The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-09-03
New Doctrines and Old.
rom The st. Paul DISPATCH.

| siOns OF opinion and purpose on the part
of the Alliance advocates which are find
| ing their way into print each day there
are few which do not bear some sens
biance Of reason. However absurd we
may regard the pawnhroker into
which the United States is invited TO go
under the guise OF a sub-treasury sys>
TEN, we cannot deny that certain OF the
arguments in sustainment OF it are en-
titled to consideration. We way be wo>
fully puzzled to understand how tremen-
dous additions 10 our money medium
through unlimited silver coinage, such
as are proposed, will increase the stores
of substantial wealth or promote
their more equable distribution; but we
must admit that the scheme is one which
has commended itself to men at every
turn since the absorbing madness Of
riches has taken such fierce hold of the
human soul In the midst of al! the
speculative nonsense it has always been
possible to pick out some grains of good
sense, because the American, in any vO
cation, is too hard headed a man to ais
low himself to he completely hun; fg
ged, and because the selt-seeking md
shrewd mountebanks who havg. set
themselves up TO bnnco him arr well
aware OF the distance to which til. = can
safely go.
A very remarkable exception to this
rule has just presented itself and the
alliance Of Kansas through its official
organ, the People'S Advocate, is asked
and, we suppose, expected to accept the
teachings of sheer anarchism as part of
the gospel OF the new dispensation Here
is sample of it's wisdom
Steps should be taken to abolish ali laws for
the collection Of ali debts, which would he as
much a matter of economy as OF Justice. The
public, not being taken into the negotiations
preceding the contraction OF debts, ought not
to be called in to compel their pasanents. chose
who sell property or loan money DO 50 in the
hne q spsstaeh to reap nfd o ana 10 e #
the law did not stand behind them to enforce
their claim. 1t would also induce those who
loan money to invest it i'll some legitimate BUSH
ness The abolition OF such laws would perna-
uently destroy credit business, and coupled
with the Government loaning money to own
working people, inaagurate the most prosper
ous time witnessed since the foundation of So
cety."
No doubt society, under the eyis of
the Farmers Alliance of Kansas is pre-
pared to make great sacrifices to bring
about that almost Utopian condition,
viz: 1.-The most prosperous time witness
ed since the formation of society But
not everybody will go with them. Why,
for instance, instead of proposing to
abolishing all laws for the collection OF
debts, did it not occur to this great mind
to abolish all laws governing the indlvl-
dual ownership Of land and the usufruct
thereof? There is a theory of political
science already full>fiedged which will
suffice to sustain the greater part Of this
undertaking, and it is not of the confs
catory characrer Of the teachings of the
Peoples Adooc0te. 1t seems no more
than reasonable that if we are TO draw
the sponge over existing Indebtedness
we should equaliZe things somewhat by
thereafter deyoting TO the sustainment
of the unhappy debtor class . certain
proportion of the goods and chattels of
their former creditors.
The Kansas philosophers are not only
after economy, but justice also. Hence
it might not be wholly irrelevant to sug-
gest that the payment of ones just debts
is a precept which has held good as q
moral maxim since Christianity began
Why not embody this principle OF con
duct ia the new social and political
codes It surely would not be obnox-
ious to IA humane movement which has
evolved such great minds as Simpson
and PETER as its chief apostles TO keep
q few at least OF the cardinal teachings
of the Mosaic law in sight during the
complete evolution.
Such commands as those which say
Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbours goods, Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor," might, it seems to US, be re
called from time to time by this new
school OF philosophers and moraists
without any grave detriment to their
cause, and an effort made to determine
just how such doctrines as those taught
by the Peoples Ad0ocate comport with
these old directions the economy and
| Justice Of which the world has never
been disposed 10 question.