Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-02-18
THAT NEW POLITICAL FARCE.

1t VIII, However, Prove to BE More Se-
rious Matter Than the Plutocrats Inn
agine.
We find the following in the Ameri-
can Banker of January 10, in referring
to movement in Kansas to reduce the
rate of interest:
The propositions of that new political
farce, the Farmers Alliance, in regard to
usury and interest laws as they affect certain
States in the West, are viewed with consid-
cradle alarm. If the plan 10 reduce the lie al
rate 10 per cent should succeed it would
result in debarrlng that STATE from the fur
thor influx of capital In no case will it
cheaper money, because money Is the only
property that is absolutely independent and
can not be coerced.
The questions naturally arise, why is
money the only property that is abso-
lutely independent, and how was this
position of independence obtained?
Is money in and of itself so much
superior, SO much more desirable or
necessary that it should take prece-
dence over all other earthly possessions?
is 1T so much more essential to the sus-
tenance and maintenance of human life
that 1T alone should be exempt from a
dependent position, that it alone should
be master, king and supreme dictator?
Why should this thing money, which is
but creation and creature of law and
of human government, be accorded di-
vine right over land, over labor, over
farm product, over the products of the
loom, the mill and the mine? Can we
eat money or wear it? VIII money
independent" of the products of land
and labor, appease hunger or protect
men from the wintry blasts?
To ask these questions is to answer
them.
If, then, money does not inherently
| possess independence how did it ac-
quire it? How does it come that the
American Banker can thus boldly and
unblushingly make its Haunting asser-
ton? The question above furnishes
the key to the answer of the last ques-
ton. 1t is legislation which invests
money with its great power to tyrannize
over every other kind of property. By
the very statement above quoted we
may see that howsoevcr money NAV
lord it over all other property, there is
one power over which it is not indie
| pendent, that is the power of legisla-
ton. Else why should the American
| Banker ''view with alarm the PROPOSE
! ton CT the Legislators of Kansas to re-
| duce the legal rate of interest to per
| cent?
| Every lover of freedom, every man
who sincerely desires that genuine pros
perity should come and dwell within
/ our borders, will hail with Joy this con-
fession of the great organ of Wall street
that the situation is viewed with
alarm"
| The farmers and laborers and the
tradesmen of the country have for some
time been viewing the situation with
! alarm, while Wall street has smiled Sc
I renely. The tables are now turning
and the producers and laborers are doing
the smiling
If the Farmers Alliance movement in
Kansas is a mere political farce why
does the American Banker take it so
seriously? Farces are played for the
amusement of the people, but Wall
street doesn't seem to see any thing fun
ny about it
The truth is the American Banker
knows that the independence of
money and all its power to control. to
wreck business, to enslave labor and
impoverish the masses, all rests upon
legislation. And the people are indicat-
ing temper to have hand in legisla-
ton and turn it into broader channels.
Men and not money are going to be
absolutely independent. advocate