GROVER CLEVELAND 281 was read to the house, strongly urged adherence to the position which the house had taken in the mat ter. The house, however, finally receded from its posi tion in the belief that any other course would de feat or long delay any reduction of the tariff, and that the business interests of the country demanded an end to the conflict. The bill, as amended, passed both houses, and at midnight of August 27, 1894, became a law without the signature of the presi dent. In a published letter of the same date he gave his reasons for withholding his approval. While he believed the bill was a vast improvement over existing conditions, and would certainly lighten many tariff burdens which rested heavily on the people, he said: "I take my place with the rank and file of the democratic party who believe in tariff reform and well know what it is, who re fuse to accept the results embodied in this bill as the close of the war, who are not blinded to the fact that the livery of democratic tariff reform has been stolen and worn in the service of republican protection, and who have marked the places where the deadly blight of treason has blasted the coun cils of the brave in their hour of might. The trusts and combinations the communism of pelf whose machinations have prevented us from reaching the success we deserve, should not be forgotten nor for given."
