The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-07-02

OF this COMMITTEE was never taken up Tor
action. During the pending Presidential
campaign. the tariff was the chief issue.
The Democratic National Convention re-
nominated President Cleveland by acclama.
ton, aud indorsed the Mills Bill the Repub-
lican Convention nominated Benjamin Har-
rIson. Of Indiana, and declared strongly for |
protection. The result at the polls was tn e |
election OF Mr.. Harrison.
In 1882 Mr.. Cleveland was again nominat-
ed aud elected. and the campaign resulted |
also in making both Houses OF Congress
Democratic. Soon after his Inauguration.
the President called an extrs session OF
Congress for the purpose OF repeating the |
purchase clause OF the silver act OF ls9O.
The Democratic Convention had denounc.
ed this provision and demsnde its immedi-
ate repeal. and Mr.. Cleveland made the
mistake of supposing that Dem ocratic
Convention ever really meant anything
that II said except whrn declaring for free
trade. Great, therefore. was his astonsh-
ment, to dnd that in neither House could a
Democratic majOrity be secured for the re-
peal; and this was finally accomplished by
Republican votes. The House tnen set TO
work on the tariff, and on February 1, 1904,
passed the Wilson bill. This reduced duties
even below the revenue point, and TO make
up the deficiency aided an iucome tax.
While the senate was Democratic. the
course Of many OF ITS members was deter
mined by local interests that would he
affected by the proposed tariff. and the bii,
wac returned to the House with six hun.
drei and thirty-four amendments. which
gave protection to some extent in shreds
Hnd patches. A conference commitkes at
first failed TO agree. In reporting the dis
agreement to the House. Mr.. Wilson pro-
duced letter addressed to him by the Presi-
! dent. with leave TO make it public. and it
was read by the clerk. In this. M. Cleve-
land expressed his disappointment at the
action Of the Senate. a. al abandonment Of
Democratic pledges that meant party per-
idv and party dishouor." Besides con-
demning various features. he referred TO
the suga- schedule N language Indicating
that he regarded IL az due to 1.-The methods
and manipulAtions OF trusts and combins-
| tions" As mig mt have been fOreseen, this
was regarded by the Senate IS an attack OF
its integrity, and aroused resentment
that made compromise impossible. Final
ly the Hcuse surrendered Internationally
and passed the bill a. amended by the Sell
ate. ThePresident would neither sign or We
to it, and in the absence OF veto il became
q law ten days later But the Presi ient's
illusions to trusts and combinations were
" well founded that it was generally e har-
| acterized as the "Sugar Trust Tariff"
In the year following, q serious question
arose respecting the maintenance Of the
Monroe doctrine in South America. /For
many years the boundary between vsnezu-
ella and British Guiana hsd been in dispute.
Great Britain claimed territory which yene-
zuela contended belonged TO hef. and re-
fused TO arbitrate. In July, 1895, our State
Department announced to Lor~ 'ss''ury,
the British Premier. that the
Great Britain OF the territory O.
would be regarded as violation OF -
Monroe doctrine, and proposing a submis-
sion Of the boundary qIestion to arbitra-
ton. Lord Salisbury, in/ November. replied
that he regarded the MYnroe doctrine as In
applicable TO the case. /and declined to arbI-
trate. ON December h7th the President sent
special message ITO Congress, describing
the situation. and recommending the ap-
pointment OF Gommitsion to investigate
the subject; and/ declaring that, in his opin.
ion, we should resist the appropriation by
Great Britain/of "sny territory which. after
investgatioR we have determined OF right
to belong 10y Venezuela This message wa,
viewed I'M both countries as a conditional
declsraii9n of war, aud created great OK.
cltemeny. The proposed commission was
appoi2fed. but before it reported Greai
Brit9hn and Venezuela agreed to arbitrate
After the controversy over the Sugar
ITrYst Tariff, President Cleveland was left
Mp2actIcally without a party in Congress
l3rhe southern and western Democrats, par
Yticularly. ignored him, and made if clearly
understood that he was no longer to be
thought OF as leader. At the National Con-
vention OF 1896, he was not even named
among the fifteen candidates voted for, and
on the nth ballot WIN. J.. Bryan was nomi.
mated Oh free sliver platform. In the
campaign that followed, Mr.. Cleveland sup
ported Buckner and Palmer, the nominees
OF the gold standard Democracy. At the
close OF his term he took up his residence in
Princeton, where he resided until his death.
While. in their estimate OF Mr.. Clevela lands
abilities and intellectual attainments, the
people were naturally biased by their agree-
ment or disagreement with his views, his
personal integrity was never doubted and
| il WIS admitted Oh all sides that his con-
victions on public questions were sincerely
h'ld and cOnsclentIously maintained, with
political fortunes.