Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-07-26
cLevELANo.s LETTER.
The President Gives His Views on the Tariff
Biu-SOme Matters That VIII Not Adj

Bin-SOme Matters That VIII Not Ad-
init OF a Compromise.
WASHINGTON, July 2O.-The president
sent letter to Mr.. Wilson, of the
house, who has had the tariff bill in
charge, expressing his views on the
subject. The letter was read publicly
In the house, and is as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHINGToN, July 2,
a8e4-To Hon William L. Wilson: Ny Dear
Str-The certainty that q conference Will be
ordered between the two houses OF congress for
the purpose Of adjusting differences on the
subject of tariff legislation makes 1t also GER
Sain that You will be again called upon to do
hard service in the cause of tarin reform.
My public life has been SO closely related to
the subject, I have so long worked for its ac-
complishment, and have SO often promised
its realization to my fellow countrymen as a
result Of their trust and confidence in the dem
ocratic party, 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 adherence to democratic
principles. believe these are absolutely nee
eSSary conditions to the continuation OF demo-
cratic 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 the reliance of those who
desire the genuine fruition Of democratic
effort, the fulfllment of democratic pledges
and the redemption of democratic promises to
the people
To reconcile differences in the details COM
prised within the fixed and well defined lines
OF principles, will not be the sole task of the
conference, but, as it seems to me, its mem
bers will also have in charge the question
whether democratic principles themselves are
to be saved or abandoned.
There is no excuse for installing misap-
pretending 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 government and
they apprehenSive that efforts to bring
about tarif reform fail: but thew
much downcaSt and apprehenSive
in their fear that democratic principle
may be surrendered, In these circumstances
they cannot do otherwise than to look with
confidence to you and those who. with you have
patriotically and sincerely championed the
cause OF tariff reform within democratic lines
and guided by democratic principles. This con-
hdence is vastly augmented by the action under
your leadership of the house of representatives
upon the bill now pending. Every true demo-
Graf and every sincere democrat knows that this
bill in its present form and as it will be sub
mitted to the conference falls short of the
consummation for which we have long Ia
bored, for which we have suffered defeat with
out discouragement which in its anticipation
gave a rallying cry in our day of triumph
and which in its promise of accomplishment
is so 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 dishonor.
One topic will be submitted to the confer
ence which embodies democratic principle so
directly that 1t cannot be compromised. we
have in our platforms and in every way posi-
Bile declared in favor OF free importation of raw
materials. We have again and again promised
that this should be accorded to our people and
our manufacturers soon as the democratic
party was invested with the power to deter
mine the tariff policy of the country The
party has now that power. We are as certain
to-day as we have ever been of the great bene-
lit that would accrue 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. 1t 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 materials.
hope that you will not consider it intrusive
II say something IN relation to another sub
ject which can hardly fail to be troublesome to
the conference. I refer to the adjustment of
tariff taxation on sugar.
Under our party platform and in accordance
with our declared party purposes sugar is
legitimate and logical article of revenue taxa
ton. Unfortunately however, incidents have
accompanied certain stages OF the legislation
which will be submitted to the conference
that have aroused in connection with this
subject a natural democratic animosity to the
methods and manipulations of trusts and
combinations. confess to sharing in this
feeling; and yet it seems to me we ought, if
possible, to sufficiently free ourselves from
prejudice to enable coolly to weigh the con-
siderations, which, in formulating the tariff
legislation, ought to guide our treatment of
sugar taxable article. While tender
ness should be entertained for trusts, and
while am decidedly opposed to granting to
them, under the sguise of tariff taxation.
any opportunity to further their peculiar
methods, L suggest that ought not
to be driven away from the democratic princi-
pie and policy which lead to the taxation of
sugar, by the fear. quite likely exaggerated,
that in carrying out this principle and policy
we may directly and Unfortunately
courage q combination of sugar refining inter-
ests. know that in present conditions this is
dol IA md a
depth and strength of the feeling which its
treatment has aroused. do not believe We
should do evil that good should come, but it
seems to me that we may not forget that our
aim is the completion of the tariff and in tax
ing sugar for proper purposes and within
reasonable bounds, whatever else may be said
OF our action, we are in no danger of running
counter to democratic principle. With all
there is at stake there must be in the treat
ment of this article some ground upon which
willing to stand. where liberation
and Cancellation may be allowed to solve the
problem.
Without demanding the entire surrender of
fixed and conscientious convictions ought not
TO prolong this letter. If what have written
is unwelcome, beg you to believe in my good
intentions.
In the conclusion OF the conference touching
the numerous items which will be considered
the people are not afraid that their interests
will be neglected. They know that the general
result, so far as they are concerned, will be to
place home necessaries and comforts more
easily within their reach and TO insure better
and surer compensation to those who toll.
We all know that a tariff covering all the
varied interests and conditions of country as
vast as ours must of necessity be largely the
result of honorable adjustment and eoinpro-
mi.e. expect very few of say, when
our measure is perfected that all its features
e>s~i~-i- o. No suoS'" ~~~s-- ri .D,Ix
how much deprecated the incorporation in
the proposed bill of the income tax feature. In
matters of this kind, however, which do not
violate fixed and recognized democratic doc
trine we are willing to defer the Judgment OF
majority of our democratic brethren.
1 think that there is general agreement
that this is party duty. This is more paipa-
bly, apparent when we realize that the bus1-
ness OF our country timidly stands and watches
for the result of our efforts to perfect tar11
legislation, that quick and certain return of
prosperity waits upon wise adjustment and
that a confiding people still trust in our hands
their prosperity and well being.
The democracy OF the land pleads most ear
nestly for the speedy completion OF the tar1n
legislation. which their representatives have
undertaken; but they demand not the less ear
neStly that stress of necessity shall tempt
those they trust to the abandonment OF demo-
cratic principle. Yours very truly
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Strikers in Jail.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, July 20.-Eighty
strikers, alleged to have participated
in Mondays massacre of negro miners