People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1894 — GAVE HIS VIEWS. [ARTICLE]

GAVE HIS VIEWS.

President Cleveland Writes a Letter to Chairman Wilson. He Indorses the House Tariff Bill—Favon Free Coel and Iron—ln the Internet of Fence Would Compromise on e Duty on Sugar. TEXT OP THE LETTER. Washington, July 20.—The follow inf? is the full text of President Cleveland’s letter to Chairman Wilson which the latter had read in the house during his speech on the tariff disagreement: ‘ 1 Executive Mansion, Washington, July 2, I*4 (Personal), William L. Wilson—My Dear Sir: The certainty that a conference will be ordered between the two houses of congress for the purpose of adjusting differences on the subjeot of tariff legislation makes It also certain that you will be again called on to do hard service in the cause of tariff reform. My public life has been so closely related to the subject, I have so longed for Its accomplishment and I hare so often promised its realization to my fellow - countrymen as s result of their trust and confidence In the democratic party, that I hope no excuse Is necessary for my earnest appeal to yon that In this crisis you strenous'.y insist upon party honesty and good faith and a sturdy adherence to democratic principles. I believe these are absolutely necessary conditions to the continuation of democratic existence. “There is no mistaking or misapprehending the feeling and the temper of the rank and file of the democracy. They are downcast under the assertion that thetr party fails in ability to manage the government and they are apprehensive that efforts to bring about tariff reform may fail; but they are much more 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 sinoerely 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 pending. Every true democrat and every sincere tariff reformer 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, for which we have suffered defeat without discouragement; which, in its anticipation, gave us a rallying cry in our day of triumph, and which, in Its promise of accomplishment, is so interwoven with democratic pledges and democratic suocess that our abandonment of the cause or the principles upon which It rests means party perfidy and party dishonor. “One topic will be submitted to the conference which embodies democratic principles so directly that it cannot be compromised. We have in our platforms and In every way possible deolared 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 manufacturers as soon as the democratic party was lnves bed with power to determine the tariff policy of the country. The purty now has that power Wo are as certain to-day as we have ever been of the greut benefit that would occur to the oountry from the Inauguration of this policy, and nothing has occurred to release us from dur obligation to seoure this advantage to our people. “It must be admitted that no tariff measure can acoord with democratic principles and promises or bear a genuine democratic badge that does not provide for free raw material. In these circumstances It may well 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 tariff taxation be placed around the iron ore and coal of corporations and capitalists. How can we face peoplo after Indulging in such outrageous discriminations and violations of ?rlnoiple. It Is apparent that this question of ree raw material does not admit of adjustment on any middle ground since their subjection to any rate of tariff taxation, great or small, is alike a violation of democratic principles and democratic good faith. “I hope you will not consider it Intrusive if I say something in relation to another subject which can hardly fail to te troublesome to the conference. I refer to the adjustment of the tarfff taxation on sugar. Under our party platform and in accordance with our declared party purposes sugar Is a legitimate and logical article of revenue taxation. Unfortunately however, incidents have accompanied certain stages of the legislation which will be submitted to the conference that have aroused in connection with this subject a natural democratic animosity to the methods and manipulations of trusts and combinations. I confess to sharing in this feeling. While no teaderness should be entertained for trusts, and while lum decidedly opposed to granting them under the guise of tariff taxation anv opportunity to further their peculiar methods, I suggest that we ought not to be driven away from the democratic principle and policy which lead to the taxation of sugar by the fear, quite likely exaggerated, that in carrying out this principle and policy we may Indirectly and inordinately encourage a combination of sugarrefining interests. “I know that in present conditions this is a delicate subject and I appreciate the 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 should not forget that our aim is the completion of a tariff bill and that in taxing sugar for proper purposes and within reasonable 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 treatment of this article some ground upon which we arc willing to stand, where toleration and conciliation may le allowed to solve the problem without demanding the entire surrender of fixed and conscientious convictions. "In the conclusions of the conference touching the numerous other items which will be considered, the people are not afraid that their Interests will be neglected. They know that the general result, so far as these are concerned, will be to place home necessaries and comforts 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 o’ necessity be largely the result of honorable adjustment and compromise. I expect very few of us can say when our measure Is perfe ted that all its features are entirely as we wouid prefer. You know how much I deprecated the incorporation in tho proposed bill of the income tax feature. In matters ol 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 that is party duty. This Is more palpably apparent when ■ we realize that the business of our country timidly stands and watches for the result o: our efforts o perfect tariff legislation, that a quick and certain ,return of pro.-.perity waits upon a wise adjustment and that a confiding people still trust in our hands their prosperity and well being. "The democracy of the land pleads most earnestly for the speedy completion of the tariff legislation which tueir representatives have undertaken, but they demand not less earnestly tl at no s ress of necessity- stall tempt those they trust to the abandonment of democratic principle lours very truly. “Grover ( lkveeand."