The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-07-26
the result must be uncertainty, ,distrust.

the result must be uncertainty, ,distrust
recklessness, expenditure and ruin.
"besldes this, no system ever imag-
ined could In my Judgment furnish
such harvest to speculators and lob.
bers as that proposed. Shrewd and
INSCRIPTIONS operators would know
precisely what amount of deposits was
IN each warehouse. and would work
their corners aud combines accordingly.
Greedy aud voraciOus ShylOcks would
De found in each county waiting to
purchase ihe farmers certificates of
deposit If he should be unable to re-
deem the commodities deposited, and
In the large majority of cases the depos.
ltor would In The end be I'm worse
condition than when be made the
deposit.
II do not care to 90 farther into
details. The proposed legislation is
antagonistic to all my ideas of our
government. am opposed to
all laws which put the government
INTO partnership with classes or
individuals. The government should
not be made warehouseman, or auc-
tioheer or bailee. II is simply a gov
erDmeutal agency, whose powers aud
functions are limited and defined by
the constitution, and L do not belong
to that school which teaches that under
the general welfare clause of the con.
stltution congress can do anything.
A CLEARLY ENUNCIATED TRUTH.
"No clearer truth was eyer enuncist-
ed than President Cleveland's manly
declaration that 'ihe people must
support the government, but the
government must not support the
people. have Just come from
the senate, where | have been en-.
gagged IN earnest opposition to legis-
latlon giving to certain steamship lines
enormous subsidies out of the public
treasury. The argument urged ia
behalf Of this Legislation was that these
steamship owners could not run their
vessels without the government ad-
vancing them money in their private
business. In other words, they ask
that the money taken by taxation from
Nil the people shall be used by few
for their personal advantage.
81 am opposed 10 all such legislation
Oh land and ocean. II is the function
OF government to give eqaal protection
TO ali its citizens aid To exact euual
taxation for the support Of the govern
nent, but alter this every citizeu must
rely on himself. l know that this
principle has Leen aud is being violated,
but one bad law does not Justify or
pslliate another The farmers OF the
United States are suffering from
unjust and unequal laws, and l am
doing all In my power to repeal these
statutes, but no matter how great my
sympathy 1 must deal with them
frankly, and endesvor to retain their
respect and my own.
81 need make no professions to the
farmers of Missouri, and especially of
Saline county. They have known me
tor many years and my record as q
public servant 10 before them. II they
cannot trust me now 10 words of mine
would give them faith. IL they do not
believe from what l have done In the
past that am anxious TO promote their
welfare l have no guarantee to offer
for the future.
"I am fully conscious of the fact that
what have written will be used
against me by personal and political
enemies, and know that the time is
propitious for misunderstanding and
misapprehensiOn OF all who antagonize
the opinions and wishes of many who
have just reason for compliant over
existing conditions, but anxious as 1
am TO retain the confidence Of those
who have been my constant friends. 1
must leave no doubt as to my present
opinions and iuture actions.
Very truly, etc.,
G. G. VEST.
''To Messrs. l.. Leonard, r. Gaines
Robertson and George l.. Mason,
Executive Committee of Farmers
and Laborers' Union of Saline coun-
", Missouri, Marshall, Mo-