Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1894 — WRITES OF THE TARIFF. [ARTICLE]

WRITES OF THE TARIFF.

Fall Text at President Cleveland’* Letter to Chairman Wilson. Following, is the letter written by Prwsideet Cleveland to Chairman Wilson. The letter was under date of July 2, and was a private communication, to the publication of which the President only gave his consent recently: Executive Mansion,' Washington, July i To the Horn. William L. Wilson: Mi Deab Sib The certainty that a conference will be ordered bet* am the two houses of Congress for* tne purpose of adjusting diffirmces on tb* subject of tarilf leeslatlon makes it also certain that yon will be again called upon to do hard service In the cause of tariff reform. My pnbllc life has been so closely related to the subject, I have so longed for its accomplishment, and I have so often j r imised its realization to my fellow countrymen as a result of their trust and confidence in the Democratic party, I hope no excuse is necessary for my earnest appeal to yon that In this crisis yon iCTeumifisly insist upon party honesty and good faith, and a sturdy adherence to Deruo-jr-tio principles. I believe these are absolutoynSslSs»jy conditions to the continuation of Democrats existe-ce. 1 cannot rid myself of the feeling that this conference will present the best if not the only hope of true DemwSracy. Indications point to its act ion as the reliance of those who desire the genuine fruition of Democratic effort, the fulfillment of Democratic pledges and the redemption of Democratic promises to the people. To reconcile differences in the derails ■comprised in the fixed and well-defined lines ot principle will not be the sole task of tho conference, bnt as it seems to me its members will also have in charge the question whether Democratic principles themselves are to be save'l or abandoned. There is no excuse for mistaking or misapprehending 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 tbegovernment, and they are apprehensive that their efforts to bring about tariff reform may fail, but they are much moie downcast and apprehensive in their fear that Democratic principles 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 confidence is vastly augmented by the action, under your leadership, of the House of Representatives upon the bill now pendlDg. Every true Democrat and every sincere tariff reiormer knows that this bill, in its present form and as it will be submitted to the conference, falls far short of the consummation for which we have long labored, tor which we have suiter d defeat without discouragement. which in us anticipation gave us a rallying cry in our day of triumph, and which in IWi promise of accomplishment is so interwoven with Democratic pledges and Democratic success that onr abandonment of the canse or the principles upon wliloh it rests means party perfidy and party dishonor. One topic will be submiited to the conference which embodies Democratic principle so directly tbit it cannot be a compromise. We have in our platforms and lu every way possible declared miavorof th : free importation of raw materials. We have again and agalu promised that this should be accorded to our people and our manufacturers as soon as lhe Democratic party was invested with the poiver to determine the tariff policy of the country. The party has now that power. We are ss certain to-day as we have ever been of the great benefit that wonld accrue to the country from the inauguration o: this policy, and nothing has occurred to release us from our obligation to secure this advantage to our people. It must be admitted that no tariff mca ure can accord witli Democratic principles and promises to bear a genuine Democratic badge that does not prov.de for free raw materials. In these circumstances it may well excite onr wonder that Democrats are willing to depart from this, the most Democratic of all tariff principles, and that the inconsistent absurdity ot 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 tariff taxation be pla. ed around the iron ore and coal of corporations and capitalists. How can we face the people after indulging in such outrageous discriminations and violations of princ p e? It Is quite apparent that this question „f free raw materials does not admit of adjustment on any middle ground, since their subjection to rate of tariff taxation, great or small, is alike violative of Democratic principle and Democratic good faith.

I hope that you will Hot consider it intrusive if I say something in relation to another subject 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, sngar is a legitimate and logical article of revenue taxation. Unfortunately, however, incidents have accompanied certain stßges of the legislation which will be submitted to the conference that have aroused lu connection with this subject a natural Democratic animosity to the methods and manipulations of trusts aud combinations. 1 confess to 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 formulating tariff legislation ought to guide our treatment of sugar as a taxable article. While no tenderness should be entertained for trusts, and while lam decidedly opposed to granting them, under the guise of tariff taxation, any opportunity to further their peculiar methods, I suggest that we ought not to be driven away from the Democratic principle and policy which led to the taxation of sugar by tho fear, quite likely exaggerated, that in carrying out this principle and policy we 7/a y iDdirectly and inordinately encourage a combination of the sugar refining interests. 1 know that in present conditions this is a delicate suojcct, and I appreciate tbe depth and strength of the feeling which its treatment has aroused. I do not believe we should do evil that good may come, but it seems to me that we shor'd not forget that our aim is the completion <»f the tariff, and in taxing sugar for proper praarposes and within reasonable bounds, whatever else may be said of onr action, we are in no danger of rnnniug counter to Democratic principles. With all there is at stake thero must be in the treatment oMhis article some ground upou which we are fill willing to stand, where toleration and conciliation may be allowed to solve the problem wii.ho.ut demanding the entire surrender of ltead and conscientious convictions. I ought not to prolong this letter. If what I liave written is unwelcome, I beg you to believe in my good intentions. In the conclusions of the conference touching the numerous items which will be considered, the people are net 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 toil. We all know that a tariff law covering all the varied interests and conditions of a country as vast as ours must of necessity be largely the result of honorable adjustment and compromise. I expect very few of us can say, when our measure is perfected, that all its features are entirely as we would prefer. You know how much I deprecated the incorporation in the proposed 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 a majority of our Democratic brethren. I think there is a general agreement that this is 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 confiding people still trust in o.ur hands their prosperity aud well-being. The Democracy of the laud plead most earnestly for the speedy completion'of the tariff legislation which their representatives have undertaken, hut they demand .giot less earnestly that no stress of necessity shall tempt those they tru-t to the abandonment of Democratic principle. Yours very truly, Geoveb Cleveland.