The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-20
LEVELANO' LETTER
A Trumpet Blast to the
Democracy and a Sting
ing Rebuke to Traitors.
Personal,
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. July 2, 1894.

1
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1894.
To Hon. UEittiam L. Wilson,
MY DEAR SrR:-The certainty that con-
ference will be ordered between the two
houses of Congress for the purpose of ad-
justing differences on the subject of tariff
legislation makes it also certain that you
will be again called upon to do hard service
in the cause of tariff reform My public life
has been so closely related to the subject
have SO longed for its accomplishment, and l
have so often promised its realization to my
fellow -countryinen as a res.flt of their trust
and confidence in the Democratic party that
/ hope no excuse is necessary for my earnest
appeal to you that in this crisis you strenu-
| ously insist upon party honesty and good
faith and sturdy adherence to Democratic
| principles | believe these are absolutely
necessary conditions to the continuation of
Democratic existence.
| cannot rid myself of the feeling that this
| conference will present the best, if not the
| only hope of true Democracy. Indications
| point to its action as the reliance of those
| who desire the genuine fruition of Demo
1 cratic effort, the fulflment of Democratic
| pledges and the redemption of Democratic
promises to the people. 70 reconcile diff
| ferences in the details comprised within the
| fixed and well defined lines of principle win
not be the sole task of the conference but
as it seems to me, its members viii also have
| in charge the question whether Democratic
principles themselves are to be saved or
abandoned. s4
4
| There is no excuse for mistaking or mis-
apprehending the feeling and the temper of
the rank and file of the Democracy. They
are downcast under the assertion that their
party fails in ability to manage the Govern
| ment and they are apprehensive that efforts
to bring about tariff reform may fail; but
they are much more downcast and appre-
hensive in their fear that Democratic prin-
| ciple may be surrendered. In these circum-
I stances they cannot do otherwise than to
| look with confidence to you and those who,
with you, have patriotically and sincerely
| cnampioned the cause of tariff re-
| form within Democratic lines and
guided by Democratic principles. This
confidence is vastly augmented by the action
under your leadership of the House of Repre-
l SSuBdUlfeS upon Uu6 Dlll uOW peuIiuS- EFeIy
| true democrat and every sincere tariff re-
former knows that this bill, in its present
| form and as it will be submitted to the con-
| ference, falls far short of the consummation
| for which we have long labored. for which
we have suffered defeat without discourage
ment which in It's anticipation gave us
| rallying cry in our day of triumph and
| oh ifc r,pOn1isn of aaco,up1ichmeut ic CO
| interviewer with Democratic pledges and
Democratic success that our abandonment of
the cause or the principles upon which it
rests means party perfidy and party dis
| honor.
| One topic win be submitted to the confer
ence which embodies Democratic principle
SO directly that it cannot be compromised.
| We have in our platforms and in every way
possible declared in favor of the free inn
| portation of raw materials We have again
and again promised that this should be ac-
corded to our people and our manufacturers
as soon as the Democratic party was in
| vested with the power to determine the tariff
policy of the country. The party now has
! that power. We are as certain today as we
have ever been Of the great benefit that
would accrue to the country from the in
auguration of this policy, and nothing has
occurred to release us from our obligation to
| secure this advantage to our people. 1t
must be admitted that no tariff measure can
accord with Democratic principles or bear
genuine Democratic badge that does not pro-
| vide for free raw materials
In these circumstances it may well excite
| our wonder that democrats are willing to
depart from this, the most Democratic of all
| tariff principles. and that the Inconsistent
absurdity of such 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 GRE and coal of cor
sporations and capitalists. How can we face
the people after indulging in such outrag-
eous determinations and violations of princi-
pleg 1t is quite apparent that this question
| of free raw material does not admit of ad-
justment on any middle ground, since their
subjection to any rate of tariff taxation,
great or small, is alike violative of Demo
cratic principle and Democratic good faith
| I hope that you will not consider it in
trusive if say something in relation to an
other subject which can hardly fail to be
| troublesome in the conference I refer to
/ the adjustment of tariff taxation on sugar
Under our party platform, and in accord
ance with our declared party purposes, sugar
| is a legitimate and logical article Of revenue