New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-15
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.

lie service in his letter to the Commercial Con-
eress at Kansas City. The body addressed may
not be one of the greatest importance. But the
letter is in fact addressed through that body to
all the people of the United States, and will be
read by all with deeper appreciation OF the abll-
ity of President Harrison, his sincere and patrl-
otto desire for the welfare of the country, and
his broad and statesmanlil1e views on questions
about which men and parties are now most per-
plexed 1t will be extremely difficult even 1or
the most prejudiced opponents OF the PRESIDENT
to find ground for criticisng this remarkably
strong letter, the more because his views are
expressed most modestly, and to use his own
language, "without bigotry of opinion, without
any assumption of infallibility, but as an Amerl-
can citizen, having a most earnest desire that
every individual and every public act OF my
life shall conduce to the glory OF our country
and the prosperity of our people"
The President considers at some length the
two topics which more than any others have
caused perplexity of opinion among the people
of Western States, and especially among farm
ers. He examines first the conditions affecting
agricultural prosperity, points to the extraordi-
nary increase of production and enlargement OF
and recognizes the necessity of larger markets.
But he adds: 81 am one OF those who beneVe
that home market is necessarily the pest
market for the producer" and he thereupon
urges that "a policy that would reduce tne
number of our people engaged in mechanlcal
pursuits, or diminish their ability to purchase
food products by reducing wages. cannot be
helpful to those now engaged in agriculture
The argument for maintenance OF the Protective
policy could not be stronger. But with that
quaint humor and strong sense which the Presl-
dent 50 often showed in his speeches when a
candidate he goes on to urge that, while farm
ers insist that the prices of farm products have
been too low as he also thinks:
venture to remind them that the plea they make
involves the confession that things may be too cheap
coat may be too cheap as well as corn The farmer
who claims good living and profits for his WORK
should concede the TO every other man or woman
who tolls.
In this reasoning the President brings home
with clearness to the farming laborers the right
full demands of those who are engaged IN other
honest and productive industry He urges with
irresistible force the fact that it the coat is made
too cheap, and the people who make coats are
therefore unable to buy freely of corn, it IS an
inevitable consequence that corn will be too
cheap.
But in connection with this point the President
recognizes fully and frankly the Importance ana
necessity Of " attaining a largely increased mar
ket for staple farm products without impalrlng
home markets by opening the manufacturing
trades to a competition in which foreign pro-
ducers paving lower scale of wages would have
L. hot
arrangements, for which the Administration is
negotiating with most hopeful prospects, VIII
furnish new and large markets for meats, bread
stufTs and manufactured products. lie urges
also that the persistent efforts OF the Admins
traton to secure the removal OF restrictions upon
imports into European countries or American
meats and live cattle are Of the highest impor-
lance. and adds: {" look with confidence to
successful termination of the pending negotia-
tons. No effort and none of the powers vested
in the Executive will be left unused to secure an
end which is so desirable" This is peculiarly
strong declaration, in view of the remarkable
powers vested in the President by the Meat
inspection Act passed by the last Congress.
II will be remembered that under this act the
President has power absolutely to exclude the
products OF other countries which unjustly dis
crjminate against American products.
With the same franlxness and courage the
President takes up the currency question. lie
avows his belief in bimetallism, and in the
fullest use of silver compatible with mainte-
nance of the equality OF gold and silver coin.
But bis argument on this question also deserves
the sober consideration of all the people of the
West. lie urges that any dollar issued by the
United States should be made and kept rs good
as any other dollar; that if either kind Of money
is rated below Others it is proof that we have
passed the limit of safe experiment; and that ii
dollars differ in value only the poorer will circu-
| late. and the farmers and laborers who have
not access to tickes or telegmphs more than
any other class of the people require dollars OF
full value. Bankers and spectators, the Presi-
dent well says, may profit by fluctuations in the
value of money. Butisuch fluctuations can only
rob and wrong the producers and the laboler'
of every kind.
| IL is fortunate that the President has taken
an early opportunity to state with such force
his views on these questions. The arguments
he submits will not be found easy to answer BY
those who dissent from him, nor will they TAI
of great influence upon the opinion OF sober anC
substantial citizens in all parts OF the country