The record-union., 1897-08-01
THE CASE OF KANSAS.

Kansas has so long been held up as an,
awful example of the unrighteousness
of all things. men and parties, policies
and theories not populistic; it has so
long been pointed out as an instance
of the utter ruin the American system is
bringing upon the American people, that
one has to rub his eyes and ask to be
shaken to believe he is awake when
such news as now comes to us is re-
peated.
These statements are in no part or line
fiction; they are as well established YER
ity as it is possible to secure concerning
any fact. It seems that never before
have Kansas savings banks been in such
good condition or had larger deposits, or
better opportunities for investment.
That at no time have the debts of the
farmers been SO nearly paid up. That
not before have crops been so bounteous
or good or commanded such good prices.
That railroading throughout the State
is exceptionally good, and has been for
improving. That difficulty is expert
enced in securing Iaborers enough for
the conduct of industries. and that the
question among the unemployed is
not work. but wages. The corn crop is
estimated at 6000000O bushels, and
other products are equally promising,
while prices for produce are good, and
for cereals rising. Farm debts have
been paid off by such large percent that
the remainder are no longer considered
q menace to agriculture. Attempts to
hold large tracts and to enlarge farms
are being abandoned, and excess of acres
are being disposed of, farming coming
down to a more legitimate basis, and
speculative ideas on which debt was
erected are being abandoned.
In short, Kansas is now prosperous
generally, and the percentage of the un-
happy in that State is lower than in any
other in the West The question may
we'll be asked again, as it used to be by
the Populist calamity shriekers What
is the matter with Kansas
Certainly no one Will claim that the
pleasing results now noticeable in Kan
sas and the West are due to political
changes largely. though to a certain ex-
tent the restoration of something of
confidence must operate beneficially
upon even the business of farming; nor
Will anyone who is sensible of truth
claim for the changed conditions in
Kansas that they are due to the defeat
of certain political candidates on the
one side and triumph of other candidates
on the other hand, though 10 a limited
extent the settlement at the polls last
November has had part in the better
ment of things in Kansas.
To failure of crops in foreign lands.
bounteous yield of the soil at home, fav-
oring weather. returning confidence, and
discovery that largely the complaining
of the past was not warranted: to reali-
zation that murmuring heals no wound
and eases no pain; that bitterness of
spirit and antagonism to those who sue
ceed are fruitless of good; to conviction
that debt-enlargement of agricultural
holdings is as a rule the worst of poll
cies; to return to labor from the hust-
ings of political wrangle; to these and
scme other sensible causes, the changed
conditions in Kansas are due. But
mainly and chiefly the betterments are
attributable to nature.
But what does this prove? Why that
the charge of the past, that the ills sup
posed to have swarmed in Kansas We're
due wholly to the chicane of enemies. to
bad legislation, political projection of
unsound doctrines and refusal of the
nation to adopt the extravagant and
dangerous ideas of radicals and ex-
tremists concerning forms and methods
of Government, the monetary system
and the regulation of transportation.
was as contended by the friends of rea-
son, groundless. assuredly in the main
groundless. The laying by the Kansas
Populists of all their woes to the debit