The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-04-03
Official Press Of King County,
Wednesday, April 8. 1878
JUSTICE, NOT CHARITY.


Mr.. Representative Wright's bill to
provide for a government loan OF 5000
to every homesteader on the public
lands TO start him as farmer is reason
able enough on the ground of an eQui-
table compensation to the poor to Offset
some of the many and greater special |
concessions granted to the more favor
ed rich The impracticability of it.
however, is 50 apparent that few are so
sanguine as to anticipate its passage. 1t
would be direct subsidy to the indus
trial classes-a concession especially TO
the agricultural and laboring interest.
Certainly, if either side OF the house is
entitled to the special care and foster
ing aid of the government, it is that
Of industry rather than capital, which
is usually quite able to take care of
itself ard more. Yet, if we mistake
not the sentiment Of the average
American public. We know that such
an innovation is neither demanded nor
desired by them. All that the sturdy,
independent frontiersman asks is an
cqual chance with his neighbor, and
fair play. The system of pampering
any class Of citizens. if not repugnant
10 their self-respect, is at least per-
nicious in its moral effects upon the re
cipients. To be accustomed to draw
sustenanoe always from the pap of a
governmental nursing mother is not
conducive to true spirit of freedom
and independence.
The right watchword for the man
hood party of the United States is
equal rights to all. and not equal shares
in pampering privileges. If the rich
were not doubly subsidized in the
special privilege arrangement called |
the national bank system, the industri-
TO cry for government assistance to en-
able him to make his farm. The nation |
al banker receiving six per cent. inter |
est on his bonds and then second in
tcrcst in the shape of exemption from
the payment of taxes, is still further
allowed on deposit of his bonds In the
Treasury Department, without any
stoppage of their interest, to have the
use of nearly the Same amount of cur
rency for loan at the current rate of in
tcrest. Thus their usury is practically
treblcd by legal sanction BY such in
iquitous favoritism. monopoly is built
up and bolstered up to such degree of |
power aud immunity as to menace the
liberties Of the people and even the
very; existence, ultimately, of the COM
monwealth.
Better would it DO for the nation to
remain as in the simple days of Wash
ington andaa Franklin. when agriculture
was "the noblest calling of man." than
for the hustaadman aud the worker in
whatever line of industry he may toll,
To be ground in the dust beneath the
contemptuous car of subsidized wealth.
This wealth. be 1t remem bered,
subsidized and unjustly doubled
up by the votes of the work
ing people themselves through their
representatives in Congress.
What if tho repeal of the Nationa,
Bank Act would drive the bonds TO Eu
rope for market. it would drive more
of home capital into manufactures, rail- |
roads and farms. which would distrib-
ute more money. invite more 1mmigra-
lion. and create more actual wealth: dis. |
seminate more of happiness aud pros
perity among the people. Taxes would
bo lightened if tho interest on the bonds
were stopped. as ii should be, as long
as held in pawn as security for the is
sne OF currency. Allowing the interest
to accrue on such. is like psying hire
for dead horses.
While, therefore. we would not ask
for tho hardy pioneer loan Of 81 900 |
to set him up in farming. along with
the gift of the, LAND, we would demand
Tor his protection discontinuance of
The monopoly privileges that aggran-
dise the wealth of his opulent capital
ist neighbor, at the expense of his pow
er,y.