Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-07-24


That the liberty OF the Individual ceases
where the rights OF society begin
ouR CURRENCY.
The people OF the United States, tbongh
often urged and tempted, have never seri-
ously contemplated the recognition OF any
other money than gold and siiger-andc cur
rency directly convertible into them lhey
have not done 50, they Will not 90 so, unaer
any necessity less pressing than that ~ des-
perate war The one special requisite for the
completion OF our monetary system ~ tne
fixing OF the relative values OF silver ana
gold The large use OF silver as the money
OF account among Asiatic nations, taken IN
connection with the increasing commerce OF
the world, gives the w~eightiest reasons Tor
an international agreement in the premises
Our government should not cease 10 urge
this measure until a common STANDARD OF
value shall be reached and estaDllshedS
standard that shall enable the United State9
10 use the silver from its mines as an aunr
iary to gold In settling the balances oil CONS
mercial~ exchange.
rHK PUBLIC LANDS
The strength Of the republic tsincreasedb by
the multiplication of landholders Our laws
should LOOK to the judiciOus Encouragement
OF actual settlers ON the public domain, which
should hencefortL be held as a sacred trust
for the benefit OF those seeking homes The
tendency TO consolidate large tracts OF land
In the ownership Of individuals OF corpora
tons should, with proper regard 70 vested
rights, be discouraged One hundred thou
sand acres of land in the hands OF one man
Is far less profitable to the nation in every
way han when its ownership Is divided
among l 900 men. The evil OF permitting
large tracts Of the national domain to be con-
solidated and controlled by the few against
the rsany is enhanced when the persons con-
trolling it are aliens lt IL but fair that the
public land should be disposed of only 60
actual settlers and to those who are cit
liens Of the republic, or willing TO become so.
OUR smPPISG INTERESTS.
Among our national interests one Ian
guishes-the foreign carrying trade IL was
very seriously crippled in our civil wal, and
another blow was given to II in the general
substitution of steam for sail in ocean traffic
With a frontage on the two great oceans,
with a freiP htage larger than that OF any
other nation, we ave every inducement 20
restore our navigation. Yet the government
has hitherto refused its help A small share
OF the encouragement given by the govern
ment to railways and 70 manufactures, and
a small share of the capital and the zeal
given by our citizens 20 those enterprises
would a carried our ships to every sea
and TO every port A law Just enacted re
moves some of the burdens upon our nayi-
CATION, and inspires hope that this great in
terest may at last receive its due share OF
attention All efforts in this direction should
receive encouragement
~sACREDNEss or THE BALLOT.
This survey of our condition as a nation
reminds us that material prosperity il but a
mockery il IL does not tend 90 preserve the
liberty Of the people, A free ballot is the
safeguard of republican institutions, without
which no national welfare Is assured. A pop
ular election, honestly conducted, embodies
the very majesty Of true government Ten
IiH'ans of voters desire TO a part in the
pending contest The safely of the repub-
lie rests upon the integrity OF the ballot,
upon the security of suffrage 20 the citizen.
TO deposit a fraudulent vote in M worse a
crime against constitutional liberty han TO
obstruct the deposit of an honest vote. He
who corrupts suffrage strikes at the very
root of free government He is the arch
enemy of the republic He foTgets that in
trampling upon the rights OF others he fatally
imperils his own rights. 1T is a good land
which the Lord our God doth give us" but
we can maintain our heritage only by guard.
ing with vigilance the source of popular
power am with great respect, your o5edi-
emit servant, JAMES c. BLAINE