davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

IT is one of the hardest and at the
same time one of the most essential of
duties to discover and observe limits.
1t is comparatively easy to be- enthusi-
astic in one line-for one man to be
frugal to the point Of meanness, and
another to be liberal to the extent of
prodigality. But to be wise enough
to see where the two meet and bal
ance each other. to discover where
each virtue carried to excess becomes
a vice, and to be self controlled
enough to prevent SO dire a catastro-
phe-this is no task. Ittakes thought,
wisdom. self-denial, and resolution of
a far higher kind than is noedful for
the most elaborate or rigid system OF
small economies.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
A Political Fable.

Tom Jones and Sam Smith were
helghbors: Sam was a banker and
Iom was a farmer. Tom asked Sam
to lend him one thousand dollars.
Sam said will lend you the thousand
dollars YOU want on the following CON
ditions: First, you give me your note
secured by a mortgage on your farm
Tort the mount at 6 per cent interest
per annum. Second, you shall lend
me 5000 at 2 per cent interest per
annum to secure the payment of which
L will deposit your own note for ST.
600.
Tom being a plain farmer and not
very well up in finance, consults his
lawyer. John Sherman. John, on
hearing a statement of the case, ad-
vises Tom to close the arrangements
on the terms offered by Sam. John
takes a fee from Tom and gets a part
nership with Sam in his bank. Their
neigh5ors pronounce Sam a sharp,
Tom a fool and John a shyster, and
the neighbors are right-NationaJ
Economist
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
Just as 1t Ii.

Sheer and ridicule as we please at
the statements made by certain ALI
ance representatives that the farmers
of Kansas are debt-ridden, and that
the common people generally through
out the country are the prey of pluto
Gratis, the fact remains nevertheless in
dlsputable. This may be character
lied as a calamity howl" but it can
not be successfully refuted.
1t is true that so far as Kansas is
concerned the debt per capita is some
times exaggerated, still it is heavy
enough to be exceedingly burdensome,
and to require, even with the present
enormous crops, great economy and
skill to make the necessary payments
and to keep things moving. That the
crops of 1891 in this state will enable
farmers to discharge financial obliga-
tions which but for these crops would
have been impossible will not be de-
MED. still it will require at least three
successive years of good crops to free
them from the burden of debt under
which they are staggering.
The trouble is that Kansas farmers.
in common with those of their class in
all the western states, are forced to
compete with %rapacious and discrimin-
ating railway methods, with a tariff
that puts them at the mercy of eastern
manufacturers and their trust allies.
with a lack of sufficient currency, with
middlemen and all that class of broad
stuff spectators who regard them as
their legitimate prey. And so long as
this condition of things obtains there
will be no permanent relief for agri-
culture, and farming as an industry,
except in isolated localities, will not
pay what it should. This is the whole
case in a nutshell.
The grievances which farmers COM
plain of, and the efforts they are max
ing to redress them, are such as to
elicit the hearty cooperation of all
who appreciate the Importance of
placing the foundation industry of the
world upon its true basis, and afford
ing it that opportunity for develop
ment and progress which its prime
Importance to the race entities it to-
National Economist.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

AS A}'lle, students in the academical
.aepa1eEnent of American institutions
sa,ssconsiderably younger than those in
the professional schools, and there is
theory that they cannot safely be
exposed to the temptations of a large
city. The theory is not borne out by
the experience Of Edinburgh and Glas-
gov. Nor do we ourselves consider a
young man much more ironclad against
such dangers at the age of 20 than at
the age of IS. But it may be that a
small town is more likely to generate
an academical atmosphere, to invite
to studious musing, and to evolve the
still air of delightful studies OF which
the poets sing. Nor are we disposed
to deny that the study OF divinity, as
we'll as of the LHcrH humaniorcs and
the higher mathematics, may be a r
ried on more sympathetically and ef-
fectively in a country Or suburban
town than amid the distractions and
tumult of u great capital.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

To GIVE Alfred Tennyson his title
OF lord seems to Americans like paint.
ing the lily and employing a very vul-
gar and garish color for the decora-
ton. 10 Besant's complaint that neith-
er Darwin, Huxley, Faraday, Dickens,
Thackeray, nor Browning ever re.
ceived honor or title from the queen
the American response will be .'NNhat
OF it," Wealthy brewers are made
peers. Tho London burgomaster who
gave a gluttonous feast to certain roy
al guests may now boast himself a
lord. The balletmaster and organizer
OF %spectacles has been dubbed a knight.
Why should a Darwin or a Thackeray
repine that he is not invited to join SO
worshipful q company
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
A Great Sad Change.

