Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-05-14
AS 2D-oLAss MArrER
HERBERT BROWN - Manage,
A MILLION OF HOMES.


 Bulletin publishes the following:
 Sitting among the wales and hills dot ting the boundless prairies today are seen more than million of prosperous homes built upon farms which were the gift of a generous nation. The whole number of farms in the United States is four and half millions. Less than one-flfth ,or l,O92, 161 werebestowed upon a class of people who otherwise might have been without homes or lands to- day. What wonderful history for the fresldel Let the farmer read it care fully and decide who has been his ben- efactor
 In 1852 the Free Soil party proposed to give the public lands to those who would be willing to become sgricultur- ists, but no action was taken worthy of notice. In 1856, the Republicans hay ing organized as political party, made the homestead question a national is sue.
 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 four teen voted for it. Every Republican present voted for the bill.
 IF January, 1859, a new measure was acted on, but upon final vote the bill was defeated by vote of 95 to 91-the Republican vote being unanimous for the bill, the Democratic vote being solid against it, except twelve,
 In February, 1859, further attempt was made and the Homestead bill passed the House by vote of 12O yeas to 76 nays. Sixty out 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 Republicans 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 12th of March it passed the House by vote of 115 yeas to 66 nays. The Republicans voted unanimously for the bill and those opposing it were Demo crats. The Senate reported 8 subst- ute for this bill in April, 1860, known as the Johnson bill, which passed the Senate on the 10th of May. Tie only votes against the bill were those of Democrats. This bill was sent to con ference, and after a long struggle the conference agreed and its report was adopted; but when it reached the Pre- sident, on June 22, President Buchanan vetoed the bill. The action of the Pre- sident was sustained in the Senate by Democratic votes, and thus the people were robbed of Free Homestead bill as late as 1860.
 In 1861 the Republican party being in control of both Houses of Congress it hastened to redeem its pledge to the nation. Early in 1862 it passed the famous Homestead Act, which has blessed the world and given us more than a million homes. Since that time one hundred and seventy-four and a half millions of acres have been given by the government to those seeking hcmes without money and without price. The estimated value of this gift to the agricultural people of the coun- try amounts to more than S218.500,OOO.
 It is but just to conclude from the history covering ten years of the Ma tional Congress (from 1852 to 1862 that the whole power of the Democratic party was arrayed against this princi- pie of free homes to American people. while the Republican 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 promise.
 Who today on the farm Tn the great West and Northwest, having found a home at the hands of this great party, can turn his back upon it and its princi- pies and vote to sustain theories and isms which are the outgrowth of an un- reliable, dissatisfied element in our misdst who, having nothing, desire all things? Had you not better consider and retain the Republican party in power because of its past record?