The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-10-07
TWO OF A KIND.


We knew man. He was considered
q wise man. He was a graduate of q
noted college. He chose the occupation
OF farming. During the war he enlisted
In the Union army. He was promised
his pay in gold and silver. He was q
brave soldier. At Shiloh he was
wounded. When his wound healed he
returned to his regiment and remained
till the war ended. He received an
honorable discharge. He returned
home and resumed his occupation. The
most of the time he was in the army he
took his pay in greenbacks that were
only worth half as much as the money
he had been promised. He was also
paid his pension In the same kind OF
money, but he never grumbled. He
worked on and voted the Republican
ticket He raised wheat and sold 1t for
$500 per bushel. He received s cents
per pound for his pork and 20 cents for
his cotton. He received good prices for
everything he raised. But after time
money began to get scarce. Where
once all his neighbors had money, now
only few had 1t. Prices of everything
went down. But he worked on and in
creased his crops. Prices went lower
still. In 1887 he sold more than double
as many bushels and pounds as he did
in 1867 but did not receive as much
money. He began to wonder and in
quire why 1t was. A greenbacker,
whom everybody called crank, told
MIN 1t was because of O scarcity Of
money and the greed Of corporations.
But his merchant, lawyer and banker,
told him 1t was Over-production- that
he raised too much. The next year he
raised less and was compelled to borrow
5000, giving mortgage on his farm, to
pay out. He went over to talk to the
GreenoacIer who advised him to quit
voting for the old party and low prices.
He thought himself it was the proper
thing to do. But his merchant, lawyer
and banker, advised him to continue to
vote as he shot" So instead of voting
as he worked, for himself and family,
''he voted as he shot"--that is ''at''
men who had surrendered twenty years
before, and were, like himself, quietly
and peaceably trying to make living,
for thcn'7clves and family. Instead Of
voting for himself and family he voted
lor his lawyer, who, in the legislature,
worked for the banker and merchant.
Lower and lower went prices and
again was he driven to the necessity Of
borrowing money, this time 81 900.
But he ,hadvthe sweet satisfaction Of
knowing that he ''voted as he shot"
He was voting poverty on the old ex-
Confederate soldier and his family.
What mattered it II he voted the same
condition on himself and family? he was
voting as he shOt"--at the ex-COn-
federate soldier. The lawyer reveled
In luxury drawn from the public crib.
The banker skinned the eX-soldiers OF
both armies alike. The railroad COM
panies voted as they hauled, and hauled
as they voted-they didn't do any shoot
ing. Neither did the banker or the
manufacturer, but they skinned" that
is, they skinned everything in sight
while the poor farmer was ''voting as
he shot" Poor fellow, he couldn't
watch the Reb's and see how he was
''skinned' at the same time, so he kept
on ''voting as he shot" and prices got
lower and lower. He was told he was
poor because he raised so much, but
he knew he would get poorer if he
did not raise more. The Green
hacker told him it would be better
ITO raise a little more political hell
with the Lawmakers and not quite so
much corn, wheat and cotton. "But
the lawmakers told him to go on
voting as he shot," and all would be
well. SO prices kept on going down,
down, and down. After while the
banker came down and took his farm,
the merchant took his stock, and the
lawyer absorbed what was left in fee
for make-believe attempt to save the
farm. But the poor farmer, houseless,
homeless, thrown with his family on the
cold charities of the world, had the
proud satisfaction of always 'votlng as
he shot.n
II he had voted himself out of home
he had the satisfaction OF knowing that
he had imposed the same condition upon
some poor ex-Conferate soldier.
He had taken the bankers advice.
The banker had got rich while he got
poor.
He had taken the lawyers advice.
The lawyer got rich while he was with
out home.
He had taken the merchants advice.
The merchant got rich while his family
were homeless.
He "voted as he shot" Let us draw
the mantle Of charity over him and let
future generations write his epltaph.
Il
We knew a man. He too was con-
sidered a wise man. He was not unlike
the man we have just described. He
was graduate Of the same class. But
he was Southern born. He loved the
blue skies, the tall forests and gentle
breeZes Of his native land. When the
tOcsin Of war sounded and martial music
stirred the hearts Of Southern youths he
dOnned the gray and enlisted under the
"BOnnie Blue Flag" He never stopped
to philosOphize. His kindred, his State,
his church, all his youthful associations,
led him to believe he was right. In q
short time the Olive branch Of peace
would be offered and he would return
home with fresh laurels on his brow.
Youth Is nothing II not hopeful. A year
passed by two, three, and still the
''cruel war" goes on. The South Is
made desolate. Homes are given up to
the rayages of the war and fortunes are
wiped out before the lnvincble tread Of
conquering army. But the brave
SOutherner fights on. Half fed, half
clothed, hoping against hope, contend
ing against odds, he displayes n courage
that challenges the admiration Of the
world. But 1t is to no purpose. The
odds are against him. His banner is