The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-05-16

Che railroad companies and the 1cor
farmers remain poor.
With the press of the large cities in
possession of bank officials as owners,
any system of finance proposed that is
hot in the interest OF the bankers is
fidiculed and derided, and the money
of the country; which should fow
through the channels of business, is
hoarded for speculation in the Jug
glery now performed in the retention
of the gold reserve, while the bonded
Indebtedness is being increased to an
enormous sum with no apparent aug
iieBtati6n in the total amount depos-
tied in the treasury. As long as
money can be used in amassing
enormous wealth by &C ing in at one
door and coming out at the other, it
will never be used to promote bust
ness. 1t is maintained that there is
already sufficient money In circulation
for the transaction of business, but
the large sums in the banks is pointed
to in evidence, but the money in banks
does not always circulate and is as use-
less to the people as 80 many stones
unless 1T can be gotten into trade chan.
nels for free circulation. The present
methods of finance causes all money
to flow to the. banks, and when it
reaches that destination it is only with
difficulty that ittnrns back again.
With all these obstacles to contend
with the farmer is .preyed upon by the
sugar trust, the beef trust, the oil trust,
the wool trust, the coal trust, the lard
trust, the leather trust, and every other
combination that can control the necr
essaries of life and increase his ex.
penses while depressing the markets
in which he sells his products. There
can be but one result to this state of
affairs-poverty and ruin to the farm
ers; they must ultimately become
slaves and their farms pass into the
hands of the owners of large landed
estates.
Whatever may be urged for or
against the present condition of the
farmers, there is one fact well known,
and that is scarcity of money. There
is sufficient money in this coun-
try for all purposes, but those
who produce the wealth are de-
prived of the profits due them.
Money is scarce with farmers be-
cause the railroads take the larger
share, spectators gamble in farm
products, usurers exact dishonorable
contracts, and the government itself
permits horde of vampires to rob the
entire country by system of gold
gambling which is disgrace tc the
nation and its people All the bounti.
full crops that can be grown will not
be available to assist business until
congress opens the prisons to this
class of men aud places a pen
atty on such lawlessness as should
be meted out to the vilest OF
the criminal classes, for they
are simply legitimate and so-called re
spectacle Williams who live by prey
Every year that passes over the farm
or and leaves him in debt adds to the
struggle for existence, and he can no'
buy or satisfy his wants until relic
comes. 1t is true that farmers con
tinue to farm and the state of affair.
mentioned does not appear as serious
as it might be, but nevertheless if al
end could be placed on combinations
conspiracies and trusts, there woult
be more prosperous farmers and trad
would be brisk everywhere -Imple
ment Agent.