Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-04-10
FlNANCIAl noNaSTY.

1t is favoriteargument of the gold-standard
men that the free-srlver men are dishonest in
that they want to enable men who are in debt
to pay with 5o-cent dollar. Unwittingly,
these gold-bugs give away the injustice of their
scheme Of single gold standard.
If more money makes the debt-paying power
easier less money makes it harder.
1t is a poor rule that don't work both ways.
But the battle does not center on debt The
question is of far greater significance, for the
future of our people is involved even if to-day
there was not debt III existence, although we
admit that the debtor ought to be considered as
first, for, under our present financial arrange
ment, the great debtor class will eventually be
wiped out in bankruptcy.
This is plain proposition If gold must
be the standard of values, its purchasing power
of the products of the debtor will be such as to
render it impossible for the debtor to pay taxes,
live and accumulate capital.
1t is fact as the god-bugs claim, that the
free-silver movement is in the interest of the
debtor class That fact alone ought to appeal
to the sympathy of every Christian and humane
man in this great nation, and it would be in
entire accord with the best sentiments of hui
mainly. We help our neighbor in sickness, or
in misfortune of any kind, and failure to do
so is visited with censure. Our debtor neigh
Dor is Just as unfortunate under our financial
system as if flood or fire had destroyed his
property His land, or DWELLING or railroad,
or mandatory is less valuable, measured by
IL IL. 1 - l.
is as much a loser in his effort to pay off his
debt as if he had lost by fire water. 1t may
be that all these things have the same product
i've capacity in quantity, but, measured in gold
command fewer dollars. Viewed from this
standpoint, to help the who loan money
to further wealth at the expense of the strug
CLING debtor does not appeal to our humanity;
neither does it appeal to our sense of justice.
The creditor is entitled to his own, and no
more; ditto the debtor. If farmer contracted
debt when wheat was dollar a bushel, and
has to pay that debt when it is fifty cents, thro'
the contraction of the volume of currency, the
farmers debt is doubled. Where is the justice,
or honesty, or any other redeeming trait in the
position of the hold-bugs when, as we see it,
they assume that the farmer should pay twice
as much as agreed upon? The brand of chief
is on the other herd.
Through the yawping of the bankers of
Wall street, we are making demi-9od of the
creditor. Legislation and courts have favored
the creditors to such an extent as to become
extremely obnoxious to thinking men.
Let us be done with leadership that is mis-
leading We are glad to know that many of
the men who lead in financial reform are out of
debt We are glad to know that it is the men
who are mortgaged and the Wall street bankers
who want gold standard. Knaves and fools
are at the extremes, and are we'll met-only the
hope of America is liable to be crushed by the
incubus of an European demon.
TT is announced i'll the papers that Governor
Morrill, has determined to make the race for a
denomination. He wants an endorsement of
his administration. We predict his success in
the convention. Then the Republican party will
have endorsed prohibition and anti-prohibtion.
It will have endorsed "business" and DOODLE
It will have endorsed redemption and the SER
peut in the Garden of Eden--all of which is
entirely consistent with the ring wing of the
Republican party. Anything for office, and
anv man, no matter how vile, for office-hoder.
The Governor has the cheek of fallen anoe