The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-05-29
Ex-senator John j. ingalls, Expresses
Himself Very POintedly-1he
Promised Property Not
I'm SIUhf

Promised Property Not
In Sight.
Hon. John J. Ingalls,, for many years
a u s. senator from Kansas and vice
president of the senate, was interviewed
by the reporter of the Washington
Daily Star last week and in answer to
the question Of the interviewer, what
should be done about the sugar
schedule. Mr.. Ingalls, replied;
From the Republican point of view
it would be better that the tariff bill
should fail than that the senate sugar
schedule should stand. 1t is the most
brazen and audacious hold-up of the
century, 1t makes train robbing
respectable. 1t has no excuse except
the Unsuitable greed and rapacity of the
most shameless squad of plunderers
that ever escaped the penitentiary.
Ordinary marauders are content to rob
bank, or swindle a community.
These brigands propose TO pillage the
nation, and to compel congress to
become their aeconplice. The trust
schedule will destroy competition,
annihilate the beet sugar industry, and
add to the oppressive burdens of every
citizen of the United States, for the
avowed purpose of swelling the already
inordinate gains of a remorseless
monopoly. These are the performances
that explain Populism, and which, if
not restrained, will make anarchy
possible. .
Senator Ingalls, has Travelled extern
sively over the country during the last
year and has had unusual opportunities
to observe business conditions. When
asked if he thought the times are
improving, he replied:
9Sinee the election in November l
have been in all parts of the country,
from San Francisco to Boston, from
Montreal to Atlanta, and it is the con
current testimony that times have never
been harder nor money searcer than
now. Every branch of industry
languishes. Rents, incomes, interest
and profits have dwindled. Prices of
land, farm products. and general
commodities have sunk lower and
lower, till in many localities the most
valuable improved farms in rich regions
are absolutely unsuitable. Nature has
been benefcent; harvests abundant
there has been the early and the latter
rain the Mississippi valley is burdened
with cribbed corn; crop prospects were
never better skilled and crude labor is
plenty the equipment of machinery is
for good times, but they linger
Possibly they are coming, but they are
not here. Many will not be able to
wait much longer for their arrival.
Multitudes have already fallen from
affluence to need, and many other
multitudes have sunk from comfort to
penury and want of daily bread.
What will be the effect of this con
dition on the political future of the
country2'
1.-The people are patient. They are
rational. They don expect miracles,
but they are tired of adversely. They
are not looking for the miraculous
draught of fishes, or the change of
water into wine, but they want to see
credit and business raised from the
dead. They would like to have idle
men who are willing to work earning
wages. 1t does not console them to be
told that there is surplus of money in
banks to loan at small interest. They
don t want to borrow money, but to
sell corn. The man who mortgaged his
farm five years ago for fourth of its
value would like to have it sell for
enough at least to pay the debt. They
will give the Republican party fair
chance. as they gave the Democrats
four years ago. Should we fall 70
secure public revenue and restore
prosperity they are likely TO try some
other experiment. Sometimes sick
man who has found no relief from the
regular physicians buys a bottle Of
patent medicine, or consults a faith
doctor and gets we'll.
lis international bimetallism com
ing2'
international bimetallism is a
sonorous phrase, but when it is
mentioned to the average citizen he
stops talking and winks. or smiles, and
asks about the prize fight, or Cuba, or
the Greek war, or whether colored
shirts and tan shoes are likely to be
worn much this summer.