's anticipation gave us a rallying cry in our day Of triumph, and which in it's prom. ised accomplishment isso interwoven with democratic pledges and democratic success that our abandonment of the cause or the principles upon which it rests means
 PARTY PERFIDY AND PARTY DIsHoNOR.
 One topic will be submitted to the con- F...r. .x cipe so directly that it cannot be compro- missed. We have in our platforms and in every way possible declared in favor Of the free importation of raw ma terials. We have again and again promised that this should be accorded to our people and our manufacturers as soon as the democratic party was invested with the power to determine the tariff policy of the country. The party now has the power. We are as certain today as we have ever to the country from the inauguration of this policy, and nothing has occurred to release us from our obligation to secure this advantage to our people. It must be admitted that no tariff measure can accord with democratic principles and promises or bear genuine democratic badge that does not provide for free raw material.
 h these circumstances it may we'll ex- cite our wonder that democrats are to de- part from this the most essential
 
 that the inconsistent absnrdity of such a proposed departure should be emphasized by the suggestion that the wool of the farmer be put on the free list and the protection of tariff taxation be placed around the iron ore aud coal of cor lorGtions and ca pitalists.
 How can we face the people after indulg- ing iu such outrageous discrminations and violations of prinoiplea It is quite appar- ent that this question of free raw material does not admit of adjustment on any mid de ground, since their subjection to any rate of tariff taxation, great or small, IS alike violative of democratic principle and democratic good faith.
 hope that you will not consider it in- trusive if I say something in relation to another subject, which can hardly fail to be troublesome to the conference. 1 refer to the adjustment of
 TARIFF TAXATION OF SUGAR.
 Under our pariy platform and in accord ance with our declared party purposes, sugar is a legitimate and logical article of revenue taxetion. Unfortunately, however, incidents have accompanied certain stages of the legislation which will be submitted to the conference that have aroused in con. necton with this subject natural demo- cratic animosity to the methods and ma. nilulations of trusts and combinations. confess to sharing in this feeling, and yet