The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-05
THE SuR-IREASIRY SCHEME.


JACKSON, Miss, May 4.-In answer to a
query from the Alliance, Governor Stone
has written an open letter against the
sub-treasury plan. Among other things
he says:
1.-The proper function of government, as
/ understand it, is to protect all in the full
| endowment of their rights by administer
ing equal and exact justice to all and i'm.
posing as few burdens as possible equally
distributed, and then leaving every in
dividual to his own efforts for success and
happiness. The government has no wealth
to bestow and when it undertakes to dis
pense favors it always has favorites and
gives to them at the expense of those not
| favored
1T must be so from the very nature of
things for it has to take from some to
! give to Others We of the south, chiefly
agricultural, have felt this evil with crush
! ing force, for the high protective policy
of the Republican party for the benefit of
| the manufacturing interests, mainly of
! the north, has operated in two-fold man
ner to injure us by depressing the price of
our cotton, and greatly Increasing the
cost Of the many articles we are compelled
| to buy with the proceeds.
''The cause of our depression is the tariff
system, maintained for protection, and
the enormous burdens of government,
which fall heavily upon us while we get
| little to compensate US for the grievous
! impositions. So far as the sub-treasury is
intended to supply an increase of money it
promises nothing good to farmers, who,
above all others, will be the victims of any
initiation which will disturb values. They
need for their welfare q currency as steady
and stable as themselves. The traders
and speculators, those looking out for
deals and corners, can riot amid the ex-
citement of specializing values and huctua-
from
medium. The farmer and laborer stand
short Of even chances in that condition of
things. The promise of opportunity to
obtain money at low rate Of interest by
depositing cotton and getting an advance
of so per cent of its value is, | think, a
delusion and snare.
Il am quite sure that the sub-treasury
scheme would be costly and disappoint-
ing experiment, and the only hope for our
people is the success of the Democratic
party in all the departments of the federal
government, to be promptly and surely
followed by reduction of the burdens
now pressing SO heavily and unequally
upon US. Then, with continued industry
and free trade, and circulation quickened
into activity by reason of it, our chief pro-
duct will bring better price, and what we
have to buy Of manufactured articles will
be greatly reduced in price, and by the re-
suit something will be left annually of the
fruits of labor. Vain are all hopes of de-
irving relief from more and cheap money,
and delusive are all schemes to provide
any substitute for industry and economy
and for ones own efforts as the means of
success and happiness"
Politics over this question is becoming
very much heated in Mississippi. Senator
George is opposed to it, and is making a
canvass of the state for reelection on that
line. Ex-CongressmanB Barksdale, one of
its principal advocates, is candidate for
United States senator, and will stump the
state in favor of the plan. Fifteen county
Alliances have already indorsed Barksdale,
Walthall having declined to stand for re-
election. This places several prominent
candidates in the field for the succession.
The Alliance will make a strong effort to
capture both places, and many think it
stands a good show TO succeed. George is
very strong in the state, however, and will
be very hard to down.