The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-09-10
PIoLLET's LAST WORDS.
Why Pennsylvania Farmers
Should Support the Re-
publican Ticket.


est by the grangers throughout the State
was written by the venerable Col. Victor
f. Piollet short time prior to his death.
It's publication was delayed, If IS under
stood, BY reason of the eolonel's sudden
taking off. While the fact Of the exist
ence Of the letter was known to quite
number who figured prominently at the
granger's picnic at Williams Grove last
week, it was not deemed proper. out Of
respect for the memory of the deceased
granger, TO circulate it among the thou
sands Of farmers there assembled. II IS
now made public and follows. 1t was
written to Colonel Thomas. secretary Of
the State grange and editor Of the FTrn-
sr's Friend
DEAR BROTHER As have often said
to you in private conversation, I am ex-
ceedingly interested in the present pO-
litical campaign in this State. At no time
since the war, it seems to me, has there
been such acIearly defined issue between
the political parties on matters paItieu-
larly relating to the interests of the farm
ers, which are those supported and con-
tended for by the grange.
1t seems to me that this year the Re
publican party comes nearer furthering
what we have 80 long been demanding
thsn any other, and in Senator George
W. Delamater l find candidate far more
acceptable to the farmers than in Robert
f. Pattison, the Democratic nominee, for
the reason which shall endeavor to set
forth clearly.
At the close of the late rebellion, in
addition to other provisions for putting
the public domain in the hands Of the
people, the government passed a law Civ
ing every soldier or the heirs Of every
soldier peculiar facilities for getting farm
in the west. This opportunity was seized
by hundreds Of thousands of them, and
the result was strong tide of emigration
to the west, not only OF foreigners, but of
Pennsylvanians and other eastern farm
ers. The effect upon the agricultural in
| terests Of the east soon became apparent.
By reason of this emigration and existing
tariff laws, very soon the east began to
import agricultural products from Can
ada, from the West Indies and from Eu-
rope. As a result the eastern farmer
/ found himself ground between the COM
petion of free land in the west and the
| importation of foreign products. Every
I farmer knows whether or not he has
been able to get fair price for the prod
ucts of his farm, and he can readily ex-
plain why he has not. On taking his
produce to market he has been confront
ed with imported agricultural products
| on which there was either no duty at all
or duty entirely Inadequate to protect
the American farmer. Many a farmer
has let large quan -ities of produce rot or
has sold it for less than the actual cost Of
raising IT, because the markets were al
ready filed with the same produce from
foreign countries, which sold at a far less
cost than he could possibly produce them.
L am lifelong Democrat, but am
tariff Democrat, and find that in this
campaign that means 70 be a Republican.
| am for the Republican party because
of its superior position in national and
State matters Of vital interest to the
farmer. l am for the so-called Mckinley
bill because it protects the American
farmer, and particularly the eastern farm
er, who has TO bear the brunt Of foreign
agricultural importations- When this
bill becomes a law the farmer of Pennsyl
vania and the nation at large will get
every dollar that is paid out by Ameri-
cans for farm products No more hay and
barley from Canada. No more Bermuda
onions in short, nothing but American
products for American consumers. This
is what the grange has been fighting for
these many years, and it seems to me
farmers are blind to their own interests
to support any other policy.
Again, I am in favor of the republican
party in this campaign because ofits posi-
ton on the question of taxation, which
is one Of the most important issues which
the farmer has to meet. quote from the
republican platform adopted at the HaI-
risburg convention 'But the depression
under which our agricultural interest now
suffer mas made the present system Of
taxation bear too heavily upon them,
and we therefore pledge ourselves to
tighten that burden, and as far as posi-
bic to equaIize taxation. To that end we
recommend that the surplus revenue de-
rived from state taxation be used to les
sen the taxation now laid upon real es-
tate for local purposes by applying it, 50
far as it viii in their legislative wisdom
avail, to the increase of the appropriation
for the support of the common schools,
for the supply of text books for use there
in and to make appropriations for the i'm
provement of the public roads, for the
care of the INDECENT insane, for the ex-
penses of the jury system and the hold
ing of the general elections
"If thereby there should be necessity
for enlarging our surplus revenue, we
favor just and equitable increase in the
taxation of property of corporations
-We recommend that the local system
of taxation be so reformed as TO admit
! the taxation Of moneyed capital for local
purposes 10 such an extent as to enable
} the local authorities to reduce the rate o.
: taxation upon real estate to an equitable
basis"
This is what we have 50 long contend
ed for, and if carried out, as l verify be
lieye it will nthe republican party wins
it will go great way toward mitigatins
the difficulties under which the farmer
now rest. With good prices for farm pro
ducts ard reduced taxation and an in
creased volume Of currency, the Ameri
can farmer win enter upon an era o
! prosperity never before known in on
, history.
And this leads me to speak more pSr
, ticularIy Of the recent silver bill, passe'
! by the present republican congress.
requires no skilled philosopher or politi
! cal economist TO see that much of tn,
, farmers troubles arises from q scarcity o
! the circulating medium liable TO be con