Daily Republican., 1886-05-01


There 10 still one way left out OF the
arising BY she cenfiict between
labor and capital. The government
lands are still lofs opsA 70 settlers ~
they always have been Every Amer
loan citinen, head ofA family, 10 entitled
by national Law 10 one hundred and
sixty acres OF land free OF cost sxcsps
the small fee for securing bis ttla Ali hs
has to do IL 70 select IL and remove his
family there 70 live on IL. Ohjectisns
are made that these lands are In the az
treme west, much OF ID bsyond the
bounds OF civilization, and for q man
with family TO 60 there would Be
practically going out OF the world Be-
sides, many families who would 60 are
poor; cannot pay the fare to this coup-
try, and II they get there they would
not have the means for purchasing
tools, farming utensils and stock for
improving their land and erecting
buildings. All they get Is the land from
the government There 1t is, hundred
and sixty acres OF 1t, covered with
wood and underbush, perhaps rocky
and sterile, perhaps low and mArshy,
with no fences nor outbuildings. This
Is the gift OF the government, all other
Improvements the settler must make.
We acknowledge al these objections,
but we do not forget that Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan and 9 number OF
other flourishing Western and North
western States were all on the frontier,
and looked a. unpromising as the I'M
settled lands In Kansas, Nebraska, Da-
kotA and other States and territories
beyonS, now do.
But why should not further govern
ment aid be invoked In aid OF these
settlers? Instead OF reducing the reve-
nues Of the government by senselest
tariff reductions, let the surplus In the
Treasury be loaned to these new settlers.
The government, II 1t must have the
money back, can take first mortgage
on the farms for its advance to be paid
back In certain number Of years wher
| the settler is able to pay 1t. The gov
erument should also throttle the lant
grabbers, who are taking possession o
millions Of acres Of the public lands 70
speculative purposes and preserve then
for actual bona-hde settlers. Ii woul'
be better for the government TO spen'
its money by preventing labor strike
In this manner than 70 spend 1t b,
putting down strikes by military force
II the troubles ever reach that far
OF course 1t Is not expected that then
would be general migration OF fami
lies to the West, bat enough under sucl
government provision and protection
would 90 10 relieve the labor pressure
and that is what Is needed now.
The man who takes this step ma.
not have the good fortune 10 accumu
late an Independent competency, bu
ha will at least be his own master, AM
he has the sure expectation that II he
industrious and economical his childrel
will be left in o better condition OF life
There should not be any prolonged o
serious labor troubles in this countr.
while we have still q great area Of pub
lie lands at for the settlement OF on
people held for their homesteads an
open to them rs harbor OF refuge.
American workmen on account @
their superior intelligence are dangerou
persons when out Of employment
through any Encouragement or injus
tice. They cannot be Inundated lik
European workmen, but will deman
their rights, and the government woul
do well to respect those rights. The
are fond OF their families and loo
ahead for their welfare. While the
can 90 and take up a free homestea
and make themselves and children II
dependent they will hardly go TO ex
tremes st home, but the government b
the plan we have indicated can clea
the way for their action without al
suming greater risk than parting frol
friends and the comforts of home,
they were of that class that had thoi
comforts.