The sun., 1881-01-30

We print letter from Mr.. FRANK WIIKE-
nom OF Kansas, and with some OF its views
no most emphatically do not agree.
In regard to what Is known as the Arid
Belt, tho longitudinal strip OF territory
crossing and including tho western part OF
Kansas, there is much conflicting testimony.
The justice OF tho term Arid, as implying
aniitness for agriculture, is stoutly denied
by many farmers who have settled near the
one hundredth meridian and west of that
line, as well as by all who are directly or
sndirectly interested in filling up these
bands with an agricultural population. On
tho other hand, the stock raisers, who are
sure to be driven of good grazing lands II
Che western counties OF Kansas are occupied
Tor farming, assert that the soil is sterile,
ehe climate hostile and the territory good
for naught except the breeding OF cattle.
Tho strongly conflicting interests OF the
stock raisers now in possession Of tho Arid
Belt, and of the agricultural settlers, who
are gradually encroaching on the grazing
lands, explain the contradictory statements
about the worth OF the soil. The two indus
tries cannot exist together In Western Kan
sas The farmers must keep out or the cat
tle men must go.
1t Is natural that our esteemed contribu-
cor, looking at the question with grazier E
eyes and having at heart the interests o!
that vast and important industry, should
forcibly present whatever arguments there
may be for the repeal OF the Homestead
laws. These laws constitute the chief agency
now operating to the dctriment OF the stock
xAisers in Kansas and elsewhere.
All that Mr.. WILKEsoN has to offer in the
way OF facts and legitimate argument show
iRg the effect Of the Homestead laws on the
aattle raising industry, is sure to be valuabl,
and interesting. The graziers ought to bt
protected to tho utmost degree cOnsisten
With the rights OF other citizens.
The prejudice against foreign immigra
fion which Mr.. WILKEsoN acknowledges IL
extensive language seems to us unworthy o
. man of sense such as he. His notions
On this subject are not only un-American
they are also long out of date. This natiol
has passed far beyond the period OF it
growth when the jealousy OF strangers anC
newcomers is factor in events We canno
AFFORD to relapse into Nothingism Th'
talk about crowding native-born American
out of their patrimony by opening the publ
lands on equal terms to citizens and to thos,
be ashamed Of. Any attempt in 1881 to dis
credit an element in our population whic
has done so much toward the development
n the West and the prosperity OF the Eas
bycalling them "poverty-stricken peasants
sf Europe" "penniless tramps," "foreig
cramps" foreign pauDers," poverty
Btricken patricians who inhabit Irish bogs.
and 80 forth, is in our opinion absurd, ant
unworthy of an intelligent American.
There has been unwise and reckless squan
aering OF the public lands by tho Govern
mont. But the sQuandering has been in tn
shape of grants and subsidies to great col
porations OF purely native origin; not in tn
allotment Of small homesteads to indus
frlous and thrifty men, who come over til
ocean to America as our fathers, grand
fathers, great-grandfathers, or great-great
4randfathers came.