The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-02-16
To the voters orLyon County.

AS The News is free to discuss
the financial interests of the people,
please give space toa few ideas from
one who has lived many years and
been close observer of causes and
effects in financial affairs, and who
wishes to give a word of caution,
as l know by sad experience that
we are struggling under a burden
for our folly-so nearly suffocated
that many of US are, like a drown
ing man, ready TO catch at a straw
for salvation, without a proper
thought. wish to say that it is
not best to risk the same remedy for
relief that brought us TO our pres
emit condition. We have committed
q financial evil, with the view of
lettering our condition. Let US
take as primu .Jac,G evidence that
out of evil there can come no good.
1t is equivalent to something in the
effect being superior to the cause,
which we are all ready to admit
cannot be. The verV principle of
voting bonds is contrary to all good
order and common sense, and is Civ
en- up by best judges to be perni-
ciOus and dangerous, more or lese,
in all cases. Then let US take a So
Der thought, and before voting
bends again know that its effects
are going to better our condition.
/, for one, have never seen bonds
voted for any purpose, outside of
county and school purposes, that
have not proved failures, and total
loss in many cases. am a railroad
man, aud ever have been, aud will
ing according TO my ability to aid
in building railroads where they
are needed--as pecuniary interest
by enhancing the values of the peo-
pie as an individual; but never
have thought it right or just to adj
vocate the principle of taxing the
people to get them, and much less
so where there is no pecuniary in
terests at stake.
Ny friend Riggs tried to advocate
the principle of neces sity for an
other road, which he failed to do, 1
think. He advocated the principle
that taking strychnine in small doses
will prevent death. He positively
declared that if we did not take
more, death was our portion. If we
have to die, think we had better
make up our minds for death and
not take any more poison. It is
best to take all such accidents coolly,
and not be scared out of our wits.
Mr.. Il. says we want all the roads
we can get, an assertion 1 won't
deny. And want q fine horse aud
buggy, but don't think it just or
prudent to tax the people to get
them. Nor haye / any assurance
thst 70 take more poison will coun-
teract poison.
l an willing to admit that the
narrow-gauge road can carry freight
lower in proportion to cost, and if
the present roads are freighting at
their lowest figures, and keep it up,
the narrow-gauge is what we want.
But If the pre- sent reads are not
freighting as low as they can, can
see no assurance of any counterac-
ton whatever, as the effects of poi
son generally act in the same way.
It was urged that it would not on
the account of the width of track
but think that too thin; 1 must
acknowledge 1 can't see il. Riggs
colleague-his name 1 have not in
my mind at present--tried to give
an illustration of the case, to show
that the effects would not be the
same. He represented Lockerman
as being 9 farmer and himself a
lawyer. I viewed the illustration
as not any better than none at all.
If he had represented Lockerman az
being a big farmer and himself a
lesser one, that Lockerman had rails
ed his corn with two horse culti-
vator and that he had raised his
corn with one horse cultivator, 1
would have considered it fair IL
lustration; and then told how there
was any chance to keep him and
Lockermen from putting their heads
together and saying they must have