The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-22
PRACTICAL POLITICS.

To the Editor of the Eagle
My last cOmmunicatiOn-w like
the present one, as the rain was gently
falling on the bosom of mother earth
was subjected to good natured criti-
cism by "Sure Enough Kanzan." l do
not like a petulent critic, but an open,
honest criticism, having for its object
the attainment of truth, is entitled to
special consideration. For the informa-
ton of your occasional correspondent,
and all others interested in such matters,
| will briefly state that the Northern AL
lance is a living, growing organization
having stare organizations in
Nebraska, Dakota, Missouri, Ohio,
Iowa and several other states.
Its methods are different from the at
tainments Of a common object. 1t will
not unite with an organization that adj
vocates wild, revolutionary methods
that it believes would bring ruin and dis
aster on a class upon whom all pros
perity depends. | was glad to find your
correspondent did not enter into a de-
fence of the proposed granaries. From
his silence on this remedy for low prices,
l fondly hope his knowledge of indus
trial questions prevents him from being
humbugged by sincere but misguided
leaders, whose erroneous principles can
not stand the test of experience. l have
not the slightest faith in the financial
theories that are proposed for the adj
vancment Of the material prosperity of
the farmer Lending Us money at one
or two per cent. per annUm on real eS-
tate and chattle security would bring I'M
paralleled disaster, not only to farmers,
but all classes would be involved in
common ruin. When the money lender
cannot receive Just equivalent for his
money he will export it to other cOun-
tries where interest IS higher than here.
This Is universal law. All
the products of the farm. factory.
furnace and mine viii seek the highest
market and until human seIfshness IS
eliminated from mems hearts money
viii be governed by the same law. An
act Of the national legislature will not or
cannot compel this class to invest their
money in manufacturing enterprises.
l. / cannot receive fair price for my
hogs, steers and horses in the vicinity in
which | reside, viii ship to a distant
market. This IS not only human nature,
ii Is good, common sense. a quality pos
seSsed IN a superlatiye degree by money
lenders.
So-called statesmen and financial lu-
who assure the farmer that the
prices of his wheat. corn. hogs and cattle
are regulated by the amount Of money in
and at the same time adv0-
cate a policy which would have the effect
of driving from our shores untold mil
lions of money. can not claim 10 be
either consistent or patriotic. We have
about as much money IN circulation this
year as last: It's true two millions per
month Is being constantly added 10 the
circulation bv the coinage OF silver. but
the withdrawal of national bank notes
contracts the currency as much as
the coinage of silver expands II. Is
not the present good time
to ascertain the cause of wheat
being 40 per cent dearer this year than
last, and corn worth more than 800 per
cent above the price paid last December:
VIII those who trv hard 70 believe that
the price of our farm products Is deter
mined by the volume OF currency. re-
move from their eyes the partisan glasses
which induce such mental blindness;
For farmers in this commercial age
there Is but one market: it Is the world
market. as steam and electricity have
practically annihilated distance, and
when from any cause we produce large
surplus beyond the usual requirements OF
consumers. the price viii fall, often be
low the cost Of production.
Level-headed farmers understand this
and know that the only legislation that
an benefit Us when 20 circumstance i
the opening Of new markets for oar pro-
ducts hitherto inaccessible. The practi- (
al efforts now bang made by James q. (
Blaine 10 open new markets Tor cur pro-
ducts l. of greater value 70 al classes Of
)ur people, and II successful VIII place
= safer aud quicker on the highway Of
than al the utoplan schemes