Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-09-01
PRESIDENT AND TARIFF.
He Is Disappointed, But Not Dis
cOurageds

He Is Disappointed, But Not Dis
Outraged.
WASHINGTON, August 27.-Presi-
dent Cleveland has written the FOL
lowing letter to Representative
Gatherings, of Mississippi, in which
he sets forth his views of the new
tariff law, and gives his reason ior
not approving the bill:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, August27, 1874.
Hon. T. G. Catchings:
MY DEAR SIR-Since the CONVEX
sation had with you and Mr.. Clark,
of Alabama, few days ago, in re,
gard to my action on the Tariff bili
now before me, ] have given the
subject further and most serious
consideration. The result is / am
more settled than ever in the deter
mination 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 lately entered upon by the Con-
gress, nothing was further from my
anticipation than a result which l
could not promptly and enthusiastic
cally endorse. =.
1t is. therefore, with feeling OF
the utmost disappointment that l
submit to denial of this privilege
do not claim to be better than
the masses of my party, nor 90
wish to avoid any responsibility,
which, on account of the passage OF
this law, ought to bear us a mem
Der of the Democratic organization
Neither will permit myself TO be
separated from my party to such an
eytent ms might be implied by veto
If tariiT legislation. which, though
disappointing, 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 ana
we'll know, incidents accompanying
the passage of the bill through the
Congress which made every sincere
tariff reformer unhappy, while III
0uences surrounded it in It's latter
stages and interfered with its tina
construction, which ought not to be
recognized or tolerated in Demo
cratic tariff reform counsels. And
vet notwithstanding all its viciSSl.
fudes and all the hard treatment II
received at the hands OF pretended
friends it present, vast improve
ment to existing conditions. 1t VII
certainly tighten many tariff bur
dens that now rest heavily upon the
Deople. 1t is not only Il barrier
against the return to mad protection
but it furnishes vantage gro9hl
from which must be waged further
aggressive operations against pro
tected monopoly and governmental
favoritism.
| take my place with the rank anC
file of the Democratic party who be
. lieve in tariff reform and who know
what it is, who refuse to accept tn
results embodied i'll this bill us tn
close of the war, who are not blinded
to the fact that the livery OF Demo
cratic tariff reform has been stolel
, and worn in the service of Republl
can protection. and who hay
marked the places where the deadl,
light of treason has blasted the coun
sells of the brave in their hour o
/ might.
The trusts and combinations-th
communion of pelf-whose mach
nations have prevented US frol
reaching the success we deserve
, should not be forgotten or forgiven
!, We shall recover from our astonlsG
ment at their exhibition of power
and if then the question is forced VI
: on us, whether they shall submit t
the free legislative will of the pee
pies representatives, or shall dictat
the laws which the people must obey
we will ACCEPT and ssst Gs thai g H lSsHl
ocracy because they are founded i
3 patriotism and upon justice and fail
ness toward all interests. am prou
of my party organization because
is conservatively sturdy and persi:
, tent in the enforcement of its prime
3 pies. Therefore, | do not despair G
t the efforts made by the House c
Representative to supplement tn
bill already passed by further legis
lation, and TO have engrafted upol
l it such notifications as will NOR
; nearly meet Democratic hopes an,
aspirations.
| cannot be mistaken as to the ne
cessity of free raw materials as tn
foundation of logical and sensihl
tariff reform. The extent to which
this is recognized in the Legislation
already secured is one of its encour
aging and redeeming features, but i
is veXatious to recall that while frt,
coal and iron ore have been denie(
us, recent letter of the Secretary 0
the Treasury discloses the fact tina
both might have been made free b,
the annual surrender of only abou
100000 Of unnecessary revenue.
am sure that there is common
habit of Understanding the impor
lance of free raw materials in tarif
Legislation and of regarding them a.
only related to concessions to b,
made to our manufacturers. The
truth is, their influence is so fa1
reaching that if disregarded com
plete and beniticent scheme of tariff
reform cannot be successfully inau
gurated.
When we give to our manufactur
ers free raw materials we unshackle
American enterprises and ingeuity
and these will open the donrs of for
eign markets to the reception of oul
wares and give opportunity fol
the continuous and remuneratiye
employment of American labor.
With materials cheapened by theil
freedom from tariff charges the cost
of their product must be correspond.
ingly cheapened. Thereupon justice
and fairness to the consumer would
demand that the manufacturers be
obliged to submit to such a readiust
ment and modification of the tariff
upon their finished goods as would
secure to the people the benefit of
the reduced cost of their manufac
ture, and shield the consumer against
the exaction of inordinate profits.
1t will thus be seen that free raw
materials and just and fearless reg