New-York tribune., 1890-03-31
rNfAITUFTL TRUSTEES.

iNF1I INIi l. IH NiIsI'.
Nobody intentionally selects aS his trustee
one whose reputation is that he hahituay ab-
serbs whatever property he can get within
reach Bu, every public official and every
voter is in fact a trustee. This trust, often
overlooked. it is Of the highest importance in
these days TO impress upon the mind. The
public official most men realize, is trustee for
the people, but very few remember that every
voter also has "A sacred trust, in behalf of the
entire body OF citizens, and particularly OF
those who are not permitted TO vote. Half the
population who are females, and more than
half Of the remainder vino are males. not yet OF
age intrlst all their interests IN 50 far aS they
can be affected lyy the conduct of public affairs
to that part Of the population. usually about.
one fifth, which is permitted by the laws TO
vote. No other trust, whether under or out
side of the laws. can be more sacred than this
That voter is unworthy Of his great trust, and
proves himself unfit for share in clf-goy-
ernmcnt who consciously uses his voting power
for his personal interest and against the in
tcrest OF the entire body Of citizens.
What is TO be said, then, Of the voters who
ask that their debts shall be scaled down ac-
cording to their own conceptions OF proprety
and that their hOmcstcads shall be exempted
from all taxation. other people being compelled
to pay their share Of the expenses OF govern
mcnt? 1t is difficult TO believe that such pro-
posas are made by voters in a sincere belief
that they are for the public good The warp
ing and binding influence OF elf-iptcrcst often
| brings men to think that the whole people VIII
| be benefited by measures which serve their
private ends. but can the following resolutions
| which were adopted by certain voters in Kansas
| be by any one imagined to be for the welfare
| of the entire body of citizens?
We demand legislative enactment apportonlng the
| shrinkage Of farm values that under mortgage
obligations by Of contraction of the crcnlaiinS
medium or other unjust legislation between The mort
gagor and the mortgage In proportion to their re-
spccivc interest at the time the mortgage drawn
We demand that constitutional amendment be
submitted TO the people Of Kansas allowing the legis
ativc enactment Of exemption Of homestcads occupied
by their owners from taxation, wholly or In part.
These are published as resolutions adopted
| by the presidents of various county branches
of the Farmers Alliance in Kansas, at a meet
| ing held at Topeka last week The first pro-
poses forciblc confiscation of part of the prop
| erty loaned by creditors TO farm-owners IN
| Kansas on the ground that since the loans were
| made circumstances have given the amount
of money thus loaned greater purchasing
power than it then had. IL that were entirely
| true, it would constitute no reason for deprlv-
ing lender of part of the sum loaned. No
contraction of the currency has occurred for the
| last ten years bat an increase fully proper
| toned to the increase in population. Any un-
| Just legislation entities those who are wronged
thereby to protest and resist to the full extent
] of their voting power. but it does not entitle