The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-08
A SUBSTITUTE FOB ST ANTORDS TWO
PER CENT CONGRESSIONAL ACT.

Senator Stanford's bill to loan money
on land, on long time, at per cent per
annum, Is thing of the past. Whether
this bill was the offspring Of dema-
goguery, pure and simple, the impulse of
philanthropy, or of brain diseased, is
known but to Omnipotence. In either
case it was condemned by the business
brain Of the country, in and out of con-
gress, by reason Of its impracticability.
There was an honest belief that it would
not reach the end at which it aimed
that it contained germs of universal
insolvency to be melted out to future gen.
erations; embraced within its language,
SO full of charity, the dragons teeth,
which, when planted, would
cause to spring into life a
a race of financier5 that would stifle
honest business methods, at last leave US
without respect at home or credit abroad;
that this was but a wedge to divorce
craftsmanship from finance and place
the machinery of government in the
hands of those who, If not the san
cullotti of American politics, are moved
by impulse rather than reason, with
whom action and thought are so blended
that to think is to act, without that de-
liberation that makes the destruction Of
government murder in the first, or even
second, degree but only manslaughter,
though in both cases it is death TO the
victim. Those who are smarting under
Io lo~I - Io l. ;Af
ing it viii be permanent, but demanding
a speedy remedy, though it be but tenn
porary; those to whom legislation is ever
a rainbow Of promise, covenant
of cessation OF visits from landlords,
creditors, constables, sheriffs and United
States marshals; aye, those who if a
horoscope should prove that this rain
bow would be succeeded by thunder
storm that would unsettle and rock the
foundations of government, yet would
they demand legislation.
Notwithstanding the boast of our peo-
pie that our government is not paternal,
there is gradual undermining Of our
manhood as well as the principles, and
tendency to toward dependency on the
nation, rather than on self OF the state,
desire to legislate in congress for the in
dividual man, an effort to have the fed
eral power break away from the consti-
tutional environments, with which it
was hedged about in the beginning, and
draw unto itself the power of all Elegisla
ton. The bucketshop option deal
ing, lard, liquor law legislation,
all belong to this class, which is sustain
ed by doubtful precedent rather than
reason. The Magic" case in California
is another illustration of Federal power.
The entire scheme of or government
tends toward the (boasted) American
form of government becoming the most
compared to which monarchies in their
are but shadows in the pres
ence of our robust substance.
When governments, state or federal,
become an almshouse, manhood is sunk
in its glory, decayed in its worth, indus
try is at discount, mendicancy becomes
by its universally; the old
saw that "the world owes us a living"
DtCOIIlcS ii HIdAiII ny WHICH Iicu Suiuo
their lives-private thrift becomes dis
and independence in man is no
more.
With sorrow we state that the study |
Of the labors of the federal and state |
legislators for the last few years proves |
the open demand of Americans for |
paternalsm in government, without the |
manhood to own it up. We are drifting |
toward the ultimate obliteration of writ |
ten law and constitutions, and substitute |
ing the momentary will and present, yet |
chameleon caprice of the people, and all |
this seemingly with the approval of the |
entire people, and sympathized with by |
courts moved by demagogy or benevo
ence.
Those functions granted to the state
and federal powers are neglected and |
time given co wrangling over theories !
that to be defended on constitutional |
grounds must verge from their real in
.ent and embrace things not demanded |
10 square with the constitution.
The purpose of this paper is not to |
,riticise merely but TO advance some
facts that are plain and admit of remedy
o urge legislation that is capable of
being worked out without great expense.
f nothing but legislation will cure the
lis which an era of unexampled pros
oerity, and universal credit, has entaiied |
IN the country:
First-The seed sown by Stanford viii
yet bear fruit. His plant has taken root
n minds that will foster it. and not
permit it 10 die. Tt will be watered
with the tears of debtors and kept moist
With the cunning waters of demagogues
yes like rivers Of sorrows and innocency
n good cause we'll spent" Though his
breath kindled the dead coal
nto rosy hue, and his brain
furnished matter TO sustain the blaze,
hough he may die, the spirit vet will
i've. 1t is too large now for the weak
Wind that enkindled, to extinguish it,
lie has thrust his enterprise into the
hearts of men, and it will yet arise. /
No trouble dreams and murder sleep;
hence, LET lis advantage ourselves" OF
his theory, rob it of its barefaced char
,cter, place It's burden where it belongs
Ind husband the governments re-
sources, and, as states, assume the repay
nent of the money.
Second-Let the government, from this
alleged grooming surplus, apportion the
anne among the states on a ratio OF
and at rate of interest that !
will bring it west and south where il is
needed. The east does not need this
money as the west and south do.
Second-Let the money be paid to
,ach state treasurer, and under an act Of
congress requiring each state to issue its
'wn bonds for repayment lii twenty
ears and payment of interest each year.
Also require each state TO loan at per
,ent higher than it pays the government
o cover deficiency, and then the state
Ipporti0n the same among its coun-