Two letters: an ALS as president, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, Executive Mansion letterhead, July 15, 1894. Letter to Hon. William L. Wilson. In part: “I send you with this a letter which was substantially proposed at the time it bears date…I feel as deeply upon the subjects of which it treats that I cannot longer delay explaining my position to you.” The letter he references is included: a lengthy TLS as president, seven pages, 8 x 10.5, Executive Mansion letterhead, July 2, 1894, in part: “The 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, 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 this subject, I have longed for its accomplishment, and I have so often promised its realization to my fellow countrymen as a result of their trust and confidence in the Democratic party, that I 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 a sturdy adherence to Democratic principles…It is quite apparent that this question of free raw materials does not admit of adjustment on any middle ground. Since their subjection to any rate of tariff taxation, great or small, is alike violative of Democratic principle 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 be troublesome to the conference. I refer to the adjustment tariff taxation on sugar…The Democracy of the Land plead most earnestly for the speedy completion of the tariff legislation which their representatives have undertaken; but they demand not less earnestly that no stress of necessity shall tempt those they trust, to the abandonment of Democratic principle.” In overall fine condition. Intent on reversing the effects of the high-duty McKinley tariff, the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act was introduced in late 1893. Although the House passed the bill by a wide margin, the Senate majority viewed it differently, with Cleveland’s own Democratic Party, led by Maryland’s Arthur P. Gorman, staunchly opposing the tax reforms. When the Senate passed the bill with 600 amendments, effectively nullifying the majority of changes, Cleveland denounced the remaining high tariffs as ‘party perfidy and party dishonor.’ An interesting pair of letters related to Cleveland’s career fight for the consumer. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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