The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-27
Observation-Disclosures.
To the Editor of the Eagle


America is now presented with three
of the most important national issues
that have come before her. The recip-
rocitv measure, the free coinage OF
American ores and the issue of legal ten
der notes. These are the natural expan-
we may be free. A reciprocity bill for
the int rchange of commodities under
the protective tariff, by which our pro-
ducts could be exchanged for those OF
another country without the payment
Of the tariff duties, would be one OF the
most comprehensive acts Of statesman
ship that could be undertaken In Amer
lea since the emancipation proclamation
of President Lincoln, and would SO mod
ify the tariff bill as to make it unobJec-
tionable to any one in America. In FIX
ing the list for the adjustment of ex-
changes we wish to show how it may be
converted into curse or blessing to US.
a surplus of for articles of
others which we cannot produce that
will be benefit to both countries.
and right there we must stop. it will be
no benefit TO go ole step further. 1t
cannot make market for another bushel
of grain, pound Of meat or yard OF
cloth, without costing Us more than we
can MAKE out of it, because, II we take
of them whas we can produce IN our
country, either raw or manufactured, 1t
will inJure or destroy the growth ana
production OF that article III America
If you bring wheat, corn, oats. cattle,
sheep, hogs, cotton, wool, silk, fax or
hemp here from South America and we
exchang for them -four, meal, beef, NUT
ton pork or cloth. we rob the farmer OF
the production of those raw products for
the benefit of our manufactures. IL we
exchange these raw articles for their
manufactured goods, it would inJure our
manufactures; but, If you exchange our
manufactured goods, the raw material
of which was grown IN America, for
their coffee drugs and tropical
fruits, it not only benefits our farmers
and manufactures, but those of South
America. An even exchange is no robbery.
There is no other way by which the ex-
changes can be made IL justice to all our
people.
I often hear the fool remark, by way
Of encouraging free trade, do as England
does; be the dumping ground OF the
world. The case is not parallel. Eng
land cannot produce raw products as we
can, and has to adopt that plan. We
can grow all we want to manufacture,
and the less we have to do with free
trade. the better. Every article now on
the free list that we can produce ought
to be protected, even free sugar and
silk; if not protected with the tariff they
ought to be by bounty. Our legisla-
ture and congressman ought not to over
look these and other important products
of Kansas.
In North and South America can be
grown and manufactured all we need
for our prosperity as a nation. 1t covers
all the zones of the world, and all the
products. The more we have to do with
them aud the less with Europe, the bet
ter; because labor is nearer our standard
of value on this double continent
and is nearer free. We have followed
the blind laws and fashions of European
monarchy until they have led us into
the ditch. We must get out and stay
out. There Is but one act of more I'M
portance to the American people than
the reciprocity measure correctly adj
iusted to our wants, and the free coinage
of American ores, and that is the issue
of legal tender money: this would be
worth 81, 900, 900, 900 to us the moment
it passed 1t would emancipate Co.
600, 900 American people from the
servitude of gold, cruel, despotiC gold.
In liberating the African slave We en-
shaved the..Caucasian American. 1t was
done during the flush times after the
close of the war when it took 81 of in
debtedneSs to make one of gold. when
the foreign gold bug was exacting his
interest and principal to be paid in gold
and caused the characterization OF silver.
The reaction of those flush war times are
the depressed ones now, caused by the
liquidation of the doubled debt, the re-
tirement of legal tender notes-green-
backs and fractional currency; the inter
nal tariff revenue, the interest and at
tendant expenses in renewing bonds, and
final payment of the greater part of the
debt. We should at least empty the
public treasures of gold and silver (my
pocket was emptied long ago. and pay
our Indebtedness. What right have we
to it, when in debt? Paw out the man.
mon of unrighteousness and replace it
with new coinage and legal tender notes,
or take the other alternative. since the
tariff revenue will 90 by reciprocity,
create diroct tax to pay the maturing
bonds and interest of the gold bugs.
Which will we do, be freemen with a
better currency than gold. or be slaves
and continue to earn gold for the cap
italist? II. L. BIDwELL.