The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-22

STUBENvILLE, Ohio, May l2.-J. a.
Hill, corresponding secretary Of Oak
Grove Lodge, No. %, Farmers ALI
ance, near this city, wrote to EXPIRES
ident Cleveland a few weeks ago, en-
closing a copy of the declaration of
purposes of the Alliance, and asking
for Mr.. Cleveland's views thereon.
Among the declaration Of purposes are
the following:
To labor for the education ofthe ag-
ricultural classes in the science of econ-
orival government in strictly nom
partisan spirit.
To secure purity of the elective fran
chise and to induce all voters to intelli-
gently exercise it for the enactment and
execution of laws which will express
the most advanced pnblic sentiment
upon all questions involving the in
terests oflaborers and farmers.
To suppress personal, local, sectional
and national prejudices, all unhealth-
full rivalry and all selfish ambition.
Mr.. Cleveland replied as follows:
J. a. Hill, corresponding secretary, Sc:
Dear Sir-I have received your letter
accompanied by a copy Of the dcclara-
ton of principles of the Farmers Alli-
ance.
1 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 govern
ment should he the freedom, prosperity
and happiness of all our people, and
Who believes that justice and fairness
to all are necessary conditions to its
useful administration.
1t has always seemed to me that the
farmers of the country were especially
interested in all 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 sober
consideration of their needs and their
rights, as related to this subject, have
excited my surprise.
Struggle as they may, our farmers
must continue to be purchasers and con-
sumers of numberless things enhanced
in cost by tariff regulations. Surely
they have the. right to say that this
cost shall not be increased for the pur-
pose OF collecting unnecessary revenue
or to give undue advantage to domestic
manufacturers. The plea that our in
fant industries need the protection
which thus impoverishes the farmer
and consumer is, in view of our natu-
raj advantages and the skill and in-
genuity of our people, hollow pretext.
Struggle as they may, our farmers
cannot. escape the conditions which
fix the price of what they produce and
sell, according to the rates which pre-
vail in foreign markets, flooded with
the competition of countries enjoying
freer exchange Of trade than we. The
plausible presentation of the blessings
of home market should not deceive
our depressed and impoverished agri,
cuituri>ts. There is no. home market
for them which does not take its in
structions from the seaboard, and the
seaboard transmits the word of the
foreign markets.
Because my conviction that there
should be a modification Of our tarif
laws arose principally from an appre
ciatian of the wants of the vast arm
Of consumers, comprising our farmers
our artisans and our worlingmen, ant
because their condition has led me t
protest against the present imposition
I am especially glad to see these sec
tions of my fellow-countrymen arouS
ing themselves to the Importance o
of tariff reform.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEvELAND,