Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-03-08

certainly every honest man and every
one who loves his country will also
agree, that those who risked their lives
principles that ever were fought for on
battlefield-that these men should be
rewarded by tue government they de-
Tended, no one, l trust, will dispute.
But even republicans Will admit that
| their party has, In their efforts to main
tain supremacy while in power, granted
pensions to parties not entitled to them.
1t is well-kDown fact that the demo-
Gratis also, in their desire to remove the
charge of disloyalty, have tried to out
bid the republicans for the support of
the soldiers. 1t is also true that all
parties, anxious to draw to their ranks
the soldier vote, have made very liberal
promises, which, il put into effect,
would bankrupt the nation.
But now that we see the result, let us
not attempt to cure these evils by any
| halfway measures, not certainly by
lacking this legislation on to appropri-
alton bills, where there is not time nor
opportunity to debate or reason upon
the question. but rather let us have it
come up in bill by itself, In the way
of general legislation upon this subject,
in the next session of congress, when
there will be ample time and opportun-
ity for all the facts to be set before con-
gress; go about it in manly way, and
not by covert and indirect ways to try
lOp off few limbs here ard there, trim
ming the top of the branches merely,
when the tree ought to be dug up by
the roots.
Let us go at it in way that after
careful investigation We may strike at
the very root OF the evil, and put the
burden of taxation to pay pensions up
on those that have grown rich out of
these abuses-the vicious legislation
they were enabled to fasten upon the
people when their minds were diverted
to the putting. down of the rebellion.
1t will not be out of place probably
for me to suggest what consider one
of the remedies for this evil.
The fact that SO many people in this
country, so many old soldiers, are ap-
plying for pensions is evidence to me
that they need them because of their
poverty.
The question arises, why should so
many worthy citizens in this great
country of ours, with all its boundless
resources, with its improved machin-
cry, with Its facilities for producing
wealth-why should so large and hon.
orable class be seeking to become pen
siOners upon the people? Down under
meath our system of society there must
be a glievous wrong, there must be an
evil that is producing this result. And
it is the part of statemen to inquire in
to and hunt up these evils and apply
the remedy at once, if possible.
To my mind the primary cause of
poverty is, that people are denied their
natural rights and denied access to
their natural inheritance, the earth.
J \ on give men and women the chance
to produce for themselves the things
they need by opening to them the op-
portunltles TO earn their own living
and they will scorn to ask their fellow
men to maintain them. Open up to
them the opportunities to earn their
own living, that is, such of them as are
not manned or crippled and incapacIat-
ed for work; let him employ his own la
Dor TO that lnexhaustlble store house
of wealth that the Great Creator has
provided for all mankind.
To secure this reform we must secure
it by such legislation as will prevent
the monopoly of a few of the rights of
the many, and so open up the avenue to
labor. If you will do this to prevent
the monopoly of land, and the 10000
of people now standing idle every day
in this country could but get the oppor-
tunity to produce the wealth that we
all need and desire, and but awaits the
touch Of the labOrer's brawny hand,
guided by his skillful brain, when he
would fill this little world of ours with
wealth enough that the hundred and
sixty millions that go to the pensioners
would become insignificant in compare
son to what then would be the income
of the government.
To bring this about we should first
tax back to the community all the valu-
es that come to land by the increase and
wants OF the population and their needs
for land, thereby putting into the pub
lie purse the value that they create and
instead of, as it is now, going into the
landlords and SPECTATORS buckets. By
this you would set free for the use of
man his natural inheritance, contain
ing all forms of wealth.
The next step will be to remove all
restrictions on trade by allowing him
the privilege of trading wherever his
desire for gain taught him that there
was good market.
Next, we should take charge of the
public highways, oyer which must pass
so much of what we must exchange and
thereby leave in the hands of the pro
Queer large part of the wealth that is
now taken, and taken wrongfully, from
him and goes into the pockets of those
who control this monopoly, aud is paid
out On interest on inflated values and
Watered stock.
Again, take from the national banks
| the right to cotrol the currency. and re-
store it to the government, where it be-
longs, so that the means to carry on
trade may be obtainabie without pay
ing tribute to the money-changers.
Every gentleman must conceive that
elimination and recrimination, waving
the bloody shirt, or saying, you did it'
or lit was your tauit,i' wlll pot cure
this evil. All must acknowledge that