The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-04
4 IILLIOE HOMES.

TIE GIFT or A GENEROUS POLICY rowARr
THE FARMER--PRAcTrcAL WORKING
OF THE REPUBLICAN HoxEsrEAp
LAW.
Sitting among the wales and hills
dotting the boundless prairie TO-DAY are
seen more than a million Of nrosperous
homes built upon farms which were the
gift Of a generous Nation. The whole
number of farms in the United States i
four and a half millions. Less than one.
fifth, or 1902, 161 were bestowed upon
class Of people who otherwise might
have heen without homes or land to.
day. What wonderful history for the
Preside. Let the farmer read it care.
fully and decide who has been his bene-
factors.
In 1852 the Free Soil party proposed
to give the public lands to those who
would be willing to become aqricul.
turists, but no action was taken worthy
of notice. In 1856, the Republicans
having organized as "a political party,
made the homestead question a National
issue.
In 1857, the opening Of the Thirty.
fifth Congress, the Republican measure
known as the Grow bill was defeated by
Democratic votes in the lower house OF
Congress. Seventy-one Democrats voted
against the bill while only fourteen voted
Tor It. Every Republican present voted
for the bill.
In January, 1859, new measure was
acted on, but upon final vote the bill
was defeated by vote of ninety-five to
ninety-one-the Republican vote being
unanimous for the bill, the Democratic
yots being solid against it,except twelve.
In February, 1859. further attempt
was made and the Homestead bill passed
the House by vote of 100 yeas to
seventy-six nays. Sixty Of ninety EIGHT
Democrats voted against the bill. This
bill failed in the Senate by tie vote,
Vice President Breckenridge casting the
deciding vote against the bill. The Re-
publicans voted unanimously for it, and
the Democrats against it. Two days
afterward further attempt was made
and defeated by the Democrats.
At the next session, on the 9th OF
March, 1860, bill was reported, and on
the 18th Of March it passed the House by
= vote OF 115 yeas to sixty-sIx nays.
The Republicans voted unanimously for
the bill and those opposing it were Dem
ocrats. The Senate reported substitute
for this bill in April, 1860, known as the
Johnson bill, which passed the Senate
on the 10th of May. The only votes
against the bill were those of Democrats.
This bill was sent to conference, and
after a long struggle the conference
agreed and its report was adopted; but
when it reached the President, on June
%, President Buchanan vetoed the bill.
The action of the President was sustained
/ in the Senate by Democratic votes, and
thus the people were robbed of Free
Homestead bill as late as 1860.
In 1851 the Republican party being in
control of both Houses of Congress, it
fastened to redeem its pledge to the Ma
ton. Early in 1862 it passed the famous
Homestead act, which has blessed the
world and given us more than million
homes. Since that time one hundred
and seventy-four and half millions Of
acres have been given by the Government
to those seeking homes without money
and without price. The estimated value
of this gift to the agricultural people of
the country amounts to more than $21S,-
500, 900.
1t is but just to conclude from the
history covering ten years Of the National
Congress (from 1852 to 1862 that the
whole power of the Democratic party was
arrayed against this principle of free
homes to American people, while the Re-
publican party, on coming into power in
1861, made this their first great duty to
the Nation and to those seeking homes,
to keep its pledge and redeem its prom
Use.
Who to-day on the farm in the great
West and Northwest, having found a
home at the hands of this great party,
can turn his back upon itrand its prin-
ciples and vote to sustain theories and
isms which are the outgrowth of an I'M
reliable, dissatisfied element in our midst
who, having nothing, desire all things2
Had you not better consider and retain
the Republican party in power because
of its past record9