Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1890 — GROVER TO FARMERS. [ARTICLE]

GROVER TO FARMERS.

MR. CLEVELAND ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ALLIANCE. He Sees Nothing in Thom lhat Cannot Be Fully Indorsed by Any Man Wlio Loves His Country—ln Touch’ug on the Tariff Questions Ho Points Out the Unequal Burdens Borne by the Agriculturists. A few weeks ago J. A. Hill, Corresponding Secretary of 0»k Grove Lodge, No. 22. Farmers’ Alliance, ne r Steubenville, Ohio, wrote to ex-President Cleveland, inclosing a copy of the decl*ration of purposes of the alliance and asking for Mr. Cleveland’s views thereon. The declaration of purposes is as follows: Profoundly impressed that we, the Farmers’ Alliance, unite! by the strong and faithful ties of financial and homo interests, should set forth our declaration of intentions; we therefore resolve — To strive to semre the establishment of right and justice to ourselves aud our posterity. To labor for the education of the agricultural classes in the science of economical government in a strictly non-partisan spirit. To indoree the motto “In Things Essential, Unity ; in All Things, Charity.” To secure the purity of the elective franchise aud to induce all voters to intelligently exercise it for the enactment and execution of laws whch will express the most advanced public sentiment uuon all questions involving the interests of laborers and farmers. To develop a better state, mentally, morally, socially, and financially. To constantly strive to secure entire harmony and good-will among all mankind and brotherly love among ourselves. To suppress personal, local, sectional, and national prejudices, and all unhealthful rivalry and selfish ambition. To assuage the sufferings of brothers aud sist'rs, bury the dead, care for the widows, and educate the orphans ; to exercise charity toward offenders ; to construe words and purposes in their most favorable light, granting honesty of purpose and good intentions to others, and to protect the principles of the Alliance unto death. Mr. Cleveland’s reply was: I have received your letter, accompanied by a copy of tho declaration of principles of the Farmers’ Alliance. I see nothing in this declaration that cannot be fully indorsed by any man who loves his country, who believes that the object of our Goverumont should be the freedom, prosperity, and happiness of all our people, and wbo believes that just ceand fairness to all are necessary conditions tolits userul administration. It has always seemed to me that the farmers of the country wore especially interested in an equitable adjustment < f our tariff system. The indifference taev have shown to that question and the ease with which they have been led away from a sober consideration of their needs and their rights as related to this subject have excited my surprise. Struggle as they may, our farmers must continue to bo purchasers and consumers of numberless things enhanced in cost by tariff regulations. Surely they have the right to insist that this cost shall not be increased for the purpose of collecting unnecessary revenue or to give undue advantage to domestic manufacturers. The plea that infant industries need the protection which impoverishes the farmer and consumer is, in view of our national advantages and the skill and ingenuity of our people, a hollow pretext. Struggle as they may, our farmers cannot escape the conditions which fix the price of what they produce according to the rates which prevail in foreign markets flooded with the competition of countries enjoying a freer exchange of trade than we. The plausible presentation of the blessings of a home market should not deceive our oppressed and impoverished agriculturists. There is no market for them which does not take its instructions from the seaboard, and the seaboard transmits the word of the foreign markets. Because my conviction that there should be a modification of our tariff laws arose principally from an apprecia ion of the wants of the vast army of consumers, comprising our farmers, our artisans, and our workingmen, and because their condition has led me to protest against present impositions, I am especially glad to see these sections of my fellow-country-men arousing themselves to the importance of tariff reform. Yours very truly,

GROVER CLEVELAND.