The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-27

contraction, leaving nothing out goIu anu
silver and state bank paper behind, and
the other, a wild and unreasoning demand
for substantially unlimited circulation
of United States notes, without regard to
their redemption or their specie value.
One was in favor of resumption by con-
traction. The other was Indifferent to re-
sumption and was in favor OF IRE
deemable paper money, bearing the stamp
of the government, without care Tor Its
value in coin. These opposing ideas pre-
vail among large masses of people at the
present time. Now the indationists de-
mand an unlimited amount of treasury
notes without any basis at all, or based
upon silver at more than its market value,
and the other party is opposed 10 or re-
luctantly acquiesces in the issue OF treas
ury notes based upon silver bullion at Its
gold value. | believe that the present
volume of United States notes ought 10 be
supplemented by treasury notes limited III
amount to the production of the precious
metals in the United States at gold value
deposited in the treasury, represented IN
circulation by an equal amount OF paper
money. This is the middle and safe
ground between undue contraction and
undue expansion"
THE FARMERS ALL RIGHT.
Correspondent: "How about the farmers
and their money troubles?"
Senator Sherman: Undoubtedly there
has been much discomfort among farmers
during the last few years as TO crops and
prices. This year they are blessed with a
bounteous crop of all kinds and a favor
able time TO harvest it, with a very poor
crop in competing countries. This iuctu-
alton in quantity and price of the products
of the farm is an unavoidable incident to
this industry, which depends so largely
upon causes beyond human control.
The industry of the farmer, how
ever intelligent and constant, may
be defeated by want of rain, by frost, or
many causes which no care or foresight
can guard against He has the wide world
for his competitors. His productions be-
ing perishable, must be marketed within
the year or are of no value. Favorable cir
cumstances may add to his crop IN the
Uulted States, and the failure OF crops
in other countries may add TO his profits.
The condition of our currency and of other
industries also affect their value. L do not
see how these conditions can be changed.
Farmers are entirely justified, like all
other producers, in making any arrange
ment TO promote their mutual interests, but
the number of the farmers is so great that
protection in this way almost always fails.
With these drawbacks they have many
advantages not possessed by others. The
farmer produces from his own soil and by
his own labor all the food necessary for
existence, and, with a convenient home
market, can supply other articles essential
to life. He cannot be affected by hostile
legislation. All he wants is good money
of the highest standard, and a fair, just
system of taxation, which farmers always,
from their numbers, can secure, and all
the rest depends upon Providence
and his own labor. Farmers are
the great conservators of our system,
without which the influence of cities
would soon demoraize and disorganize
society. | believe great changes will occur
in the natural order of things in the con-
dition of the farmers. The time is not
distant when they will have no trouble
about fences, their neighbors' stock will be
corralled, when farmers of the neighbour
hood will gather into village communities
and like advanced European nations. will
60 out from these to their daily work on
farms near by. Closer community and
association will bring neighbors into
closer touch with each other
The moving to towns or cities, now the
most striking tendency of our population,
will be checked, while the marvellous
labor saving machinery will relieve the
farmer from his former hard labor As
for the wild schemes proposed by the Wis
slonaries OF our day, that the farmer must
be supported in his great industry by ire
deemable money loaned to him at per
cent, and warehouses maintained by the
government for the storing of his grain,
they will be rejected by him as class legis-
latlon of the most dangerous character"
THIRD PARTIES AND THE ALLIANCE.
Correspondents: "You have had much
experience with third parties. Tell me
what you think of them"
Senator Sherman: Eyes, I have very
decided opinions about third parties.
They are apt to be prompted by the sud-
den projection of some new issue, or by
the disappointment of particular class.
l do not recall any third party that has
been successful in accomplishing the OBJ
ject of its formation, unless perhaps it
may be said that the Liberty party sue
ceeded by the Free Soil, accomplished the
purpose OF Its organization. But this l
deny. The agitation of the slavery ques-
ton by the abolitionists no doubt called
the attention of the people TO the moral
aspect OF the slavery question, but that
party made but little progress
until the great struggle occurred
for the extension of slavery
over the Western territories. 1t was not
so much the moral aspect of slavery as it
was the struggle between contending
forces for the possession of territory that
led to the formation of the Republican
party, and the final overthrow of slavery.
L am quite sure that the cause of temper
ance would have been better promoted by
the agitation of individuals in both the
great parties in favor of temperance legis-
lation. This would have secured gradual
and finally effective measures for the re-
straint of the liquor traffic and the correc-
ton of the great evils conceded to spring
from lntemperance. No cause can succeed
in this country until it has enlisted on its
side one OF the two great parties, and no
proposed measure OF legislation can fail
10 get the support of one of these
parties when it is supported by the opiu-
ion OF majority of the people of the
state or nation who are affected by it,
do not know how many parties have
arisen and disappeared during my time,
but certainly several. After a brief strug.
gle these parties quietly disband and ioin
the great body Of their fellow citizens in
one OF the two great organizations. This
viii be the case with the members of what
is now called the Peoples party. II is al
ready losing its strength in Kansas. and
the apparent strength which it had with
the farmers is passing away. They have
already found that new party is not the
remedy for their ills. and better crops and
prices, the gift of Providence alone. have
already cured their discomfort"
FRANK q. CARPENTER.
THE WICKET IN THE LANE.