The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-07-27
WRITES OF THE TARIFF.
Full Text OF President Cleveiand's Letter
TO Chairman Wilson.

July 2, and was private communities
tion, to the publication of which the
President only gave his consent g.
Gently:
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON. July q
To the Hon. William l.. Wilson:
MY DEAR SIR - The certainty that .
conference will be ordered betv IN tho
two houses of Congress for the pur-
pose OF adjusting diff, r,nces on the sub
ject of tarir legislation makes 1t also GER
tain that you will be again called upon to do
hard service In the cause of tariff reform. My
public life has been 30 closely related to the
subject. have 30 longed for its accomplish
ment and have 30 often Ir ,mised It's realiza-
tion to my fellow couptrymen as q result Of
their trust and confidence In the Democrat
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 Demo-
cratic principles. / believe these are abso-
lutey necessary conditions to the continuation
Of Democratic existence.
cannot rid myself Of the feeling that this
conference will present the best II not the
only hope OF true Democracy. Indications
point to its action as the reliance of those who
desire the genuine fruition OF Democratic eff
fort, the fulfllment of Democratic pledges
and the redemption of Democratic promises
to the people. To reconcile differences in the
details comprised In the fixed and well-defned
lines of principle will not be the sole task of
the conference, but as 1t seems to me it's men,
bers will also have In charge the question
whether Democratic principles themselves
are to be saved or abandoned
There is no excuse for mistaking or mfsap-
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 are apprehensive that their efforts to
bring about tariff reform may fail. but they
aaf han afxyaf
their fear that Democratic principles may be
surrendered. In these circumstances they
cannot do otherwise than to look with conf
dence to you and those who with you have
periodically and sincerely championed the
cause of tariff reform within Democratic lines
and guided by Democratic principles. This
confidence is vastly augmented by the action
under your leadership, of the House Of Repre-
sentatives upon the bill now pending
Every true Democrat and every sincere tar
If reformer knows that this bill. I'm It's pres
ent form and as II will be submitted to the
conference. falls far short OF the consumma-
tion for which we have long labored, for which
we have suffer- defeat without discourage
ment, which in ITS anticipation gave US u rally
n our day OF and %h 0ae4 In
woven with Democratic pledges and Demo-
cratic success that our abandonment Of the
cause or the principles upon Which 1t rests
One topic will be submit ted to the confer
ence which embodies Democratic principle so
directly that 1t cannot be a compromise. We
have In our platforms and in every way possible
declared in favor OF til. free importation of raw
materials. We have again and again promised
that this should be accorded to our people and
our manufacturers as soon as he 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-
fit that " ould 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 mea ure
can accord with Democratic principles
and promises To bear a genuine Democratic
badge that does not provide for free raw ma
terials 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 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 ore and coal OF corporations and capit-
alists. How can we face the people after in
| dulging in such outrageous determinations
/ and violations of prime D e? 1t IL quite appar-
ent that this question VI free raw materials
F, does not admit OF adjustment on any middle
ground since their subsection to any rate of
tariff taxation, great or small. Is alike vtolative
of Democratic principle and Democratic good
faith
hope that you will not consider it intru-
! sive If say something in relation TO another
| subject which can hardly fail to be trouble
| some to the conference. refer to the adjust
| ment of tariff taxation on sugar Under our
| party platform and In accordance with our
and logical article of revenue taxation. I'M
| fortunately, however, Incidents have
companied certain stages or the Legislation
| which will be submitted to the conference
that have aroused In connection with this
| subject natural Democratic animosity
to the methods and manipulations of
| sharing in this feeling; and yet it seems TO
| me we ought, If possible to sufficiently free
| ourselves from prejudice to enable us coolly TO
| weigh the considerations which in formulat-
| ing tariff legislation ought TO guide our treat
ment of sugar as taxable article While no
! tenderness should be entertained for trusts,
| and while / am decidedly opposed to granting
| them, under the Ruise of tariff taxation, any
| opportunity to further their peculiar meth
| DDS / suggest that we ought not co be driven
away from the Democratic principle and poll
| cy which led TO the taxation OF sugar by the
| ing out this principle and policy we
may indirectly and tnordinately encour-
! age combination of the sugar refining
interests. l know that la present conditions
| this is a delicate subject. and appreciate the
| depth and strength OF the feeling which it's
| treatment has aroused. 1 do not believe we
should do evil that good may come, but it
seems to me that we should not forget that
our aim Is the completion of the tariff, and in
T reason bounds. Whatever else may be said
| of our action, we are in no danger OF running
! counter TO Democratic principles. With all
/ there is at stake there must be In the treat
ment OF this article some ground upon which
we are all willing to stand, where liberation
and Cancellation may be allowed TO solve the
problem without demanding the entire surren-
der of fixed and conscientious con yictions.
ought not to prolong this letter. IL what
have written is unwelcome, / beg you TO be-
| lieve in NY good intentions. In the conclu-
sions of the conference touching the numer-
! GUS items which will be considered, the people
are not afraid that their interests will be
neglected. They know that the general re-
suit, 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 law covering all the
varied interests and conditions OF "a country
as vast ours must of necessity be largely
| the result OF honorable adjustment and COM
promise. / expect very few of us can say,
when our measure Is perfected. that all it's
features are entirely would prefer. You
know how much / deprecated the incorpora-
tion in the proposed bin of the income-tax
feature In matters of this kind, however,
which do not violate a fixed and recognized
Democratic doctrine willing to defer
to the judgment Of q majority OF our Demo-
cratic brethren. | think there Is q general
agreement that this Is party duty.
This Is more palpably apparent when we
realize that the business of our country timid-
1y stands and watches for the result of our
efforts to perfect tariff legislatton; that q
quick and certain return OF prosperity waits
upon q wise adjustment. and that a confiding
DeOple still trust In hands their prOe-