Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-05-22
" OUR COMMON CAUSE-TARIFF
REFORM"
A FARMERS ALLIANCE Is COMFoRTED
BY GROVER.


BY GROVER.
a Steubenville o., special to the Pitts
burgh Post says: A few weeks ago ]. A.
Hill, corresponding secretary of Oak
Grove Lodge, No. %, Farmers Alliance,
near this city, wrote ex-President Cleve-
land enclosing a copy of the declaration
of purposes of the Alliance and asking
for Mr.. Cleyeland's views thereon. Fol-
lowing are copies of Mr.. Hills letter
and Mr.. Cleveland's reply:
OAK GROVE LODGE, No. %,
FARMERS ALLIANCE,
Steubenville, o., March II, 1890. J
Hon. Grover Cleveland, New York,
Respected Sir: May we presume so
far upon your patience as to ask short
note from you in endorsing the prinei-
Piles of the National Farmers Alliance,
of the existence of which you are 10
doubt aware, and for which we claim a
share of the flattering result in Iowa last
fall. l enclose our declaration of pur-
poses for your consideration, and being,
as we unfortunately are, the living mon
uments of the evils of prohibitive i'm
port duty, politely termed protective
tariff" need l add that we look to you
as the champion of our cause and the
man of to-day, who had the courage to
face defeat rather than stand in any
uncertain position on the greatest issue
of the day.
A few encouraging words from you
will prove wonderful incentive to fur
ther the efforts in behalf of our common
cause-tarif reform. Very respectfully,
yours, ]. A. HILL,
Corresponding Secretary.
Mr., Clevelands reply was:
MARCH "a, 1890.
j. A. Hill, Corresponding Secretary,
Dear Sir: have received your letter
accompanied by copy of the declara-
tion of principles of the Farmers ALL
gnce. / see nothing in tn declaration
that cannot be fully indorsed by any
man who loves his country, who believes
that the object of our government should
be the freedom, prosperity, and bappi-
ness of all our people, and who believes
that justice and fairness to all are
necessary conditions to its useful ad-
ministration. 1t has always seemed to
me that the farmers of the country were
especially interested in an equitable ad-
justment of the tariff system. The in
difference they have shown to that ques-
ton and the ease with which they have
been led away from sober considera-
ton of their needs and their rights as
related to this subject, have excited my
Struggle as they may, our farmers
must continue to be purchasers and con-
sumers of numberless things enhanced
in cost by tariff regulations. Surely tbsy
have the right to insist that this cost
shall not be increased for the purpose of
collecting unnecessary revenue or give
undue advantage to domestic manufac4
turers. The plea that infant industries
need the protection which impoverishes
the farmer and consumer is, in view of
our natural advantages and the skill
and ingenuity of our people, a hollow
pretext.
Struggle as they may, our farmers can
not escape the conditions which fix the
price of what they produce and accord
ing to the rates which prevail in foreign
markets flooded with the competition of
countries enjoying freer exchange Of
trade than we. The plausible presenta-
ton of the blessings of home market
should not deceive our oppressed and
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 convict
ion that there should be a modification
Of our tariff laws arose principally from
an appreciation of the wants of the vast
army of consumers, comprising our farm
ers, our artisans, and our workingmen,
and because their condition has led me
20 protest against present impositions,
am especially glad to see those sections
of my fellow countrymen arousing them
selves to the Importance of tariff reform.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.