Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-05-21
Cleveland to the Farmers.
WHY TARIFF REFORM is VITAL QUESTION
TO AGRICULTURIsTs.

| WHY TARIFF REFORM is A VITAL QUESTION
TO AGRIcULTURIsTs.
Mr.. ]. A. Hill, corresponding secretary
of Oak Grove Lodge, No. %, Farmers AL
lance, near Steubenviile, Ohio, a short time
ago wrote TO ex-President Cleveland, in
closing copy Of the declaration of pur.
poses Of the alliance, and asking for Mr.
Cleveland's views thereon. Following are
the declaration of purposes and Mr.. CIeve.
lands reply -
Declaration Of Purposes. Profoundly
impressed that we, the Farmers Alliance,
united by the strong and faithful ties OF
f<ancial and home interests, should set
forth our declaration of intentions, we
therefore resolve:
To strive TO secure the establishment OF
right and justice to ourselves and our pos
terity.
To labor for the education of the agri-
cultural classes in the science of economical
government i'll a strictly non-partisan
spirit.
To indorse the motto, SIN things essen
tial, unity; in all things, charity"
To secure purity of the elective franchise
and to induce all voters to intelligently ex-
ercise it for the enactment and execution of
laws which will express the most advanced
public sentiment upon all questions invol-
wing the interests of laborers and farmers.
To develop better state, mentally, NOR
ally, socially and financially.
To constantly strive to secure entire har-
mony and goodwill among all mankind,
and brotherly love among ourselves.
To suppress personal, local, sectional and
national prejudices; all unhealthfal rivalry
aud all selfish ambition.
To assuage the suferings of brother
and sister, bury the dead, care for the
widows and educate the orphans; to exer-
else 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
New York, March "a, 1907. A. Hill.
Corresponding Secretary, &c.-Dear Sir:
have received your letter accompanied by a
copy of the 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 be-
lieves that the object of our government
should bo the freedom, prosperity and hap
piness of all our people, and who believes
that justice and fairness to all are neces-
sary conditions to its useful administration.
1t has always seemed to me that the
farmers of the country were especially
interested in an equitable adjustment of
our tariff system. The indifference they
have shown TO that question, and the ease
with which they have been led away from
a sober consideration of their needs and
thei1 rights as related to this subject, have
excited my surprise. Struggle as they
may, our farmers must continue to be
purchasers and consumers of numberless
things enhanced in cost by tariff rsgula-
tions. Surely they have the right to say
that this cost shall not be increased for the
purpose Of collecting unnecessary revenue,
or TO give undae advantage to domestic
The plea that our infant
industries need the protection which thus
inlpoverishes the farmer and consumer is,
in view of our natural advantages and the
skill aud ingenuity of our people, hollow
preteXt.
Struggle as they may, our farmers can
not escape the conditions which fix the
price of what they produce and sell, ac-
cording to the rates which prevail i'll
foreign markets, flooded with the compe-
eition Vi Couoerios opJoyluS lHecr oACnd1So
Of trade than we. The plausible presents-
tion of the blessings OF a home market
should not deceive our depressed and i'm
poverished agricnlturists. There is no
home 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 appreciation of the
wants of the vast army of consumers, COM
prising our farmers, our artisans and our
workiugmen, and because their condition
has led me to protest against the present
I am especially glad to see
these sections of my fellow-countryme
arousing themselves to the Importance of
tariff reform. Yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.