The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-02-21
SENATOR UIRLISLE ASB TnE SI6-
sggASTgT PLAN

more liked than all others, it is in the
political rectitude of the mass Of Anglo
Saxon sufragans. Error may creep in
but it cannot abide as the intent, the
governing principle Of that body. All
that is needed for the ultimate right
disposal Of popular issues, is for those
who see the truth to be steadfast in
supporting and clear in stating it.
The farmers of the Union are just
now disposed to seek relief from the
impoverishing effects of the legislation
of the Republican party through a
novel, even violent remedy, or rather d
retaliation. The recourse they favor
is not only vicious, but in the judg-
ment of every public man deserving
the name of statesman, utterly delusiys
as to the effect proposed. 1t is the duty
of every one who is in any way
teacher Of the right to make this
delusion manifest. To this end We
republish the letter of Senator
Carlisle, recognized as the Demo
cratic leader IN Governmental finsn'
cial science. This letter is commonly
aud rightly, regarded as the mos
complete demonstration of the fallacy
Of the Sub-Treasury plan:
UNITED STATES SENATE, /
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 80, 1890. !
b. +. Howard, Esq, Tuskegee, Alaa
Dear Sir--Your favor stating thai
you are member of the Farmers
Alliance Of Macon County, Alabama
and requesting me to give my views
ON what is commonly known us ths
"Sub-Treasury Plab," was duly re-
ceived, and | embrace the earliest
opportunity TO reply.
You state that you have been Dem
ocrat for fifty years, and that You and
those with whom you are associated
are In favor Of "equal justice 10 all ant
special fayors to none" This issount
Democratic doctrine, and If it had been
strictly adhered to in Congress during
the last quarter Of century, the evil
of which the farmers and other classe
of our people justly complain, woul(
have been averted and the whole coun
try would now be prosperous ant
coutented. But unfortunately tht
paternal theory Of government, whicl
owes Its origin ln this country to th'
advocates Of system of taxation
which makes unjust discrimination
against part OF the people for th'
purpose Of increasing the profits o
another part, has been 80 frequently
embodied In our legislation during th'
last twenty-five years that our people
instead of recognizing q common in
terest in the general welfare, have beci
divided into warning classes, eacl
striving TO secure for Itself som'
peculiar advantage at the expense o
all the others.
The prevailing theory is that th'
individual citizen must not rely on hi
own efforts In the transaction of hi
private business, but that he has |
right TO appeal to the Government fo
financial assistance In every emergency
forgetting that the Government ha
not and never can have any none.
except what is realized by taxation II
some torn upon the people Of tn
United States. II Is theory whicl
grossly misconstrues and perverts th
powers of the Government, paralyze
individual effort aud destroys tha
spirit of self.reliance and independence
which is an absolutely essential quail
llcalion for good citizenship in fire.
Republic 1t not only demorallzes th'
people, but if persisted In will conyor
the Government itself into patri
archal depotism, with absolute contro
over all the financial, industrial ant
personal interests of its citizens. Th
farmers of the country have been taxe'
so long for the benefit of other classes
and have seen so much legislation TO
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of corporation
and syndicates, that their patience !
exhausted, aud, finding 1t impossible
for the time being at least, to abolisl
the system which has oppressed an'
despoiled the greatest industrial inter
est of the country, they are nov
demanding that the very policy whicl
they have heretofore denounced rs un
lust and ruinous, shall be applied &
them, or rather a part of them, fol NJ
scheme has yet been suggested tha
would operate alike upon all the farm
ers. That they have been oppressed
and dcspoiled by unjust Legislation
must be admitted by all who hav
given any attention to the subject, AM
when they sec measures fayorably re
ported to Congress to tax them furthe
for the purpose of raising money L
nay subsidies and bounties to wealth,
steamship corporations and to the pro
ducers of sugar aud silk, which ar
among the least important Of on
domestic products, 1t is not at al
strange that they should become NOR
dissatisfied than ever, and more urgen
in their demands for relief; but n
evil can be corrected, no wrong can b
righied by Increasing its magnitud
aud extending the scope of its opeI
atlons. There is but Que eflectua
remedy for the evil which undoubtedl
exists, and that is to reverse the pole
which produced 1t.
The demands made by the farmer
in some parts of the country hav
been formulated, aud at their reques
bills have been presented in the Hous
and in the Senate which many of thef
think will afford the necessary measur
of relief. | need not undertake I
state all the details of these plans, 10
whatever tie particular provisions {
the measure may be, the whole schem'
| in its general form and design,
vicious in principle, and If adopte
would prove in practice ruinous !
every interest it is intended to beneii
The plan to which you allude In you
letter is to establish what are to b
denominated sub treasures and ere'
public warehouses in every county
ihe United States which produces an
sells annually moro than $4,000
, worth of wheat, corn, oats, cotton an
tobacco. and permit the owner Of the'
products, whether farmers or not,