The Red Cloud chief., 1878-10-17
FARMERS AND SOCIALISTS.
The Farmers Likely I" t1 the CHIEF sui.
rrrers from the Prevalence ~ Com.
muuistir Notions,

II L. "a little too easy TO laugh al the
~cucial,-,s. ~ Mr.. Ilcwitt's committee
and the audience did ~ SATURDAY 81.
c~iali~tit notions are very l~aughahlr. IL
il true. but il l. "A sad fact that "A great
many persons in this enlightened coun
try hold the same absurd notions.
Moreover. the number i not pcrccp,
IDLY diminishing, To all appearance, II
increases. These PEOPLE are not con.
WINGED by ridiculc. however much it NAV
bee deserved.
An ovrrturning If society. which
seems only laughablr To others, seems
cminently desirable Ia them. and their
political effort is mainly directed 10y "A
sincere desire to accomplish changes
which appear Ia most men in the last
degree absurd. II there were to Ice con
>idcrcd onl, the few who logically
ayow hos ili,y To- the whole established
order 'f things, ridicule would bc ap-
prOpriat. ~ il il easy. Unfortunately
! behind them are multitudcs If voters,
who do not ~ yet push theories Ia log
ical conclusions. but who are ncyerthc-
less constantly influenced 10y the very
notions Ia which the socialists only
give full and free expression. IL is not
"A laughing matter. but II very sober
fact, that a great body Of voters in this
country has come to consider that they
are wronged by the exercise Of rights II
Nproperty by individuals; there j. some
gross injustice in the possession of large
property by IA few and of little or no
property by the many; and that the
poor majority has some sort Of right Ia
resist payments Of money loaned, or Of
interest thereon. and "a demand that
the power Of government shall De en-
plpycd 10 N down the profits of the
rSh and to increase the income Of the
poor.
Until recently it ha, been the general
belief that the great number of farm
owners ih this country would form an
clectuai barrier against any assault
upon rights Of property. But il has
come Ia pass that MANY farmers have
adopted ideas essentially communiStiC
in two respects. A very large number
of them desire reputation Of local or
uation( indebtedness. \ large num-
Der, also. want imitation of the curren.
~, in order Ia secure higher nominal
prices for land or products. The fact
that enormous sales Of breadstuit-
abroad are effected only because the
prices here are low, and that the farm.
ers themselves would be the chief suf.
ferers If imitation should so raise prices
as TAI check exports, does not have
weigh, with them. Neither do they
ri~ghtfully estimate the enormous losse.
of "a community which result from re-,
pudia,ion 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 rs u ownership Of bonds
and whose real purpose is TO destroy
the savings Of all who have accumula.
ted property, and tn place on a level in
rewards the ,hiftless spendthrift and
the most thrifty and enterprising accu,
mtIa'0r of wealth.
rhc farmers are likely Ia be- the chiei
sufferers from the prevalence Of com,
muniStic notions. Money lenders car
3protect themselves, and when debasec
public opinion and debauchcd law Civ,
them no protection. they levy the heay
Ter tax upon the community which fool
ishly tries to plumber them. Dealers
4 brotrs aud merchants also ha,e a Ger
= tain power OF self-protection, which
they are moi slow 10 exercise. But thu
farmers, who are the oN ners Of u grea'
part of the real estate. have To pay the