Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1894 — GROVER’S GRIT. [ARTICLE]

GROVER’S GRIT.

President Cleveland’s Firm StandOn the Tariff Bill, sr-77-Letter to Chairman Wilson Reiterating His Well Known Views—Urges Strict Adherence to l’artjr Fledges. Intense interest was created by Mr. Wilson’s announcement in the House, Thursday, that he had a letter from President Cleveland which the.latter had permitted to be made public. The letter was then sent to the desk and read, amid profound silence. The President letter, which is marked “personal,” is as follows: Executive Mansion, Washington, July 2, 1894. To the Hon. William L. Wilson: My Dear Sir—Tho certainty that a conference will be ordered between the two Houses of Congress for the purpose of adjusting differences on the subject of tariff legislation makfis 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, I have so longed for its acaccomplishment, and I have so often -premised-qts realization to my fellowcountrymen, as a result of their trust and confidence in the Democratic party, that I hope no excuse is necessary for mv earnest appeal to you that in this crisis you strenuously insist upon party honesty and 'good faith and a steady adherence to Democratic principles. There is no excuse for mistaking or misapprehending the feeling and the temper or the rank and file oil the Democracy. They are downcast under the assertion that their 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 eondtidence to you and those who, with you, have patriotically and sincerely championed the cause of tariff reform within Democratic linos and guided by Democratic principles. Every true Democrat and every true 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 success that our abandonment, of the cause or tho principles upon which it r sts means party perfidy and party dishonor. 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 manufacturers as soon gs tho Democratic party was invested with the power. The party now has that power. We are as certain to-day as we have ever been of the great benefit that would accrue to tho country from the inauguration of tiiis policy, and nothing has occurred to release us from our obligation to secure this advantag eto our people. It most be admitted that no tariff measure can accord 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 tho free list, and thq protection of tariff taxation be placed around iron ore and coal corporations and capitalists. How can we face the people after indulging" in such outrageous discriminations and violations of principle? 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 tiiis feeling, and yet it seems to me we ought, if possible, to sufficiently free ourselves from, '• prejudice" to enable =us cobilv to weigh the considerations which, in formulating the tariff legislation, ought to guide our treatment of sugaras a taxable article.

While no tenderness should bo entertained for trusts, and while I am decidedly o'pposed to granting them, under the guise of tariff taxation, any opportunity ‘to further their peculiar methods, I suggest that we ought not to he driven a wav from the Democratic principle and policy whicli lead to tiie taxation of sugar hv the fear. quite likely exaggerated, that in carrying out this principle and policy we may indirectly and inordinately encourage a combination of sugar refining interests. I do not believe that we should do evil that good may come, but i t 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 Avithin reasonable bounds, whatever else may be said of our action; we are in no danger of runnipg counter to Democratic principles. In the conclusions of the conference touching the numerous items which will be considered, the people are not afraid that their interests will be neglected. They know tliat the general result, so far as they are concerned, will be to place h mini necessaries and comforts mor 1 easily within their reach, and to insure better and surer compensation to those who toil. We all know that a tariff 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. You know how much I deprecated the Incorporation in the proposed hill of the income tax feature. In, matters of this kind, however, which do not violate a fixed and recognized Democratic doctrine we arc willing to defer to the judgment of a majority of our Democratic brethren. Tho Democracy of thfti&nd pleads most earnestly for the speedy completion of the tariff legislation which their representatives have undertaken: hut they demand not less earnestly that no stress of necessity shall tempt, those they trust to the abandonment of Democratic principle. Yours very truly, Groveb Cleveland.

‘ A Ctrtffmbm man was jailed because Incut his wife’s dress into shreds when lie was angry at her. He claimed that he hwned his wife and her clothes, and had the right to qo what ho please? with them. v - 1 . The official crop bulletin of tho-State shows that rain is badly needed in every eountv, especially in the central and southern counties. Wheat yield is reported good, while corn and potatoes are Differing from the continued drouth. In most of the counties wheat and rye is cut. Clover is doing well. Overso3 men. women and children confregated in the sheriff's yard at Brazil, Monday evening, and gave a banquet in honor of the four voting men who wore convicted of killing Engineer Barr. The prisoners were brought from their cells and allowed to join in the festivities. Columbia City has a councilman who refuse* to draw his salarv.