The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-30
EnciantI's Grip of Greed.

tribute of the people of the United
States in one-half the sum her tinan-
ciers impose and exact of the people
of this country. there would be a dec
laration of war by Uncle Sam within
ten days. What is the difference, in
effect, from the government doing di-
reetly what the subjects of that gov
ernment do indirectly? Take, for in
stance, the English syndicate that paid
about $12,oOO.O0O for the system of
elevators in the great grain districts
along the line of the Chicago & North
western railway. Having possession of
all the grain storage of several states,
this trust gave notice this year that
they would store no grain for the pro-
ducers. What is the effect? The pro-
ducers, in many instances, were not
provided with the buildings to store
their grain, so that it would not be
damaged, and they were compelled to
sell. The syndicate having applied
;he force that put their products on
Tie market, in spite of the protests or
opposing efforts, then provided to pur-
chase at very low figures. The farmer
sold. The trust bought. The farmer
lost; the trust protited in the same ra-
ito. Within one year the producers
along that line of railroad have been
robbed of enough to pay for this ele-
vator system by that trust. In corpor
alton vernacular, The company de-
clared a dividend of 100 per cent" In
robber dialect, The gang swagged
twelve millions" Return to the prop
osition: If England had exacted and
obtained of these American farmers So
900, 900 bushels of wheat at 80, 900. 900
less than it's value, the United States
would have made it cause to declare
war Upon what ground? That the
English government had robbed her
| people. and that the highest obligation
of this government is to protect its cit
| liens. Whoever should oppose it
| would he branded as bastard and de-
| nounced as a coward. But these same
| people, robbed indirectly to the same
amount, come to the government and
ask means of protection from robbery
| by British subjects, by this government
providing adequate means to assure
them protection through the sub
treasury for imperishable farm prod
ucts, or any other practical way, and
every big and little politician in tn Q
land lifts himself on tiptoe to howl,
unconstitutional demand" What is
| government but an institution framed,
organized and administered by the
| people, through their agents or SER
wants, for their protection? If it does
not protect, all taxation is money taken
from them under false pretense. If it
| ho1
robbed. the contribution made by them
for its support is itself robbery AS
the government, by refusal to protect,
licenses this robbery, it has not only
become robber itself to the extent Of
allthe taxes it levies, but is particeps
criminis in robbery to the extent of all
it willfully permlts.-Nontgomefy
l.ffd.) Herald.
\ Mortgage Debtor the Cheapest Slave.
The interest on a mortgage of three
fourths of the value of farm rarely
fails to take all or more than all the
profits. The farmer so unfortunate as
to have contracted such a debt is his
creditors tenant who after default may
he elected at Will; but he is kept in
possession as long as possible because
he is the best possible tenant. He
works for his creditors cheaper that
work could be had under any other
form of servitude. The negroes under
slavery in the southern states cost
much more than the Illinois or Kansas
farmer costs while working for his
owner in the hope of buying his free
DOM" Sometime he succeeds. Negroes
under the old system frequently
bought their freedom from indulgent
masters by selling vegetables, fowls
and butter, and with money paid them
for odd jobs" But generally they did
not, and generally the western farmer
fails in buying his. If he has a 1000
mortgage on a $1,000 dollar farm: if it
bears per cent. interest while his
farm will not net him 3 per cent, it is
easy to see why he will have to ask fol-
extension after extension on his debt
as it to understand why the creditor
will nearly always be anxious to grant
the extension under which the farmer
works for nothing and boards him
/ IL ~.