Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-08-13
Farmers and Socialists.

1t is little too easy to laugh at the
Socialists, as Mr.. Hewitt's committee
and the audience did on Saturday. So
clallstic notions are very laughable, it is
true, but it is sad fact that great many
persons in this enlightened country hold
these same absurd notions, Moreover,
the number Is not perceptibly diminish.
ing; to all appearance, it Increases
Ihese people are not convinced by
rldicule, however much it may be de-
served. An Overturning of society,
which seems only laughable to others,
seems eminently desirable to them, and
their political effort is mainly directed
by sincere desire to accomplish changes
which appear to most men in the last
degree absurd. If there were to be con-
sidered only the few who logically avow
hostility to the whole established order
things, ridicule would be as appropriate
as 1t is easy. Unfortunately behind
them are multitudes of voters who do
not as yet push theories to logical con.
clusions, but who are nevertheless con-
stantly Influenced by the very notions
to which the Socialists only give full
and free expression. 1t is not laugh
ing matter, but a very sombre fact, that
a great body of voters in this country
have come to consider that they are
wronged by the exercise of rights of pro-
perty owned by individuals; that there
is some gross injustice in the possession
Of large property by q few and of little
or no property by the many and that the
poor majority has some sort Of right to
resist payments of money loaned, or of
interest thereon, and to demand that the
power of Government shall be EMPLOY
ed to cut down the prof Is of the rich and
to increase the incomes of the poor.
Until recently it has been the general
belief that the great number OF farm
owners in this country would form an
effectual barrier against any assault up-
on rights of property. But it has corhe
70 pass that many farmers have adopted
ideas essentially communistic in two re-
spects. A very large number of them
desire reputation of local or national
Indebtedness. A large number, also,
want initiation of the currency, in order
to secure higher nominal prices for land
or products. The fact that enormous
sales OF breadstuffs abroad are effected
only because the prices here are low, and
ana That the farmers themselves would
be the chief sufferers if imitation should
so raise prices Us to check exports. does
not have weight with them. Neither do
they rightly estimate the enormous
losses ola community which results from
reputation of its debts. These farmers
think only of immediate gains-lighter
taxes and higher prices-and they find
themselves in unnatural alliance with
Socialists who are as hostile to owner
ship OF land as to ownership of bonds.
and Whoae real purpose is to deatroy
the savings of all who have accumulated
property, and to place on level in re-
wards the shiftless spendthrift and the
most thrifty and enterprising accumula-
tor of wealth.
The farmers are likely to be the chief
sufferers from the prevalence of com.
Wunistic notions. Money-lenders can
protect themselves, and when debased
public opinion and debauched law give
them no protection they levy the
heavier tax upon the community which
foolishly tries toplunder them. Dealers.
brokers, and merchants also have a Ger.
tain power ofself protection, which they
are Hpt SLOW to exercise. But the FARM
ers, who are the owners Of q great part
of the real estate, have TO pay the lafRef
share of the Increased taxes which bad
faith inevitably causes, and, rs producers
Of the articles which are most affected
in price by increase or decrease Of foreign
demand, tney suIIef more tnan anybody
else from imitation of currency or hone
of initiation. To whatever extent the
ideas of Socialists prevail in this coun.
Try Try the armG ,Sa ss, viii PAX Yeh 81
them are giving to schemes Of fepudia!
ton and initiation will bring greater loss
upon them than upon any other class of |
citizens. 1t would be well if all tho
farmers In the country could read with
care the wild statements made bv 81.
cfalists before the congregational commit |
tee. Sensible property. ow ners would |
find therein less occasion for laughter
than for indignatlon.-N. y. Tribune,
I s:a. 81 " !. |