In the early days of our country
there we're no millionaires or paupers.
Iramps We're unknown. In 1912
Charles Dickens was visiting in the
United States. He wrote back home:
''There is not a man in this town,
(Boston) nor in this state, who has
nota blazing fire and meat for dinner
every day in the year. nor would a
flaming sword in the air attract SO
much attention as a beggar in the
streets" What a change since then.
To-day beggars fill the streets Of our
cities, tramps throng our highways
and misery and went are seen on every
hand. Thousands of families eve
taste meatffrom mi year to another,
and thousands Of half-clad women and
children sit shivering through the long
winters.-Virginia Alliance News
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
WHAT IS POLITIcs7
Politics II for Government and Govern.
mont for Business,

3sAtTF-HE.C Ht
It seems to me that 1t Is about time
farmers were learning that politics is
business, writes Mark L. Landrum to
the Economist. 1t is a mistake to use
politics as a religion, as we have been.
in the habit Of doing. There are
enough religions in this country from
which to choose one that will not in
terfere with business. Those who are
now dominating both of the old polit-
ical parties. gained their supremacy
by practicing business methods in pol
ttics. The industrial classes must
adopt the same course before they can
successfully compete for their rights.
I was born in Forsythe county, Ca,
and have always been religiously par
tisan, but times are getting too hard
to afford the luxury any longer. The
disease bringing on these hard times
has been diagnosed and a remedy de-
termined upon. Now let us look at
the matter in q business like way, lay
aside feeling and predicate our plans
for the application of our remedy,
upon reason. It is highly important
that we have a president in full accord
with u views. We want a new
school of statesmen with broad
guage ideas capable of grasping
the situation. Men whose broad views
will enable them to keep pace with
the advancement of civilization, the
increase of population and expense of
commerce. We want these to take
the place of those fossilized statesmen
whose ideas have been trained in the
old groove that prevailed before the
country's great development. I have
renowned all party allegiance and I
am proud Of it. In choosing men to
represent us it is a matter of but little
Importance what their past party
affiliations have been, so long as they
are solid on Alliance doctrine. Sec
tional prejudice is all moonshine, it
does not bring bread and butter but
clouds u understanding and makes
slaves of us. We must look to CO.
operation for relief, and cooperation
will avail nothing in our case except
it be extensive and f~ar-reaching. Come
then, let US meet our brethren from all
over the country in February, '92, and
unite upon some reasonable plan of
campaign, and make a grand rally for
freedom. Here let me adlnonish my
old Georgia friends and brothers to
take a business view of this matter
and rally to the front. We have every
reason to believe that a united effort
will succeed. May God give us cour-
age.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
OFFICIAL.
Brotherhood OF the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union.

Alliance and Industrial Union.
it is now apparent that the enemies
OF reform throughout the country are
marshaling their forces for a vigorous
and determined effort to weaken and
destroy the Alliance. Its future pro-
gress will be stubbornly contested and
resisted, but We will assuredly and
gloriously triumph if we be cautious,
prudent, faithful and firm. The out
look for the success of the great re-
forms we advocate. was never so hope
full and encouraging as now. The
order throughout the whole country is
daily adding to its numbers, and it is
in finer spirit and is more thoroughly
united than ever before. But the
peculiar conditions confronting US de-
mand the utmost caution, lest we COM
NIT errors, which might prove fatal to
our cause. The action of our state
Alliances and OF the supreme council,
in their forthcoming annual meetings,
will be universally regarded with
earnest interest, and the character OF
that action depends largely on the
wisdom of the subordinate bodies.
The sub-Alliances are to select mem.
bers as delegates to the county ALI.
ances, who are to choose delegates to
the State Alliance, which in turn is to
select delegates to the supreme coun-
Gil.
In view of the great and important
work to be done during the next ALI
ance year, and which must necessarily
be largely directed by the State bodies
and the supreme council, the brother
hood is earnestly admonished to exer
else great care in selecting the men to
whom must be entrusted the RESPONSE
bility of guiding our course as an or
der.
Let those who are to legislate for us,
in the State Alliances and in the su-
preme council, be not only our ablest
and wisest men, but let their loyalty to
our cause be without faint or tarnish.
Put one but true and faithful ALI
ancemen on guard in this hour of our
great need. and all will be we'll.
L. L. POLK,
Pres. N. F. A. and I. U.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
Land Loans.

