The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-09-04

neither been formally approved nor
| disapproved by the Executive, but
| like any unimportant and insigniti-
| cant private measure, overlooked in
| the expiring hours Of the session, mas
| been allowed to so upon the statute
book without such approval.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.-The Pre>i-
dent today sent the following letter TO
Representative Catchlngs of MissIs-
sippi, who consented to its publication
on account of its public character and
importance:
ENECUTIvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. -, 1884,
Hon. I. c. CATCHINGs:-
DEAR SIR: Since the conversation
had with you and Mr.. Clark of Ala
bama, few days ago, in regard 10 my
action upon the tariff bill now before
me, have given the subject full and
most serious consideration. The re
suit is, am more settled than ever in
the determination to allow the bill TO
become a law without my signature.
When the formulation of the legis-
lation which it was hoped would EN-
body Democratic ideas of tariff reform
was lately entered upon by Congress,
nothing was further from my antici-
patton than result which | could not
promptly and enthusiastically lndOrse.
1t is, therefore, with feeling of the
utmost disappointment that | submit
TO denial of this privilege. do not
claim TO be better than the masses of
my party, DOR do | wish 10 avoid any
responsibility which, on account OF
the passage of this law, | ought 10
bear as a member of the Democratic
organization, neither will l permit
myself 10 be separated from my party
TO such an extent us might be implied
by my veto of tai if legislation which,
though disappointing, is It'll charge
able TO Democratic effort. But there
are provisions in this bill which are
in line with honest tariff reform, and
it contains inconsistencies and crudi-
ties which ought not To appear in
tariff laws of any kind. Besides there
are, as you and l well know, Incidents
accompanying the passage of the bill
through Congress which made every
sincere refOrmer unhappy, while in
iuences surrounded il in its later
stages and interfered with its final
construction which ought not to be
recognized or tolerated in Democratic
tariff reform councils.
And yet, Notwithstanding all its
vices, and all the bad treatment it re-
ceived at the hands OF pretended /.
friends, il presents a vast improve |
ment on existing conditions. 1t will !.
certainly Tighten many tariff burdens /
that now rest heavily upon the peO-
pie. 1t is not only barrier against |
the return of mad protection, but it /
t. -,
which must be waged further aggres /.
sive operations against protected mo-
nOpOly and Governmental favoritism. 1
| take my place with the rank and /
file of the Democratic party who be I
lieve in tariff reform and who know 4
what it is, who refuse to accept the re- /
suits embodied in this bill a. the close /
of the war, who are not blinded to the |
fact that the livery Of the Democratic f.
tariff reform has been stolen aud worn .
in the service of Republican protec-
ton anu who have marked the places I
where the deadly blight of treason has
blasted the councils OF the brave in .
their hour of might.
The trusts and combinatiOns-the
communism of pelf-whose machina-
tons have prevented US from reach
be forgotten or forgiven. We shall
recover from our astOuishment at
their exhibition o. power, aud il then
the question is forced upon US whether
they shall submit to the free legisla-
tive will Of the peoples representa-
tives or shall dictate the laws which
the people must obey We will accept
and settle that issue as one involving
81 ~ A ]
institutions
love the principles OF true Dem
ocracy because they are founded on
patriotism aud upon justice and fair
ness toward all interests. | am proud
of my party organization because it is
sturdy aud persistent
IN the enforcement Of its principles.
Therefore, | do not despair of the
efforts made by the House OF Repre-
to supplement the bill al
ready passed by further legislation,
and to have eDgraft-d upon it such
notifications as will more nearly
meet Democratic hopes and inspira-
lions.
l cannot be mistaken as to the ne
cessity OF free raw materials as the
of logical and sensible
I
this is recognized in the legislation
secured is one of its encour-
aging and redseming features; but it
Is vexatious to recall that while free
coal and iron ore have been denied,
letter of the Secretary of the Treasury
the fact that both might
have been made free by the annual
surrender of only about 100000 of
revenue. l am sure there
is a common habit of Understanding
the importance of free raw materials
in tariff legislation, and of regarding
them as only related TO concessions to
be made to our manufacturers. The
truth is that their influence is so far
that, il disregarded, a COM
pIete and beneficent scheme of tariff
reform cannot be successfully inaugu-
rated.
When we give to our manufacturers
free raw materials We unshackle Am