Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-03
THE NEW YORK FARMERS.
They Will Not Support Cleveland Under
Any Circumstances.

Any Circumstances.
The following address recently issued by
the New York State Farmers Alliance speaks
for ITSELF
To the Farmers of the State of New York:
Two years ago Mr. Cleveland was chosen Gov
ernor by majority of 1872, 600 votes A considera
BILE part of this majority came from the support
given him by large numbers of farmers, who re-
lied on his pledges Of fidelity to the principles
avowed in the Democratic platform of 1882. For
the first time since the days of Silas Wright the
Democratic party in that year had majority of
votes in the agricultural counties and towns of
this State
l. Mr.. Cleveandis now candidate for the Pres
idency. 1T is therefore proper that his course as
Governor be reviewed in the light OF facts, that
the people may judge how far he has fulfilled
his pledges and what is his fitness for the higher
Office to which he aspires.
1t becomes our painful duty to denounce Mr..
| Cleveland's candidacy unworthy the support
of farmers and of the great body of independ-
ent voters who elected him two years ago. He
has violated positive pledges of fidelity to the
peoples interests. In selecting two of the Rail
road Commissioners whose duties are to guard
the interests of the people he chose men identi-
| lied with railway corporations. He appointed
Commissioner of Public Works who is run
ming the Erie Canal in the interest of the rail-
roads, letting it get out of repair that ii the
present policy is continued it is only question
! of time when the Erie Canal must be aban-
! doned. So far as he could by this appointments
| Gov. Cleveland has neutralized the popular will
| for making and keeping the Erie Canal as free
| public highway, which was shown at the cleo
| ton by much larger majority for free canals
| than Gov. Cleveland himself received This is
! a matter in which the farmers of Western States
| are interested equally with the farmers of New
| York. In making Board of State Assessors
Gov. Cleveland left the great agricultural inter-
| ests unrepresented, though this is a subject of
| especial Importance to farmers, who obliged
| to bear an unequal proportion of the burdens of
| taxation. Gov. Cleveland did this in disregard
| OF the request for the appointment of farmer
| who, by thought and study on economic ques-
tions was especially fitted for this position and
| who was recommended by all the farmers or
| CARNATIONS in this State
| Gov. Cleveland has identified himself and his
| candidacy with the corporate monopol1es. In
| his veto OF the five cent fare bill for the New
York elevated railroads, in defiance OF the de-
cisions of our highest courts, he avowed the ex-
| traordinary doctrine that the Legislature in
granting franchise to railroad corporations eX-
hausts its powers; that it relinquishes the sover-
| eighty of the people and makes contract
| which no future Legislature can change,
Ii Gov. Cleveland veto of this bill is sound
| law, the people of this State and of the United
| States have no rights which the corporations
| they haye created are bound to respect. This
| veto marks Mr.. Cleveland as pre-eminently
| the candidate of the monopolists in this coun-
try 1t is from railroad corporations, the Stand
ard Oil Company, and other monopol1es that
! canvass. 1t is Important that the mass of citi-
| zens who intend to preserve their liberties use
| very honorable means to insure his defeat.
This is not party question, and we do not
appeal as partisans for any candidate Two OF
! the members of our committee are Democrats
| and none of them voted for Gov. Cleveland
| leading opponent two years ago. None of them
can will vote for him as President and in this
fairly represent the feelings of the great ma
FORTY of farmers of the different parts of this
State. 1t is certain that this opposition to Mr..
Cleveland Tor President will extend to the farm
ers of other States when the facts of his record
are fairly presented.
The nomination of Mr.. Cleveland makes an
issue which political question subordinates
all others. 1t is, whether the sovereignty OF the
| people shall be overshadowed by the corpora
tions which they create. 1t is impossible to
doubt that the result of such an issue will be his
overwhelming defeat.
If Gov. Cleveland took this position ignorant
~, the fact will not and should not help his can
| didacy. The people of this country do not want
| man as President who could even through
| ignorance make a mistake OF this character. But
| any one who closely watched the Chicago con-
vention could not fail to see in the combination
| of Standard Oil and other monopoly influence
| against such reputable Democrats as Judge
| Thurman the signs that the ruling forces in the
! convention worked with definite aim
Thurman, Bayard, Butler and other lifelong
Democrats and representatives of popular rights
were set aside to make way for this new man, of
| whom nothing was known outside Of the State
except that he carried New York with Repub-
| lcan help by nearly 100000 majority, and of
whom in the State knew nothing politically
except that his course as Governor has falsltied
all the pledges by which his fictitious majority
of two years ago was secured.
We have no recommendations to make with
regard to candidates other than that every hon
orable means be used to make Mr.. Cleveland s
defeat certain and overwhelming This, we do
not doubt, will be done. This Will be a result
which will have most wholesome effect on the
political future of our country
HON. HEMAN GLASS; President,
LYMAN f. CRoWEIL, Treasurer,
WILLIAM J. FOWLER, Secretary,
:s JAMES G. SHEPARD,
WILLIAM G. WAYNE,