Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-15
@len71no THE FARMERS.

FIGHTING THE FARMERS.
An Important Point Overlooked by Rapa-
cious Republicans
There has been held to the soul of
greed the fattering JUNCTION that, even
If the unreasoning rebellion of the pro-
tected labOring men in the great cities
should threaten the happiness of the
monopolists for whose benefit the wage
earners had been protected by high
taxes there still remained the sturdy
farmers, and they would see to it that
wealth was protected against evil de-
signs Yet there now appears in the
columns of the daily press conmenda-
tory note of attacks and sneers aimed
at the farmers and their demands Some
hippant essayist collates bundle of the
diatribes used by politicians in place of
argument and mouths it before a SYM
pathetic audience, receiving the need
of hearty applause for his effort and
commendatory notice of the organs of
high taxes.
But it has not escaped the notice of
the now abused farmers and their
friends that these sneers betolzen an
interest in their proposals ince1npati-
bic with the supposition that they
are not troublesome to their former
allies. 1t has happened that the
most earnest alncng the agricult-
ural reformers have already dis
covered that the serious obstacle
In their path toward the attainment of
the rule of equal and exact justice for
the people lies in the fact that the
most ultra and idiotic proposition of
the Alliance can not be logically con-
trovefted by the party in power. They
understand that demagogueS may be-
Heve success will follow the adoption
of the wild and unjust plan OF the
California Senator and mislead the
farmers and their friends to pursue the
| same path of monopoly for the benefit
of class which has been the basis of
their complaints in the past.
There Is one direction ia which it
will appear that the anticipations and
| preparations Of one class to resist the
| just demands of their defrauded broth
ers have been based upon an inadequate
conception of the situation. They un-
| derstand history to teach that man wiz
only submit to a certain degree of
slavery, and that there is a point at
which he viii rebel and throw off the
yoke that Expresses him. 1t also
| teaches that this has in the past been
accomplished by means of brute force,
and to their view such force may be
again exercised. But they have omit
ted al important factor in the prob
lem. They have stated correctly the
record of history, and they have
argued logically as to the possibility Of
mankind continuing to surrender IN
| just tribute for the benefit of a favored
class. They have, however, overlooked
the pregnant fact that the evils former
ly overthrown by means Of brute force
and the gives hitherto broken by the
sword have been the marks OF an OBJ
jective servitude.
To-day this people have no cause for
fear of a re-establishment OF the OBJ
jective form Of slavery-albeit for many
years this has been the mainstay of high
tax statesmen. The people are think
ing; they are studying now a subjective
proposition, and the answer comedies
with their religious faith and their edu-
Gated reason They know their God
has never created man in His image
without providing for him when in
health full opportunity for self-support,
and that all involuntary idleneSs is but
the result of mans own covetousness.
To a people who have travelled thus far
on the road of careful inquiry there
need be no swords nor torches brought.
The visionary may, indeed, for time
seem to confuse their councils, and be
aided by the ignorant denunciation Oh
those whose practice has been in line
with all class legislation. But the
sober thought of men who see their OWL
troubles to have been caused by undue
privileges granted to others will no.
long be held to an illogical demand. II
an age of reason, when man has con
quered every element to do his bidding
when sixty million citizens could bt
said to stand within hearing Of eacI
others voices were it not for tbs
power of aprivate monopoly. it is wors'
than folly to expect the same line O.
progress as was seen in the ages wheI
man knew his fellow-man more by ira
dition than by personal acquaintance
The age of electricity and aluminium i
not the age of warfare. The telephon,
is a better civilizer than the sword O
cannon. The farmer will not be terri
fed by the sneers of monopoly.-Chi
cago Times.