There is much confusion which has
led to considerable misrepresentation in
regard to the land loan demand of the
Alliance. The precise language of the
demand is as follows:
We demand that the government
shall establish ~sub-treasuries or depos-
tories in the several states. which
shall loan money direct to the people
at q low rate of interest, not to exceed
2 per cent per annum. on non-perish-
able farm products. and also upon real
estate with proper Limitations upon
the quantity of land and amount of
money.
This does not contemplate the wild.
indiscriminate loans that is charged
against it, but expressly declares to
the contrary, that the amount Of 10th
land and loan shall be properly limit
ed. 1t leaves all the safeguards and
limitations to the wisdom and discre-
ton of congress, whose proper func-
ton is to legislate upon all matters Of
this character. There are some diff
%ferences of opinion as to the details of
the measure. but all unite on the one
idea that this demand is not made to
be used for speculative purposes. It
is designed to protect the homestead
and preserve the roof tree to the ris-
ing generation. It is expected in its
operation to save the home from mort
gage foreclosure, and keep the family
from becoming outcasts or tramps-
National Economist.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
WHICH IS lT2
The Citizens of the Republic or the AL
mighty Dollar.

mighty Dollar.
The indications and evidence point
from every direction to O presiden-
tial contest in 1892 that will be be-
tween the citizen and the dollar. The
magnates of Wall street have already
organized their forces and supplied the
munitions of war in the shape of
grcenbacks to be used from now until
the election in directing and crystal
izing public sentiment on lines that
will enable the plutocrats to win the
election. There will be such a politi-
cal contest waged as has never before
been conducted in this country. There
will be more free papers for distribu-
ton, more. political tracts and more
speakers ready to go anywhere, and
pay he'll expenses, than has ever be-
fore figured in any contest. Bureaux
will be established in each state. and
speakers will be in sufficient numbers
and in readiness to meet any demand.
The average voter will be perplexed
and annoyed by the attentions that
will be shown him and the influential
men of beats will be flattered and ca
joled by attentions and have their i'm
portance magniied until some of them
may become too proud to sleep at home.
Every vile and device of the trickster,
and every effort of the sharper will
be brought into requisition to man
age and control the result With
such a campaign, the honest and
sturdy yeomanry, with honest views
and earnest purposes, will be tested
thoroughly and all carried through the
crucible. Some will fall by the way
side, victims to the glare and glitter
OF the new and enticing offers made
them; but the great body Of the agri-
culturists will be found true, ready to
do all in their power, and make every
reasonable sacrifice to uphold and de-
fend the liberty OF the citizen and the
rights Of the freeman, by voting for
home and Katie and the babies. Those
who are weak in the faith should brace
up; those in doubt of their duty,
should begin to learn before the dollar
commences to impart his instruction;
those who doubt should seek the light
through prayer, and finding 1t, be
fixed on it as immovable as the rock
OF Gibraltar. The dawn of a bright
or day is opening upon the country, if
the people shall be true to themselves
and true to their obligations to home
and family, but If the corruption and
venality that has been bred and fos-
tered in the large cities shall sweep
over the country, like a simeon of the
desert, whitening and blighting honest
impulse and paralizing honest effort in
behalf of the rights of man and the.
liberty OF the citizen, the sun of liberty
that has shown so grandly and re-
splendently in the republic Of WASH
ington will turn It's course toward the.
western horizon to sink forever be-
hind the western hills of plusocracy,
to cloud out and shroud in darkness
the last lingering ray OF popular ireesI
dom and the liberty Of the citizens-
Alliance Herald.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
ANSWERED.
Are hank Notes rsxahls. No, rhsy Ars
C~srtainly Not.

Are Bank Notes Taxablss No, Thsy Are
Csrtatnly Not
We have given the law many tirnes
but still receive inquiries, and there
fore we reprint:
Section 3701 Of the revised statutes
provides: AL stocks, bonds, treasury
notes and other obligations OF the
United States shall be exempt from
taxation, by or under state or muni-
cipal or local authority"
The question arises next what Is
meant by s.other obligations OF the
United StatesP" Fortunately the law
explains this fully in section 5413 Of
the revised statutes. rs follows: 1.-The
words obligation or other security Of
the United States shall be held to mean
" .bonds, certificates of indebtedness.
national bank currency, coupons,
United States notes, treasury notes,
fractional notes, certificates of deposit,
bills, checks or drafts for moley drawn
by or upon authorized officers of the
United States, stamps and other repre-
sentatives of value of whatever de-
nomination which may have been or
may be issued under any act Of con-
gress."
But says the doubter, the above
section refers to 'forgeries and frauds"
as its title says and not to the question
of taxation at all. In answer to this
we say tho title printed over an act
has no limiting power over provisions
of the act; in other words, it is not q
part OF the act, as provided specially
by law. Section $500 Revised Stat
utes. provides: "The arrangement
and classification of the several sec
ton of the revision have been made
for the purpose of a more convenient
and orderly arrangement of the same
and therefore no inference or presume
ton OF q legislative construction is to
be drawn by reason Of the title under
which any particular section is placed.''
The above three sections make 1t per-
tectly clear. as acknowledged by John
G. Knox in his controversy over the
question with General Weaver several
years ago. that national bank notes
are not taxable.-The Lantern, Fort
Scott, Kans.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

