The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-07-13
Mr.. Oleyeland to Tammany.

Tammany society or the Columbian
order July 4th celebrated for the
hundredth time the anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence. The fol
lowing letter from President Cleveland
was read:
Hon. James Il. Fzach, Grand
Sdchene.
DEAR SIR:-I regret that l am OBJ
liged TO decline the courteous invita-
ton which I have received to attend
the celebration by the Tammany So
ciety on the birthday of our republic,
on the 4th day of July next The zeal
and enthusiasm with which your So
ciety celebrates this day, afford proof
of its steadfast patriotism, as well as
It's care for all that pertains to the ad-
vantage and prosperity of the people.
| cannot doubt that the renewal of
Glove and devotion to pure Jeffer-
sonian democratic form of government" I"
which yon contemplate, will suggest
the inquiry, whether the people are re-
ceiving all the benefits that are due them
under such a form of government.
These benefits are not fully enjoyed
when our citizens are unnecessarily
diminished under the pretext of gov
ernmental support. Our government
belongs to the people. They have de-
creed its purpose, and it is their clear
right to demand that Its cost shall be
limited by frugality, and that its bur-
den of expense shall be carefully limit
ed by Its actual needs, and yet the USE
less and dangerous surplus in the nat
ional treasury tells no other tale but
extortion on the part of the govern
ment and the perversion of the peoples
intention. In the midst of our i'm
petuous enterprise and blind confidence
in our destiny it is time to pause and
study our condition. 1t is no sooner
appreciated than the conviction must
follow that the tribute exacted from
the people should be diminished The
theories which cloud the subject, mis-
leading honest men, and the appeals to
selfish men which deceive the under
standing, make the reform, which
should be easy, difficult task. All
those who propose a remedy for the
present evils have always been the
friends of American labor, and though
they declare their purposes to further
its interests in all their efforts, yet
those who oppose reform attempt to
disturb our working men by the cry
that their wages and their employment
are threatened. They advocate a sys.
tenn which benefits certain classes OF
our citizens at the expense of every
householder in the land A system
which breeds discomfort, because il
permits the duplication of wealth with
out the corresponding additional recon.
pense to labor, which prevents the op.
portunity to work by sitting produc
tion and limiting the area of our mar
kets, ana which enhances the cost OF
living beyond the laborer's hard earn
ed wages. The attempt is made to di
vert the attention of the people from
the evils of such scheme of taxation
by branding those who seek to correct
these evils as free traders and enemies
of our working men and our industria
enterprises. This is 80 far from the
truth that there should be no chance
for such deception to succeed. 1t be
hooves American people while they re
| joice in the anniversary of the day
when their free government was de
clared to also reason together, and de
termine that they will not be deprived
of the blessings and the benefits whicl
their government should afford. Your
very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND