The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-04-24
HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.
The Merchants Failing.-Taxation
Crushing.

learn that the neighboring town of
Hastings had, during our absence,
been undergoing a general collapse
we grieve to say it, but number of
her business men, excellent. worthy
gentlemen, have gone to the wall; and
many more, we are told, are trembling
on the verge of bankruptcy. These
men might be ashamed of themselves
ii they stood alone;-but they do not.
Similar conditions exist all over the
State.-all over the nation in fact.
Failure under such circumstances is
not a reflection upon individuals; for
no business talent, energy or enter
prise can stand up against falling
market and universal shrinkage of
values. The merchant cannot thrive
While general causes are bankrupt
ing their customers. Everything that
drives the farmers to economising les
sens the trade of the villagers; and
when the producer lives on what his
farm yields the towns will dry up and
disappear. Many merchants are mere
fools; their mentality extends no far
Their than buying at wholesale rates
and selling at retail; they are poll-par-
rots that repeat the party cries taught
them by hireling editors; and many of
them have been greatly Instrumental
in bringing on themselves the calami-
ties from which they now suffer.
Wherever there is a chamber Of COM
merce or board Of trade there you
will find congregation Of jackasses
braying for monOmetaliSm, contrac-
tion of the currency and hard times.
They seem absolutely incapable of re-
ceiving new idea. They cannot rea.
son, but howl communist, "anarch-
list" crank" at every person who
would try to lead them to better
things. 1t is absolutely pitiable, and
yet horribly grotesQue, to think how,
last fall, they, almost to man, joined
in crusade, inaugurated by the cor
porations, against the Peoples Party.
and screamed "Populist success will
keep money out Of the state!"'
What money is coming into the
state now? And who benefited by all
that uproar? Simply Knute Nelson,
who wiggled his way up into the
United States Senate; and the rings
and corporations who secured LegiS.
lature that will leave their robberies
untouched.
Let our business men stop for mo-
ment weighing out sugar and measur-
ing calico, and take an inventory of
the mselveS; and if they don't invite
somebody to kick them around the
back yard we shall be greatly sur
prised.
In every direction the work Of ruin
goes on. Banks are failing and busi-
ness men closing their shops every
where; while the burden of taxation
becomes everyday more and more a
crushing burden. We heard yes terday
of piece of land in Dakota county
where the landlords share of the crop
last year, amounted to $35 and the
taxes were $32, leaving SO for the
party to live on for 365 days
There is Mr.. E. J. Hodgson, who,
if we are not mistaken, has been a
conspicuous advocate, in the st. Paul
Board of Trade, of mcnometalism,w who
made a speech the other day in which
he showed that his eyes had been
opened. He said:
But l am satisfied that we have
pursued the pOssum policy long
enough. l believe that our credit will
be strengthened rather than impaired
by showing to the world that we are
determined to stop every unnecessary
expenditure. and reduce taxation to
the lowest limit at which efficient SER
vice can be obtained.
"The total levy for this city and
county for the year 1894, is in round
numbers, 81, 1000 To pay this enor-
nous sum would require the total
earnings of 5000 men for the entire
year at $3.50 per day, with no lay-off
for hot weather or cold weather, dry
weather or wet weather, or on account
of sickness. This is not the worst of
it. Large as this sum is, it does not
include assessments for paving, side
walks, water frontage. sewers, sprink-
ling, etc. l have no doubt the aggre-
gate paid for taxes in this city would
absorb the total earnings of 5000 men
dG pI.oO pei udy. Is III pOSSlDlo UlaU a
city thus heavily burdened can win in
the race or even hold its own? 1t
seems to me not.
Il am reliably informed that our de-
linquent tax list of lands to be sold
contains about 10000 descriptions
This is simply appalling. and speaks
in more emphatic terms than words
can of the dire distress that is upon
the people. Men do not permit their
homes and holdings to 60 under tax
titles if they can possibly help it,"
And in the meantime the Legisla-
ture goes on spending the peoples
money with lavish hand, and refus-
ing them all legislation that would
enable them to bear the crushing bur-
denS of the hour.
And the people humble lot of old
catch-words about tariff, protection,
tree-trade" and such stuff, and are
happy, as they sink lower and lower
into the quicksand of misgovernment;
and their last bubbling utterance, as
the mud closes around their smiling
lips, will be-"D-n the Populists!
Hurrah for the thievesu
WORSHIPPlNG JEFFERSON