The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-27
CARLTSLE'S PROTEST.
A CONCISE REVIEW OF THE SUB
TREASURY SCHEME.

They Will be Injurious Aiike 10 thc
Farmer and the Laboring Man Every
where.
The continued discussion Of what Is
termed the sub-treasury scheme. and re-
cent expressions Of dissatisfaction from
farmers alliances with the position Of
Senator Carlisle, induces the Courier
Journal to publish Mr.. Carlislc's letter ON
the subject in full. The substance OF this
letter has been sent out by the Associated
Press, but il is so clear and conclusive in
its demonstration Of the impracticability Of
the measure that the Courier-Journal gives
il entire.
Il. +. Howard, Esq. Tuskcgee, Ala;
Dear Sir-YOur favor stating that you are
member Of the Farmers Alliance of Macon
county, Alabama, and requesting me 10
rive my views on what is commonly known
as the "sub-trcasuTy plan,' was duly re-
ceived and take the earliest opportunity
to reply. You state that yon have been a
Democrat for fifty years, and that you ana
| those with whom you are associated are IN
| favor of equal Justice 10 all and special Ia
yors TO none" This is sound Democratic
doctrine, and if it had been strictly adj
bered TO in Congress during the last quarter
of a century the evils Of which the farmers
and other classes of our people justly com
plain would have been ayerted and the whole
country would be prosperous and c0ntented.
But unfortunately the paternal theory OF
government, which owns its origin in this
country to the advocates Of system of tax
alton which makes unjust determinations
against part of the people for the purpose
| OF increasing the profits of another part. mas
been 50 frequently embodied in our legsla-
ton during the last twenty-five years that
instead of recognizing common interest
/ in the general welfare it has divided the
people into warning classes, each striving
TO secure for itself some peculiar advantage
at the expense Of all the others.
| The prevailing theory is that the indiild-
ual citizen must not rely on his own effort
i'm the transaction of his individual bust
ness. but that he has a right 10 appeal and
ought TO appeal TO the government for IMAM
cia assistance i'm every emergency, forget
ting that the government has not and never
can have any money except what isreallIeu
by taxation in some form upon the people oi
the United states. IL Is theory winch
grossly miscOnstrues and peryerts the
powers of the government, paralyzes indi-
vidual effort and destroys that spirit Of
self-relance and independence which is an
absolutely essential qualification for good
citizenship in "A free republic. IL not only
demoraizes the people, but If persisted
i'm will convert the government IT.
self into a patriarchal desp0tlsm WIZ
absolute control over all the financial, IN
dustrial. and personal interests OF It's citl
zens. The farmers Of the country have beei
taxed so long for the benefit Of other classes
and have seen 50 much LEGISLATION for The
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF corporations and syndi
Gates. that their patience is exhausted; anC
finding it impossible for the time being. al
least. to abolish the system which has Op
pressed and despOiled the greatest indus
trial interests Of the country, they are now
demanding that the very policy which they
have heretofore denounced as unjust ant
ruin0us shall be applied 70 them, or par
Of them, for no scheme has vet been sug
gested that would operate alike upon al
farmers.
That they have been oppressed and de
spoiled by unjust legislation must be nd
mitted BY all who have given any attention
to the subject, and when they see measure
reported fayrably to Congress to tax then
still further for the purpose ofraising none,
to pay subsidies and bOunties 10 wealth.
steamship corporations and to the producer
of sugar and silk. which are among th'
least important Of our domestic products. j
is not at all strange that they should be
/, come more dissatisfied than ever. and NOR
urgent in their demands tor relief; but M
evil can be corrected, no wrong can b
, righted 10y increasing its magnitude and eX
: tending the scope Of its operations. Their
is but one efectual remedy for the eyi
which undoubtedly exists, and that Is 4
reverse the policy which produced il.
THE SCHEME EXPLAINED.
! | l.ar tls..
some parts Of the country have been fOrmu
lated, and at their request bills have beer
. presented in the House and in the Senat
. which many Of them think viii Afford the ne
cessary measure Of relief. / need not under
. take to state all the details Of these plans
/ for whatever the particular provisions %
the bill may be. the whole scheme in ~
} general form and design is vicious in prin
ciple. and # adopted would prove in prac
tise runOus 10 every interest it is intende,
TO benefit The plan 10 which you allud
in YOUR letter is to establish what are 10 b
, denominated sub-treasuries, and erect pub
lie warehouses in every county IN th
United States which produces and sells an
nuallv more than 500, 900 worth of wheat
corn. oats, cotton and tobacco. and permi
the owners of these products, whethe
farmers or not. TO deposit them u
, these warehouses and receive from th
government in treasury notes, To be lssuc'
expressly for that purpose, 80 per cent. %
the market value Of the products. .
course there must be officers and emplOyc
TO take charge of these warehouses an'
/ their contents, receive and receipt for th'
products deposited, pay out the money ID
} The depOsitOrs. receive the money when thl
products are redeemed, sell unredeemel
property, and generally 10 exercise th'
, combined functions of warehousemen, bank
! ers. auctioneers, and executive officials.
| All these officers ana employees must b'
COMPENSATED for their services either by
fees charged TO the depOsitOrs Of products
, or by payments out Of the public treasury
and all or nearly all will be partisans o
the Administration in power, because
under the Constitution they cannot Dc
chosen by the people, but must be APPOINTED
by the President or the head Of the depart
ment, or the judges of the United state
Court.
1t is proposed to appropriate the sum o
$50 900, 600 at once. to begin the erection o.
these warehouses, and while we have no ac
curate data upon the subject, it is perfectly
safe to'say that they would cost altogether
many times that amount, all OF which mus
, be raised BY taxation on the people. th'
farmers themselves, under our system. pay
ing much more than half their equal share
There are more tlan :, fOU COUNTIES III lh
United States. but not more than one-thirC
of them, if that many, produce and sell an
nually more than $4,000 worth Of wheat
; corn. oats, cotton and tobacco, and, there
2 fore not more than One-third Of them cOulC
? possibly avail themselves OF this plan If j
2 were adopted. 1t will be seen, therefore, a
the very outset that it is plan to c0mpe
the government 10 issue and distribute
money for the benefit of the people living il
the rich and productive counties at the eN
pense of the people living in the poor anC
less productive ones.
WILL AID THE SPECTATORS.
f Moreover, it is plan 90 enable unscrupu
lous Spectators TO take advantage OF the
farmers Tecuniary necessities and eXtOr
eXOrbitant prices for food from people who
reside i'm cities and towns and villages, am
: from people who reside in the country, bu
do not own these particular agricultural
products. Ii is evident that no farmer vii
subject himself to the labor and expense O
transporting his products 10 the public
warehouses and to all other charges which
must pay for storage, for handling and fol
taking care of them while there, when he
has harms and 0ronariCS at home. unless lt