The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-02-05
EMPORIA NEW S.
FRIDAY, FEpRUARY 5, Is75.
DEsrIrUrTON.
BancrOft's Real Estate Register.

IN response 10 numerous 1nQuir-
les from all parts Of the country, we
are constrained to express our
views upon the subject of furnish
ing aid tn the destitute in this state.
On one hand we desire to avoid
a repetition of the outrageous
swlndles of 1860, from the effects Of
which as state, we have scarcely
recovered and on the other hand.
we desire to have every case of real
suffering relieved.
For the benefit of our Eastern
readers, we will state, that between
the Missouri state line and the
sixth principal meridian, a distance
OF one hundred and fifty miles,
there are forty counties, which are
called in this new country, we'll
settled. West of that meridian,
with the exception of narrow strip
along the Kansas Pacific railroad.
the settlements are of quite recent
date. Every one of these forty
eastern counties, and part of the
western, are abundantly able, and
we hope willing to relieve every
case of distress within its own ter
riiory. Very few people in the
State want charity. What they
want is credit. They want time to
recover from their disasters. This
credit should be given by the coun-
ties themselves. The County Com
missioners are the proper men to
manage it, and ifthey need advice
or assistance, let them call to their
aid such well informed and reliable
men in the county as they may de-
sire.
All honor, say we, to those noble
men and women, whose ears are
ever open to the cry of distress
wherever heard. All honor to
those grand and noble corporations
who are expanding their thousands
in sending free to the needy the do
nations of the charitable. But, dis
honor and disgrace will be our por-
ton If we sit idly by, eating the
bread of charity, without one earn
est, honest effort to help ourselves.
We feel deeply on this subject, and
must be pardoned If we express
ourselves strongly. We have been
placed for years in "a position to
know and feel, more than most peo-
pie, the untold injury done oul
State, by the wholesale systematic
begging, (plunderIng is the truer
word) of 1860. We think no citi-
zen OF Kansas desires to see those
shameful scenes repeated.
We advocate some system of coun-
ty action, because it places the re-
sponsibility for the faithful execu-
ton of the trust where it should be,
at home. There it can be watched
over ard criticized, if nee
essary. Yet we cannot believe that
the Commissioners of any county
can be found who would betray so
sacred trust.
The bonds should not run more
than five years; probably three
would be better. All the loans tina.
would ever be paid, could be paid
in that time, and the small amount
which would eventually prove to be
donations, would never be felt by
the taxpayers. In large majority
of cases these bonds would be sold
at home, the proceeds expended at
home, or at least in the State, thus
releasing large amount of money
which would benefit every body.
The loans to individuals, which
would not be large in any case,
could be made lien on their real
estate, the same as taxes, and thus
save time, trouble and expense, in
securing the loan. Those who have
as yet no title to their land, could
give lien on their crops, stock,
etc., to make the eecurity reasona-
bly, good.
We trust. that the united wisdom
of our Legislators will be able
speedily to devise some practicable
plan to accomplish the result, and
then by an united effort of press and
people, drive out of existence the
countless horde of irresponsible
shysters who are growing fat on the
contributions of the generous.