The Portland daily press., 1879-08-27
A Farmers Views in Plain English

MANCHESTER, Aug. 2, 1879.
To the Republican County Committee OF hen-
1lebec.
GFSTLEMEN:-Your communication desiring
me to enter publicly into the present political
canvass in this county has been under advise
ment, and although Can but think you largely
overestimate the effect OF my efforts on the
stump, have determined to accede to your
request and present as best may my views OF
the present political situation from my stand
point. 1 have persstently refused similar
solicitations heretofore. partly because L nave
little ambition to achieve success III that direc-
ton, and partly because L have careiully
avoided identifying myself with strict PARTISAN
ship.
have attended many meetings OF the Green
back or soft-money party, have listened 70 the
speeches of their leaders from the noted Solon
Chase down to DR.. Lancaster; and have noted
the persistent effort made while ignoring what
1 deem to be the most important political issue
now before the American people, to eXaggerate
and misrepresent the present condition OF tne
agricultural and other laboring classes. lax
ING advantage of the restlessness naturally
arising from the pressure incident to whole
some return from period OF wild speculation
and extravaganza inaugurated by largely IN
f1ated paper currency, they seek place anu
power by persuading the people that their only
hone of relief is to be found in resortlng 10
measures, necessary indeed in our country's
acme of peril, but no more suitable to period
of peace and healthy growth than the medl-
cines of the fever patient to the laborer In the
harvest field l am farmer, and al my per,
sonal interests are identified with theirs; and
to the farmer especially, whose plans should
extend over series of years, are stability OF
prices and an unvarying measure Oh vaiues a
matter of utmost Importance Whatever Oh
disaster largely exaggerated by lnnatlon speahh,
ers and writers) has fallen upon us during the
last few years, is the legitimate result OF
state of affairs now happily fast disappearing
under the benefcent influence OF specie re-
sumption and q sound currency, but winch the
advocates of initiation and fiat money, i'll their
IGNORANCE and folly, would reproduce as the
grand panacea for all human ills. When 1arm-
ers compare the present prices of farms, stocks
and crops with the inflated prices OF eight or
ten wears ago, they feel, as 1irst impression,
that by so much have they become poorer; 1of-
getting that, reduced to gold basis the Varla-
tion IN prices has not been at all unusual. AT
this point comes in the loud-mouthed soft
money orator, and tells us that this apparent
shrinkage of values is real, and that, by legls-
Iation. wholly in the interest of the banker and
bondhoder, a Republican Congress, and espe-
cially that arch-robber John Sherman, nave
plundered the laboring classes to enrich the al
ready bloated cahitalists.
These statements iterated and reiterated,
supplemented by Misrepresentation OF facts
and figures have doubtless had their influence
on MANY whose every instinct of patriotism is
in perfect accord with the principles OF the Re
publican party. l trust the thorough ventlia-
ton to be given these financial heresles IN the
present canvass may restore the people to the
equilibrium of sound common sense.
I 1T cannot fail to attract observation that the
State tax of the present year does not sustain
the claims of the Greenback Democratic Leg
islature for reduction of public expenditures.
II is very queer result certainly, to see an in
creased tax levied to meet decreased expendl-
tnre If our State expenses are reduced, why
are not our State taxes reduced? In face OF all
the claims for new dispensation OF economy,
it is remarkable that the State tax 1or 1879
is larger by seventy thousand dollars than
the average tax for the four preceding
wears. it is also to be noted that the
Republican administration of last year
collected fifty thousand dollars tax
from the railroad corporations of the State, and
| that the Greenback Democratic Administra-
| ton of 1879 has not levied single dollar OF tax
| upon those corporations. If one of the reforms
| of the Greenback Democratic regime is to re-
| lieve the railroad of fifty thousand dollars OF
tax and put an increase OF seventy thousand
| dollars on the farms and other individual prop
| erty of the State, L think the people Will Deg
| to be excused from further administration OIL
| that sort. u,.
| In regard to the intimation that Mr.. IhinS,
the fusion candidate for Senator, is uslfS on ms
rons af Husbandry, to win votes from the MEM
| bers of that order think must 1t be an error.
| am a member of the order and acquainted with
] Worthy Master Thing, and cannot Deheve' not
|
| t;cs that he would so far violate his solemn OBJ
legation and surrender his last vestige of man
hood as to attempt an act SO utterly base. You
NAV be assured, should he so far forget HIM
| self and his obligation to the Grange, his eff
| forts would only result in discontinue by
bringing on him the contempt of the entire or
| der.
The only influence an officer of the Grange
| is allowed to exert over brother, in religious
or political opinions, is the silent power OF
| pure consistent life.
OF such an influence let Master Thing have
| the full beneft-he dare not claim or exert any
| other.
Believing that the light shed upon the mn
portant State and national topics now before
the people of Maine, by the present animated u
and exciting canvass, will bring those WIG lo
think alike to act together, and BRING 70 p 1ile
record of Sept Sth, 1879, an old-fashioned NE
| publican victory, ,,.-,.
/ remain, very respectfully, your ob't selv't'
l. N. WADswoRTH.