ENGLAND, to a degree which Ameri-
cans a scarcely imagine, is annoyed,
vcNed and cursed by the fundamental
injustice and unnaturalncss of its en-
tailed state-churchism. The popular
irritation caused by it is constant and
Is evidently increasing. There is no
one form of religion that is common
TO the penple, Why should the state
pour out its millions every year into
the lap of M OF the sects and only
turn the cold shoulder to all other re-
ligious organizations? Why should
John Bull extend all his favors to the
so-called .'establishedn church and
give none to any of the restp Thu
fact that this still continues to bt
done grows only more and more fla
grant-pore and more exasperating
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23


VARIOUS bands Of philanthropists,
societies and the like make a specially
OF securing the slums of London and
other large cities for pauper children
to send to America. No n questions
the worthiness Of their motives, but
it is clear that the practice must stop
under the new amendments to the i'm
migration law. All .paupers'' are by
the new law expressly forbidden to land
IN American soil. whether they come
individually or in patches as assist
ed" emigrants. Age cuts NJ figure.
Pauper children are as liable to be-
come charges on the community as
pauper adults.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
Cheap Telephones.

People who are paying high prices
for telephones in this country will be
interested in the advertisement of a
New York corporation, which proposes
to sell Bell telephones in South Amer
lea, Mexico and the West Indies, set
ting forth the terms on which they
will sell the Instruments.
The advertisement states that for
$50 they will sell an outfit consisting
of two Bell telephones, two Blake
transmitters, two magnetic call bells,
two back boards and battery boxes,
two Lelanche battery cells to operate
transmitters, two flexible cords to con-
meet telephone and call bells, n mile
OF No. - galvanized iron wire, IS
pony glass insulators with wooden
brackets. 100 feet of insulated Office
wire, spikes for brackets. staples for
Office wire, screws, etc.-a complete
outfit.
By discounts this price may be re-
duced so that the outfit for, a private
telephone line one mile long, with all
the Bell instruments and appliances,
may be obtained for $40. 25. This not
for rental but for outright sale. SO
that the fortunate denizens of the
countries south of us can W their
telephones at a less cost than Kansans
pay for a yearly lease of an instrument
hedged in with all sorts of rules and
regulations more or less yexatious.
This is the monopoly method OF
doing business-compelling the Gus
toners in the home market to pay
double what is charged the foreign
customer for the same articles. 1t
also shows the enormous profits Of the
telephone business Chara-
pion.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

The bicyclist is a wandering advo-
cate of better city pavements and bet
ter country roads. Already he has
made his influence felt for good in
many communities. As the number
OF bicycles multiplies throughout the
country and the man in the knee
breaches becomes aware of his in
f1uence, the wheel will be recognizep
as a powerful engine of reform. For
many years the people OF this nation
have contented themselves with
wretched highways, the farmers hs-
cause they feared heavy taxation for
improvements. and the other classes
of citizens because they sy~mpathized
with the farmers. 1t is beginning to
be understood, however, that the
farmers fears are not well founded; in
fact that they sustain enormous losses
AS the direct result Of bad roads. Tits
the province of the alert bicycliss in
the short trousers and long stockings,
who s brought in contact constantly
with The horrible hIghways to teach
tr.1e econofay in this matter and ia
throw his influenceSon the aide Of hi,
teaohing
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

WE ARE the greatest travellers in
the world. and the hooks and corners
of England and of the continent are
full of these people, who go abroad for
the rest, the amusement, the instruc-
ton they receive. just as we run about
within the country from city to city.
When these citizens of ours are cult
waited people, as is generally the case,
they pass unnoticed in the throng,
Only occasionally, by the display of
some unmistakable national peculiari-
ty, are they recognized as Americans;
and such recognition is only another
personal illustration of our good
breeding and intelligence as a people.
Since, however, this class of travellers
are the most unobtrusive of people,
and are enjoying themselves in a quiet
way, they are very seldom credited to
America, which has obtained abroad
such a common reputation for rude
ness and loudness and oddness of one
sort or another that a we'll behaved
person is acquitted, by that fact OF
kinsbip with us.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23
Give us Cheaper nIonev.

Did n dollar ever buy more of the
general necessities and conveniences
of life than it does nowp If SO, when
was itp-Ottumwa Courier.
We don't believe it yer did. Oats
l6 cents per bushel; section hands 80
cents per day; starved women making
shirts at 8 cents apiece. The John
Sherman contraction policy has made
dear dollars and cheap labor. We
want dearer labor and cheaper dollars.
The remedy is initiation in the interest
Of the people. Newton Herald.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-10-23

The Bevier Appeal: Farmers and
laboring men in general go to work
and elect the idlers and enemies
of labor into power, who, in turn, GO
ttc wHerk@ and enact laws to rob and
fleece the very ones who gave them
power to do so, and for years the
farmer wage-workers have meekly and
uncomplainingly submitted to them.