Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-07-28
IALN Nv y uI-tNoIONs
WASHINGTON. D. C., July .. 1894.

w hASHlNCIION. u 7 ulS - lS5ts
To Hon. W. L. Wilson:
My DEAR SIR The certainty that confer
ence will be ordered between the two houses
of congress for the purpose of adjusting diff
ferences 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 ac-
compllshment. and l have SO often promised
Its realization to my fellow countrymen as
a result of their trust and confidence in the
democrrtic party, | hope no excuse is neces-
sary for my earnest appeal to you that in
this crisis you strenuously insist upon party
honesty and good faith and a sturdy adher-
ence to democratic principles. | believe
these are absolutely necessary conditions to
the continuance of democratic existence.
l cannot rid myself of the feeling that this
conference will present the best. if not the
only true hope of democracy. Indications
point to its action as the reliance of those
who desire the genuine fruition of demo
cratic effort. the fulfillment of democratic
pledges and the redemption of democratic
promises to the people.
To reconcile differences in the details CON-
prised within the fixed and we'll defined lines
of principle. will not be the sole task of the
conference. but. as it seems to me, its men,
bers will also have in charge the question
whether democratic principles themselves
are to be saved or abandoned.
1nST6 WAS no EXCUSE lOE IIlsld hlu2 OF HIS
apprehending the feeling and temper of the
rank and file of the democracy. They are
downcast under the feeling that their party
fails in ability to manage the government
and that they are apprenensive that efforts
to bring about tariff reform may fail; but
they are much more downcast and appre-
hensive in their fear that democratic princi.
pies may be surrendered.
Every true democrat and every sincere
tariff reformer knows that this bill is its
Mo Io fa1 70 fhn
conference falls far short of the consumma-
ton for which we have long labored. for
which we have suffered defeat without dis
couragement; which in its anticipation gave
US rallying cry in our day of triumph and
which in its promise of accomplishments is
so interviewer with democratic pledges and
democratic successes that our abandonment
of the cause OF the principles upon which it
rests means party perhdy and party dis
| honor.
We have in our platforms and in every
way possible declared In favor of the free
importation of raw materials. We have
again and again promised that this should
be accorded to our people and our manufac-
turers as soon as the democratic party was
invested with the power to determine the
tariff policy of the country. The party has
now that power.
In these circumstances it may we'll 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 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 the tariff taxation
be placed around the iron ore and corpora
tions and capitalists. How can We face the
people after indulging in such outrageous
Determinations and violations of principle
While no tenderness should be entertained
for trusts and while l am decidedly opposed
to granting them, under the guise of tariff
taxation, or any opportunity to further their
particular methods, suggest that we ought
not to be driven away from the democratic
principle and policy which led to the taxa
tion of sugar, by the fear, quite likely eXag-
gerated, that in carrying out the principle
and policy we may indirectly and inordi-
nately encourage a combination of sugar re-
fining interests.
expect very few of US can say, when our
measure is perfected, that all its features are
entirely as we would prefer. As you know,
| deprecated the incorporation in the pro-
posed bill of the income tax feature. In
matters of this kind, however. which do not
violate a fixed and recognized democratic
doctrine. we are willing to defer to the
Judgment of majority of our democratic
brethren. | think that an agreement is a
party duty.
This is more palpably apparent when we
realize that the business of our country
timidly stands and watches for the result of
our efforts to perfect tariff legislation, that
a quick and certain return of prosperity
waits upon a wise adjustment, and that a
confding people will trust in our hands
their prosperity and well being. The democ-
racy of the land plead most earnestly for
the speedy completion of the tariff legisla-
tion which their representatives have under
taken; but they demand not less earnestly
that no stress of necessity should tempt
those they trust to the abandonment of dem
ocratic principle. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.