Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-11-20

From the Chicago Express

| AaNHi NHu NiAlCuBO LAprths
If from any cause or combination OF
causes the supply Of wheat should be di.
mlnlshing, or the demand for it increasing,
without a corresponding increase IN the
supply, 1t would be in order for everyone.
both great and small, to inquire into the
extent and the probable duration of the
decrease; and no one would be thought
tlmld or foolish for expressing fears that
the supply of bread,tutfs might some day
be curtalled, or that the danger might
some time become serious. Then, if it
became apparent that the decrease was to
go on from year to year, without any pros
pect or hope OF a reaction, it is highly
probable that the people would become
uneasy, and would agitate the subject and
begin to search for the causes, and to de-
wise and suggest remedies. No one would
be called an idiot" because he engaged
in the discussion, nor would he be called
a "lunatic" because he suggested rene
dies. Every philanthropist would urge
the farmer to initiate the wheat crop, and
the inventive genius of the nation would
be called upon to devise additional ma.
chlnery for stimulating and increasing its
production. The "credit of the govern
ment' will not be impaired, because it
held out incentives in the shape of patent
rights, nor would it be called "repudia-
tor because it opened up new territory,
and offered inducements to settlers to
break up and cultivate new wheat fields.
Even the Statesmen" in congress would
stop "Jawing' each other like fish-women
long enough to talk about measures of
relief, at least. If, in this dire neces-
sity, some prying Yankee should discover
a way by which corn-bread could be made
to taste as well and be even more nutri.
tious than wheat bread, the event would
be hailed with delight byneariy the entire
nation, and the discOverer would be
counted Il beneiactor to his race, but
would never be accused OF consplring
to lnlure the wheat holder, or to "violate
contracts" Then it some one still more
ingenious should invent plan for max
ing bread Of Il material almost inexpen-
slve, and yet hundred times better, and
every way more desirable, palatable and
nutricious, the suffering and starving
millions would almost worship him as
their savior, and his praises would 90 up
from every corner of the land, and from
every mouth, except those personally in
terested in dear wheat;" and the first
man who called him "repudiator," or
communist, would be hung to the near
est tree or lamp post by the grateful but
excited populace. If, then, it was discov-
cred that our agents in congress, who had
been sent there and paid by the people to
legislate in their interest, were at the
bottom Of the whole trouble, and were in
cOlluslon with class of men who had
control of the wheat and the wheat lands,
to rob them of the right to initiate the
wheat crop to save themselves from star
vatlon, we would x ,ect to hear a storm
Of indignation, and see the people uniting
into party to overthrow the wheat pow.
er and to hurl our rulers from their high
places. And then, if in addition to all
this, congress should delegate to cer-
tain few the exclusive privilege of prOduc-
ing the wheat. debating to the people
how much bread they should eat, con-
and expanding the supply as
their einterest demanded; that bread
should be made of no substance EXCEPT
wheat-no remedies should be applied
and no substitutes devised and used;
and, finally, to crown all, if it was placed |
on a specie basis, so that every bushel of
it would bring % ll-50 grains of gold, it |
is certain that the hungry masses would
become disloyal, and would threaten re-
volt, and prepare to arm themselves, and |
to sell their lives, and the lives of their
as dearly as possible, and in so
doing they would only be acting in obe-
dierce to the law Of self-preservatlon