The Mena weekly star., 1896-12-09

 estrangement of brethern. These are now past and forgotten. Even the distressing loss of fife the conflict entailed is but sacred memory which fosters patriotic sentiment and
 keeps alive n tender regard for those who nobly died and yet thore remains with us to- day, in full strength and activity as an inci- dent of that tremendous struggle, feature Of it's financial necessity not only unsuited to our present circumstances, but manifestly dis turbing menace to business security and an ever present agent of monetary distress. Because we may be enjoying a temporary re- lief from its depressing influence this should not luIl us into q false security nor lead us to forget the suddenncss of past visitation. an more convinced than ever that we cannot lage assured financial peace and safety unit the government obligations upon which gold may be demanded from the treasury are wlth- drawn from circulation and collected This might be done as has been heretofore reeon- mended, by their exchange for long term bonds bearing 0 low rate of interest, or by their re- demption with the proceeds of such bonds.
 Even if only the United States notes known as greenbacl5s were thus retired, it Is probable that the treasury notes issued in paymen nt of silver purchases under the act of July l4. lS9J, now paid in gold when demanded would not create much di ,turbance, as they might from time to time when received in tue trea sury by redemption in gold or otherwise be gradually and prudently replaced by silver eoia.
 This plan of issuing bonds for the purpose Of redemption certainly appears to os the most effective and direct path to the needed reform. In default of this however, 1t would be Q step in the right direction if currency obligations are redeenab in gold whenever so redeemed should be cancelled instead of being ressued This operation would be q slow remedy, but it would improve present conditions.
 National banks should redeem their own notes. They should be allowed to issue circu- lation to the par value of bonds deposited as security for it's redemption and the tax on their circulation should be reduced to oue- fourth of one per cent
 In considering projects for the retirement of United States note, and treasury notes issued under the new law of 1890 am Of the opin on we have placed t3o much stress upon the dnn- ger of contracting the currency and have cal- culated too little upon the gold that would be added to our circulation If invited to us by et- ter and safer financial inethoss | Is not so much contraction of our curreasy that should be avoided as it's unequal distribution This might be obviated and fear Of aacnful con traction at the same time removed by allowing the organization of small banks and in .ss populous communities than are now permit od anu author zing existing banks to estabhsh branches in small communities under proper restrictions
 The entire case may be presentei by the stateme t taat the dag of sensible and sound financial methoh, viii not avn upon Us until our government aDaadons the banking Dusi- ness and the Accu:nulation Of funds aud con fines It's monetary operations to he receipts Of money contributed by the people for it's supp rt. and to the expenditure oi such money for the peoples benefit Our business inter- ests and all good citizens long for rest from feverish agitation and the inauguration by the government of reformed financial policy which will encourage enterprise aad make certain the rewards Of labor alI in ,usiry
 Trusts and 1IcnopoIies.
 Another topic in which oar peo pIc rightfnlfy take deep interest inay be here briefly con- sidered. Irefer to the expenss of trusts ani other huge aggregations Of capital, the object of which is to secure the mo1op0ig of some particular branch of trade. industry. Or ( cyn- merce and to s.iae wholesome competition. When these are defended it is usu..lly O. the ground that though they increase profit, they also reduce prices and thus may leaetit he public It must be remembered however. that Il reduction of prices to the eopie is not on os the real objects of these organizations. nor is their tendency necessarily in that direction If It occurs in particular ease is IS only because 1t accords with the ruruoSes or interests of those managing them. Such occasional results fall short ot co.noea- sating the palpable evils charged to the ac- count Of trusts and monopolies Their tcn- dency is to crush out individual independence and to hinder and to prevent the free use of human faculties and the full deYelopment of human character Through them the farmer the artisan aud ths small trader is in danyar of dislosgement from tho proud position of De- Ing his owa master, watchful of all tAat touches his conntry's prosperity. in which he has an individual interest h all that traetS ta. n lnoz ,,Fh htac t,
 to be relegatea to the level Of a mere D Joa.le- nance to great machine with little free wlIl with no duty but that of passive oae,ilence aai with little hope or opportunity of rising in inc scale Of responsible and he .Dfal citizenship To the iustinctive belief thnt su h is the inevi- taDle trend Of trusts ana monopolieS is due the Widespread and deep-seated popular aversion in which they are held and the not unrea4oa..- ole insistance that whatever may be their tu- cidental economic advantages. their gen raj effect upon personal character nroSpe ,t- and usefulness can not be otherwise than fniurioiis
 Though congress has attempted to deal " n this matter by legislation, the laws passe5 for that purpose thus far have proved ineffective. not because of any lack of disposition or att tempt to enforce them but simply because tte laws themselves as interpreted by the courts GO not reach the difficulty If the insuffi en- cles of existing laws can be remedied bv further legislation it should be done The fact must be recognized, however. that al federal legislation on this subject mae ftll short of it's purpose because of inher- ent obstacles and also because of the co rnnlex or our governmental system which while making the federal authority supvept., within Its sphere. has carefully limited thar sphere bymetes and bounds which cannot he transgressed The decision of our highest court on this precise question renders it qu;!e dosbt- ful whether the evils Of trusts and monopo. les can be nGeQuatelV trcato1 thrnfi h fa.lnrn1 u.