The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-06
The Poverty Plea.

/ When asked by Mr.. Tom Watson at
era Tfordville whether or not he admitted
the existence OF universal suffering among
the people, Maj. Black said he did admit
the existence OF suffering resulting from
. legislation, but he declared that in his opin-
ion the suffering was exaggerated.
The leaders OF the Peoples party are try
ing 20 make the people believe that their
material condition Is much worse than it is
for the purpose OF making them disccn-
/ tented, In order that they can the more
easily make them think that the demands
/ OF the Peoples party are absolutely neces-
4 sary for their relief.
! One OF the arguments used by the stump
orators aud press of the Peoples party to
make it appear that there Is unusual suffer
ing is the number Of mortgages on farm
property. AS a matter OF fact, farm
mortgages do not necessarily indicate
that the farmers are financially dis
tressed. In all the states where farm
property Is increasing in value It is
the practice Of farmers who buy land
10 buy more than they can pay for. II they
have money enough to buy 40 acres they
buy, "a a rule, 100, and give a mortgage FOR
the unpaid purchase money. They do this
TO get the benefit of the rise In the value Of
the land, which they think IL certain to oc-
cur.
In all the states young men OF limited
means are continually buying farms for
which they have not the means TO pay, but
they feel confident that they will be able to
pay for them In time. The mortgages do
not indicate haCopnIOn kur
that they have made an Investment which
they hope will be profitable.
A Chicago paper says that between 1880
and 1889 the mortgage Indebtedness of Cook
county, Illinois, increased about five times,
as shown by the recent census
reports. According to the logic
of the Peoples party this would indi-
cate that the holders Of real property in
that county are going from bad to worse at
a rapid rate. The contrary Is true. The
holders of real estate In that county have
about all made money during the last ten
years.
The west is in a fairly prosperous condl-
ton and the south would be also if the last
two cotton crops had been sold for better
prices.
But nothing that the Peoples party pro-
poses would make the farmers more pros
porous. Its scheme to increase the volume of
the currency would not doit. Wealth must
be created by labor on the farm, in the
mines and factories Currency can be
made more plentiful by setting the govern
ment printing presses at work printing
treasury notes. but, as Maj. Black pointed
out, such notes would soon become of COM
paratiyely little value, because of their
quantity. The poverty plea may influence
the ignorant. but will hardly make converts
for the third party from among those who
think for themselves.
The way to improve the material condi-
tion of the farmers is to remove some Of
their burdens. Let them keep some Of the
money which they now pay out in the shape
of indirect taxes imposed by the Mckinley
tariff. The Democratic party will apply this
remedy if given control Of the government,
and it Is the best, and, in fact, the only
remedy for tue things of which the farmers
complain.