Wichita eagle., 1886-10-13
Is HE A CRANK?
A. A. HENsLEY

To the Editor of the Eagle
WICHITA, Oct 1O-What of the reduc
ton of the national debt?
What of the future paper currency?
What of the national banks, their issue
and the foundation whereon that issue is
secured?
Will we ever again tolerate a paper cur
rency, founded on cheek and upheld by
credulity until the face of this country is
covered with bills 'like leaves on the
strand, through an era of unexampled
prosperity, when at last ga frost, killing
frost will nip its roots" and leave us sadder
| poorer, wiser, madder?
Will we pay off the debt, close all the
banks, issue silver certificates, build vaults
| to keep the silver in, have banks of deposit
only, until silver will be so cheap that all
contracts will call for gold, and force us to
resort to something?
Why not, when we bequeath to those who
come after uss free country-bequeath to
them, also, national debt, incurred in
building up the entire country, furnishing
transportation and means of communica
ton?
Why not condemn the railroad property
running from east to west, north to south
condemn the telegraph lines, express com
panies. Commence system of internal
Improvements, build government build
ing wherever the government has perma-
nent business, and issue bonds for the
whole with the understanding that the
principle is never to be paid? Why leave
the country to posterity free of debt? AS
Sir. Boyle Roche said, "WEat has posterity
done for us that we should burden our
selves on its account
When we leave the country to it-free,
happy, prosperous-only burdened with
interest on debt, incurred to benefit
the country, it seems we have left
it enough, and il can in turn
improve on our own Improvements, as we
have improved on those we found; and vet
greater improvement can still be made by
each succeeding generation.
The development Of the west and south
has only commenced, and by Il system of
governmental Improvements the country
can be benefited. by lasting and valuable
Improvements. and the stability OF our pa
per currency te established for all time.
The "bull butter bill has eradcated the
idea that there is anything congress may
not do, if it desires to do it.
The direct effect of purchasing the rail
roads, telegraph lines and express lines Win
be to force money invested in these lines to
seek after channels Hr dividends, and
these other channels must be the
upbuilding of the west and south.
Another effect would be to decrease the
rate of interest on money, cause better
homes and business houses to be built. i'm
prove the farms, and last. yet not least,
give employment to the laborer.
If Wichita should borrow $500, 900 on
forty years time at per cent interest and
spend it all in city improvements, who
would be poorer by reason Of it?
What built Wichita? Was it not faith
in the town and longtime money" a.
high rate of interest?
If the government borrows money and
issues bonds, and spends all the money in
the development Of the country, and pays
the interest by q tariff, and the principal is
renewable, as it ever will be forever. who
will be poorer by it? On the other hand,
may not great good flow from .he expendi-
ture?
If a farmer spends 81 900 to defend his
title TO his farm, wins the suit. and then
sits down TO rest without improving it be-
cause he is short of funds, and leaves the
land to his children free of debt. are not
those children in worse fix than Il he had
borrowed 80 per cent of its worth ard put
the money in Improvements.
This county was saved unimpaired for
the heirs of the soldiers, at q great cost.
and it seems to lis that 1t is worth IS much
TO improve it As it wss 10 save t, and ;ha.
the blessings to flow from its improvement,
from the ownership OF The railway. iele
graph and express Inns, are not slight but
great, and will be shared by the entire
country. QUERIsT