The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-06-11
Mere Persecution.

Mere Persecution.
"The President has resolved upon fore
ing into the market orr lands, at that
time Of the year when money is most
scarce, because the people of Kansas re.
fused the odions Lecornpton swindle, and
rejected the blight of slavery. The effect
of this persecution Of our people will be
disastrous. We fear very many Of them
will lose their little farms and improve
ments. They cannot possibly pre-emPt
before the day Of sale, and therefore, be-
canse of this Democratic persecution,
much suffering must ensue."-LaWrence
Republican.
Although the land sales have been
postponed for two years, to accommodate
the actual settlers, yet the editor of the
Republican can see nothing but political
persecution in the present sales, and his
voice quivers, and his eye moistens as he
gazes on prosecuted Kansas. Her mis-
cries alone move his bowels of compass
sion, and he is unable to perceive that
the same black cloud of desolation over
hangs poor, prosecuted, Democratic Ne
bfaska! The Nebraskians have been
guilty Of no treason--have rejected no
Lecompton, and are faithfully Demo
cratic, yet they, too, must have their lands
forced into the market at the same time
with the people of Kansas, aud of course
fall beneath the same impending blow"
Has the Republican no crocodile tears for
Nebraska?
The crops were good in Kansas last
year, and the overland immigration has
produced market for the surplus. II
the people had accepted the Lecompton
Constitution, nature could not have IA
vored them more than it has. The cause
of the moneyless state Of the people is
due to the excessive speculation in towns
and town shares, which HAS swallowed
up the money of the country SO as to
check the opening upof farms--the high
rates of interest which many poor men
have been compelled to pay for the use
of money with which to make their i'm
prOvsments, and the heavy Territorial
taxes.
Had there been less town-lot specula-
ton, the price of claims would have been
more reasonable. Spectators who in
tended to gamble in town shares, could,
without hesitation, pay from three to five
per cent. per month on money to be used
for speculative purposes. Persons oil
small means were induced to believe that
these paper cities would enhance the
price of lands around them, and hence
held their claims at enormous prices
They grasped for the largest amount TIA,
presumption law would allow, for the,
had the idea which the Republican an.
nounces, that "our lands are richly worth
onthe average, five or six times the Gov
eminent price," This is the old song o
land spectators, and yet they would b.
glad to sell their lands in Illinois anc
Iowa at very great reduction from tn,
prices at which they were held tire,
years ago. Wild lands are not produc
tive-they add no more to the real wealth
ofthe country in the hands of pre-emptors
than in the hands of spectators or O
Government. When capital and labo
are invested in improvements, and in thu
cultivation of the soil, then you hav
wealth-producing activities at work, AM
the soil by its nearness to market, or it
adaptability to remunerative crops, be
comes, with labor, producer of wealth
"The pre-emptor makes money even a
these high rates of interest" BY specu
lating, or by cropping? If by cropping
those who raised crops last year, or hav
them coming on now, certainly are re
ceiving no persecution at the hands O
James Buchanan. While the moneyles
adventures who have come into the Ter
ritory without means and made claims
may suffer from the Shylocks who de
mand their sixty per cent.-may hav
been wheedled into the Territory by lyin
newspaper correspondents and editors
duped by sharpers after coming here, jus
ss the same class amongst the Pike
Peakers have been duped, and are nov
suffering the results of improvidence an,
misplaced confidence; but they are no
the victims of Presidential persecution
The Kansas sufferers are the victims Q
Kansas Experimentation farms, if los
will be lost from their inability to obtai
money at fair rates, or to meet the hig
rates ofinterest they have agreed to. Tn
men who must bear large share of re
proach for the impoverishment Of thes
farmers, are those who preach that tn
laboring man in Kansas can afford to pa
from SOTO 60 per cent. year for the use
money, in the face Of the fact that ten pc
cent. ruined the early settlers in Wiscon
sin, and that even now, farmers who hav
bought on time the Illinois Central Rail
road lands, arc unable to pay their inter
est money, are in danger of forfeitin
their homes, and even, as the New Yor
Tribune states in late number, care S
poor that they have no money this sprin
to buy seeds WITH" and the managers q
the road have had to furnish them see
wheat.
The fictitious value placed upon will
lands, and upon money, has turned tn
enterprise of the country from its lsgiti
mate channel--agriculture--t speculation
The capitalist who can loan out none
well secured at 60 per cent, will not in
vest it where it will not be equally re
ro,par,tiva The narohont boa ',